It is time. I have kept this to myself (minus the few people I told, my parents, friends, etc), but now since the school board has mentioned it publicly I can speak.
In December I was informed that the School Board has added the Theatre curriculum to the list of things they want to cut. I’m #23 on a list of about 45. When I was told about this, they asked, “Are you ok?” And I am, I knew picking Theatre Education would be a hard career path to keep, but I thought if I could survive my college making it near impossible to graduate with a Theatre and Education double major, I could survive fighting for a theatre curriculum in schools. Even though I was officially added to the list this winter, I’ve always been figuratively on the list; sadly the arts are the first things to go in schools when they should be the last.
Now, as I have been told, being on the list doesn’t mean I will automatically get cut. The FACE dept. in the middle schools have been on the list for ten years and they just hired a new teacher this year.
As of this past working School Board meeting, the theatre classes were brought up, and Dr. Means told them that without a theatre dept. we stop being Homestead and start being every other school in the area, we will no longer be a cut above the rest or a reason for people to send their students to the schools. So we have administration fighting for the classes, but it will be up to the School Board. Do not fret, we will still have theatre classes next year, but after that it’s all up in the air.
What does this mean? It means we need to tell our community what Theatre and specifically what the Theatre Classes mean to us. I am just the teacher whose job is at stake, no one will listen to me. If you like taking One Act and Theatre Production Seminar then you have to speak up. I mean Acting 1, Acting 2 and Tech Theatre are also fun and helpful classes to take as well. We are the only Public school in the area with a full theatre curriculum and I think we should stay that way.
If you have never taken a theatre class, don’t worry, the after school plays aren’t being cut, so if they do cut the classes, you will still be able to participate in the plays. It’s just not the same thing. Theatre develops skills the core classes can’t; on the most basic level theatre teaches social independence, common sense (something we have lost these past years of teaching) empathy for others. It also helps students with their speech and literacy skills. I could go on for days how theatre classes help students in every day life, but we’d be here for awhile.
This post is to just inform everyone what is going on, so if the cut happens, we all won’t be blindsided. Take this knowledge and do with it as you will. Talking nicely to people always helps. Thank you for allowing me to work with you for these past 4 years with hopefully 20 more to come.
Thanks
Amelia Figg-Franzoi
Act Out 
We can/will make a LOT of noise about this. What do you need us to do…?
Talk to people, allow the community know that theatre is just as important for teenagers as English and Math. Share stories of how theatre helped you and your kids. We need to reach out the the school board and make them realize they will be doing a disservice to the students and school if they cut the theatre dept.
My husband’s cousin, Leslie posted this on FB. As a fellow electives teacher I feel your pain. It is so sad that many teachers who create hands-on, real-life experiences for kids are seen as expendable. Keep doing the good job you are doing, I know you have made a difference in Ali’s life.
Though I was a graduate of Nicolet, not HHS, I have a strong opinion on this. I was fortunate to be part of their Theatre department and was in every class and production. I went to ASU and continued my studies in Fine Arts/Theatre. The seed was planted in high school and was nurished through my college years. Without my theatre experiences at Nicolet I would not be the person I am today. The personal growth and pride one experiences being part of a theatre program cannot be measured. I have two children who went through the MTSD and have witnessed first hand the random program cuts. What’s next? No more art classes? Shame on you…quit focusing on turning out CPA’s and lawyers at Homestead. We need diversity and a fostering of creativity.
Amelia, should we write letters to the School Board? This is Amy, Kimberly Distel’s older sister. I also have a Theatre degree partly in thanks to Homestead’s theatre program.
YES!! YES!! YES!!! Write letters, send videos, poems, anything that will get the word out. They decide in March, so we have to act fast!
The theater program at Homestead involves and impacts many more students then people realize, (and yes, I am including the plays and stage crew). It is one of the reasons we have a quality school.
I’m so sorry to hear that! The theatre program really is unique and was far and away my favorite part of Homestead. Is there anyone that we can contact if we’re no longer in town, but want to make sure they know their alumni are against this?