http://www.chipola.edu/pictures/arts/theater/ScHouseRock/School%20House%20rock%20logo.jpg
Tonight, I watched a play that involved drop lines, missed cues, sounds from the stage crew, and many gaps. I could not have been happier. Our daughter’s school put on their production of School House Rock. It was an hour-long trip back through time as so many of the songs from the Saturday mornings of my youth came flashing back in full living color. Tonight, was amazing, jovial, entertaining, and educational. While it is impossible to judge public education on single event, I am going to say that tonight showed that schools are doing some great things for and with their students.
First a big congratulation goes out to the director of the show. This mom volunteered her time along with other parents to get this show from audition to opening. Parents are the ones that fill in where needed to help teachers, staff, and students make the most of a school. These parents took that responsibility to a whole new level. The number of hours put in to teaching the blocking, the songs, and the dance steps go beyond a simple number to put into a spreadsheet. Every hour, every minute, every second was filled with not only the needed lessons but also with love and care. Our daughter came home tired but excited. This parent and her team really out did themselves.
The next impressive part of the evening was the number of students involved. I had the chance to compare notes with the principal after the show and we calculated that about 25% of the students had some part in this production. 25%!!! The auditions were open to any student that want to try out. The team found a spot for all the students who wanted to work on it. The director announced at the top of the show that the entire production crew was students…. the stage hands, the spot lights, the costume designer (a second grader), the props master (3rd grade), and the rest of the unsung heroes that make a play happen.
I have read articles that complain how children are not turned away from teams. Author after author talks about how teams are forced to have players without any skills being allowed to play. That was not the case here. Not every child was the star. There were many parts to be played. Some students were singers, others were dancers (of course there was one really cute blond in curls), a few were stars, and all made up the show. No student was made to feel like they couldn’t. Everyone was encouraged to find their place on the team and run with it. Based on what our daughter shared about rehearsals, all were held to the highest standards. There were no trophies for all but demands were placed on each.
I must admit that the students were not by themselves on stage. There was a single adult 
that stood there with the students. A third-year teacher gave up his time to be at the rehearsals. Teachers give so much of their time just in doing their jobs. I see teachers go home every day with stacks of work. Yet this teacher, in the middle of planning his wedding, gave even more of his time to be there to work with the students to put on the best show possible. He was the glue that held things together. He could tell when actors needed a little hint, or push (off stage), he added little one-liners to make the audience forget that the music didn’t start quite on time. He danced, he sang, he looked sooooo silly. He let down that façade that teachers wear so that his students could shine. He worried not how people would look at him, but how much the actors would shine in their own light.
Finally, the night reminded me about the principal and the rest of the staff – many of whom sat filling the first rows on the stage right. The principal gave her blessing and then support for this production. Schools have so much to worry about from budget to testing to new standards to…. to…. to…. It is a never-ending stream of demands and yet the principal, the office staff, the teachers, and every other panther worked together to encourage, to be the liaisons, to be the cheer squad. After seeing the large number of faculty sitting in the seats one does not question why so many of the students are involved with the activities of the school. The staff sets a fine example.
Then there are the rest of us parents. We might not be able to put the time and energy into the production. Yet there we are filling the seats, chaperoning the holding rooms, selling the snacks and flowers, and cheering as if we just witnessed the opening of a Broadway musical. Every panther stepped up.
Tonight, out did any Broadway show that I could see. While I was reminded of the ending scene of The Music Man (sorry – no spoiler, you should watch it), it rocked! Tonight, I relearned what turns a bill into a law. I refreshed my knowledge on Interjections and conjunctions (those songs in your head yet?), I imagined what it would have been like to have School House Rock come to life – it did.
More importantly, I witnessed public education at work. No, I do not know if each kid on stage can add, do fractions, or read at their grade level. I do not know what the last science experiment that was done by each class. However, I do know that I saw people who care, work hard, and are willing to put the time into our students. I saw students taking pride in working together to create a piece of art. I saw children enjoy learning and understanding. Public education may have its problems but tonight it Rocked as we all yelled YEAH!