The Definition of Reflective & Professional Practice

I was recently alerted to a censorship controversy that is unfolding at LaGrande High School in Eastern Oregon. After reading several of the local newspaper articles about the events (including a letter to the newspaper from actor, director, writer, & comedian Steve Martin) and then reading the theater teacher's blog, which included a copy of the speech he gave at the school board meeting where they did, indeed, vote to proceed with banning the high school production of the Steve Martin play, "Picasso at the Lapin Agile," I found myself contemplating numerous aspects of the politics involved. I encourage readers, especially my fellow cohorts, to review the brief synopsis of these events (as lined out in an e-mail by Willamette faculty member and former LaGrande High School student, Karen McFarlane Holman) and then to please view the attached links. (My own reflections follow.)

"1 - LaGrande High School teacher Kevin Cahill chooses Steve Martin's
play "Picasso at the Lapin Agile".
2 - A parent complains and collects 137 signatures supporting the
removal of the play due to its adult content.
3 - The LaGrande School board bans the play and denies an appeal.
4 - Eastern Oregon University President Dixie Lund says she would not
allow its performance on the EOU campus as an alternate location.
5 - A week later, Dixie Lund concedes that state law ties her hands and
EOU must allow non-discrimination of outside groups to rent the theatre.
6 - Steve Martin becomes aware of the play's ban in LaGrande (the first
time it has been banned, to his knowledge). He writes a letter to the
citizens of LaGrande and pledges to fund the production of the play.
7 - Supporters of free speech are delighted that the play's production
is secured (May 16-18), but are disturbed by ongoing actions by the
recent authorization of a new School Board committee that will oversee
the selection and approval of all school theater productions in the future."

Scroll to the top of the page linked here to read the phenomenally eloquent speech given by theater teacher Kevin Cahill to the LaGrande High School school board:
http://afreehand.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-we-shouldnt-ban-play-picasso-at.html#links

To read the response letter written by Steve Martin to the citizens of LaGrande,
published in The Observer on 3/13/09:
http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/Opinion/Guest-Columns/Of-arts-and-sciences

Other Observer articles related to the controversy:
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-29/1236131355185470.xml&storylist=orlocal

http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Local-News/PLAY-FRAY

It just so happens that I read these articles in the opposite order of what I posted them here. I first read the newspaper articles and then moved on to Kevin Cahill's blog. I posted them here with Mr. Cahill's blog post first because, actually, I feel that Mr. Cahill says everything which needs saying in his blog. But, the novelty of having an actor as famous as Steve Martin draw his attention to a small town in Eastern Oregon cannot be overlooked.

Kevin Cahill's speech to the school board on 2/24/09 appeared to me, to be the definition of an eloquent, reflective, professional educator. He obviously thought, in great depth, about what would be best for his students and his community. Might I add, having gone to high school in a small rural town, that I find Mr. Cahill's stance on this matter especially brave and inspired.

Mr. Cahill has a family and, of course, must think of them in all these endeavors, as well. It reminds me of the old '80's movie with Kevin Bacon, "Footloose." This correlation might make some people laugh, but it's really not all that different. So, as a teacher, what do you do when you are flying in the face of a community that thinks you are "peddling evil"? What happens when the people that you have worked so hard to serve come after you with torches and pitchforks?

Also, what of the students who are still going to be a part of this production? One has to hope that the situation does not spiral into any further excessive zealotry.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is blatant censorship. If there is indeed a so-called committee that forms to "approve" the plays produced by the school what will the criteria be? As Mr. Cahill points out, this is a slippery slope and one can only hope that this too shall pass...