Cherry Hill Schools Make Final Decision On 'Ragtime' Performance

CHERRY HILL, NJ — The Cherry Hill High School East’s performance of “Ragtime,” will go on, and will include the use of the “N word” after much debate on the topic this week.

Initially, the school edition of the performance included the use of the racial slur, but it was removed following protests civil rights groups, and a parent who complained.

Earlier this week, National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), the Dramatists Guild and the Arts Integrity Initiative at the New School sent a letter to the district, urging it to reverse its decision.

Among the arguments was the one that “unauthorized changes to the script may violate copyright law and licensing agreements.”

In the absence of explicit permission from copyright holders, any modification of the text can lead to a revocation of Cherry Hill High School East’s right to perform the musical, the coalition argued.

Several telephone discussions between the district and Music Theatre International ensued, and this fact was confirmed. It played into the district’s decision to insert the word back into the script, Cherry Hill Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Meloche said Friday afternoon.

The district engaged in multiple meetings with stakeholders who have diverse life experience, professional backgrounds and opinions this week, Meloche said.

“I am grateful to Cherry Hill African American Civic Association, a perennial partner and foundational stakeholder in our school district, to the Camden County East NAACP, to the Jewish Community Relations Council, and to the AntiDefamation League for their commitment to work with our district and our children as we move forward,” Meloche said in a statement. “In coming to a decision, our focus remains on our students, on their safety and their development – which has always been and will always remain our top priority. Education must take place in a safe way, in a safe environment. The final decision regarding Ragtime was not made based on a vote. We do not deem any individual or group who voiced an opinion in this process as wrong. Nor is any person or group more valuable than another. We are greatly appreciative of all who have joined the hours of discussion, and for the respectful manner in which most conducted themselves.”

Meloche said that in this situation, the district is obligated to educate “ using difficult subject matter presented in a safe, sensitive way.”

“The school community will be supported by curriculum and conversation leading up to and continuing through the show’s performance dates and beyond,” Meloche said. “The curriculum additions will allow all of our students to learn from the production without feeling threatened or disenfranchised. We will present resources and conversation regarding the production at each performance. We will make it abundantly clear that we loathe the N-word, that we despise this most vile of words in our language. We have been offered professional support in this endeavor from within the Cherry Hill Schools community and from professionals outside the community. We will be availing ourselves of these resources from now through the performance schedule of “Ragtime” at Cherry Hill High School East – opening on March 10, 2017 and closing March 19, 2017 – and into the future.

“Words matter. There is much work to be done. Please, join us in supporting our children – all of our children – in moving forward. Be a positive voice, be part of a positive change.”

Patch file photo