Full Board to Vote on Rules for Student Drama
Washington Post
May 29, 2005
By Rosalind S. Helderman
A committee of the Loudoun County School Board voted Wednesday to recommend a policy that would ban obscenity in school plays and require that student drama take account of community sensibilities. The policy, however, would not directly mention sexuality.
The policy endorsed in a 5 to 0 vote by the board’s legislative policy committee now goes before the full nine-member board, where it could still be revised.
The board has been wrestling with a policy on student theater productions since the Stone Bridge High School drama club performed “Offsides,” a one-act play written by a student, in February. In the play, a popular football player is rejected by friends after revealing homosexual impulses. The show contained a scene in which two boys approached one another as if to kiss before the stage lights went dark.
“Offsides” sparked anger from some parents and other community members who said it was inappropriate for high school, but it was defended by others who felt that students were exercising free speech.