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12 May 99 - 12:18 AM (#77709) Subject: Positive things kids do From: leprechaun In the past few years I been treated to some great times at our local high school. Even with a lack of funds, their theater group has managed to put together some very good plays. My son's friends have been in plays like "Once Upon a Mattress," "Song of the Mounties," (both of which were a hoot, I laughed till I cried) The Odd Couple, and many others. Then last year, my son, a macho football player-wrestler athlete type, and one of his large football player friends joined the cast of "42nd Street." They had to learn to tap-dance! It was great, and so encouraging to see these kids put something together and do it well. I was also impressed with how kind and encouraging these kids were with each other. When I was in High School, the athletes didn't like the thespians. My son is in college this year, but we all went back to the high school to watch this year's musical, "The Pajama Game." They outdid themselves once again. They have to raise the money for production by selling advertising in the program and seeking donations from parents and businesses. Even faced with the lack of voter support (until last year, our schools have taken several beatings in the polls) they find a way to let the show go on. This is the season for spring musicals at High Schools all over the country. Go see one even if your kid's not in it. You'll be rewarded in more ways than one. |
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12 May 99 - 12:30 AM (#77716) Subject: RE: Positive things kids do From: SeanM I'll second that! Leprechaun, it sounds like your local school is one of the few rare ones that support the kids in endeavours OTHER than beating each other senseless. My HS had a similar situation. We'd had years of 'We must accept sacrifices in other departments so that our TEAM can carry on!' BS, and then one day the Star Quarterback got sick of getting knocked down, and joined the Theatre department. His family was one of the richest in the area, proud boosters of the 'team', and they supported him right along into the drama dept... oddly enough, suddenly the school announced publicly 'We need to nurture our students' creative sides...' Support your local schools! Now more than ever, kids need to know that their parents support them in what they do, and the administrators need to know that the parents care! (If you doubt this, read up on the 'Post-Colorado Frenzy' threads). M Laughing all the way up to the tech booth |
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12 May 99 - 12:36 AM (#77720) Subject: RE: Positive things kids do From: katlaughing When I was in HS, as a freshman and sophmore, our concert master in orchestra was THE star quarterback and in the Thespian Club. he was Big and burly and really shattered any myths about football players. The violin sure looked small in hi hands, though! I posted some positive things in the Post-Colorado fenzy II about my brother and substitute teaching last week in the HS here. The media nd society REALLY needs to focus on this to give the other kids something positive to emulate. Thanks, Leprechaun, for starting this thread. It's a great one! katlaughing, along with M |
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12 May 99 - 11:40 PM (#77990) Subject: RE: Positive things kids do From: leprechaun I was thrilled when some of my son's big burly friends got interested in choir, and since their Mascot name is The Irish, they sang Irish songs. They even did a fund raiser and brought their singing group to Ireland. I think one of them still has my Dublinaires songbook, but that's O.K. During backyard barbeques we serenade the neighborhood, and my son sings "Dear Boss," in the shower. Singing old songs and putting on these musicals seems to me like a great show of respect for the generations that have gone before. I forgot to mention their final dress rehearsal is always performed for the senior citizens of several local retirement centers, free of charge. Some people claim our society is lacking in respect, but with these young people I see just the opposite. It's as though they realize the best way to counteract the negative influences the media concentrates on is to commit to something positive. |
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13 May 99 - 12:19 AM (#78010) Subject: RE: Positive things kids do From: Banjer Due to my involvement with Civil War reenacting, I work, with the Junior ROTC at our local high school during their football season. I take the cannon to school on Wednesday afternoons to train their Honor Guard in the handling of the piece, which they then fire for touchdowns and other significant times during the home games. These kids get involved in this because they want to. At the end of the season, which most years comes right after the last game, only twice have we gone on to the play offs, we take a survey of how many would like to continue meeting up til Christmas vacation starts. Every year we get a unanimous vote to continue meeting for training sessions on Wednesday afternoons. These kids have to either hang around school or return there when they could be home or working part time jobs. It is their dedication that keeps the momentum going. They also help put on many Memorial Day programs in the area and undertake several community projects. |
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13 May 99 - 09:37 AM (#78086) Subject: RE: Positive things kids do From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Our town has finally voted in funding for the high school to get a performing arts center- finally! We've had a HS with no stage since 1964- and an outstanding chorus, band and drama club! |
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13 May 99 - 09:47 AM (#78089) Subject: RE: Positive things kids do From: WyoWoman One of the things I miss most now that my kids are both grown is the houseful of teens that always filled my life. I think they're wonderful people, if you give them the slightest bit of attention and respect. Sadly, many of them lack even these basic necessities. Partly due, I believe, to this rigid stereotyping we have of kids not wanting anything to do with adults -- and I think the examples above prove that this simply isn't the case. Most of them are starved for adult care, but they have B.S. detectors out-to-there, so they tend to give adults who are phony or who are full of reformist zeal a pretty wide berth (so do I!). My son always amazed me with this parade of kids he brought through, each one more outrageously attired than the last. I think it was his way of saying, "How about this one, the one with the purple hair in spikes and the pin through his eyebrow? You gonna accept HIM, too?" And I just kept talking to these kids through their fashion statements, and was constantly amazed at how much they had to contribute -- wild 'dos and all. kc |
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13 May 99 - 09:39 PM (#78252) Subject: RE: Positive things kids do From: katlaughing KC....me, too. The last left the nest last summer after two years in college and while she didn't bring as many home as her brother and sister did, I still miss them all. We had a big, old, rundown, in agenteel sort of way, Victorian in Msytic, CT. It was right downtown. There was a constant flow of teens and neighbor kids through and I loved it. They were all outrageous and fun and truly interesting AND really eager to have an adult who was interested in them. I'll never forget how good I felt when my oldest daughter's friend came to me for advice on being intimate with her boyfriend. She couldn't talk to her mom or dad, so she came to me. Her parents were very strict. One night when she was gone all night; the police were looking for her, as well as all of us, her mother was so mad and scared that she almost hit her. She didn't because I was there. I understood her anger and fear. Her daughter came to my house next door and to this day remembers that I and my kids and husband were the ones who gave her a hug, asked if she was okay, and told her how happy we were that she was okay. Kids need more adults who listen and care. katl
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