Play critical of former Schools Chancellor Joel Klein will go on after all
Friday, January 7th 2011, 4:00 AM
Photo Illustration by Isaac Lopez/News
Principals at Jamaica HS and Queens Collegiate, housed in the same building, originally banned joint production based on 'Antigone' after deeming it too harsh on exiting schools boss Joel Klein. Administrators at Jamaica High School and Queens Collegiate Thursday reversed a decision and approved a Jan. 14 performance of the one-act show.
"We're elated for the kids," said teacher James Eterno. "This was just blanket censorship. It was totally unnecessary."
The play - an adaptation of the Greek tragedy "Antigone" - focuses on school officials' unequal treatment of the two schools, which share one building.
Collegiate is a new and growing school, while the Education Department wants to shutter Jamaica for poor performance.
In the Greek tragedy, King Creon provides a proper burial to one of Antigone's brothers, but not the other. In the students' version, Joel Klein is Creon, and Antigone and her sister are students at the schools.
"I am excited to see our students' work on stage," Queens Collegiate principal Jaime Dubei said.
Education Department spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz said the city always wanted the show to go on.
"We always thought that the kids should have been able to perform the play and are pleased it has been rescheduled," she said.
1 comment:
Did the leader of StudentsFirst, Michelle Rhee get involved on the students' behalf?
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