All The World’s A Stage — Maybe
posted Thursday December 11th, 2014
I have a lot of uncertainty when it comes to Sophie — her future, her academic abilities, whether or not she brushed her teeth before bed last night. But one thing I know for sure: The stage beckons.
This is a kid with a flair for the dramatic. She will take any opportunity to perform, and if there isn’t one, she makes her own (sorry/not sorry if you were at Phoenix Public Market the other night and were “treated” to Sophie’s impromptu performance of “All About That Bass”). Even a selfie is an opportunity to act. There’s a serious side, too — she is currently writing scripts with two different adults, and her first stop at any bookstore we visit is the play section.
So it’s only natural that she wants to take drama as her elective at school. But there is no drama elective at Sophie’s school. This semester she took visual art and computers; next semester is PE and Spanish. All good, worthy choices and she’s loved what she’s taken so far. But she’s figured something out — and she won’t let it go.
Apparently the elective options at the “gifted” academy on her junior high campus are different than they are for the general population. The gifted kids can take the electives Sophie can take, but no one at Sophie’s part of the school (which is not just for kids with special needs, it includes all the “non-gifted” kids) can take the electives at the gifted school. And the gifted school offers drama.
Sophie’s been bugging me for weeks to ask if she can take drama and yesterday I finally caved and sent an email to several school administrators, asking if it’s a possibility. I told Sophie she needs to be patient until we get an answer back, but that didn’t stop her from asking every adult in the school office this morning when I dropped her off.
“If I had a magic wand, I’d do it,” one kind staffer told her, adding behind her hand, “but you know, it might open a can of worms.”
Ugh. I think I pushed too far this time, I said to a friend afterward. I get the broader implications of letting a kid from the general population into the gifted school — even for one class, even if it’s drama, even if it’s Sophie. My friend shook her head.
“You know, someone once told me I was opening a can of worms and I’ve always regretted listening to that,” she said. “Go for it. It would be good for Sophie, but there’s a bigger reason to do it.”
Tears in my eyes, I nodded. And so we will go for it, worms and all. I’ll let you know what happens.
Amy, every posting is read by both Phil and me. We laugh, we cry, we are inspired, and we are moved to tears. Thank you for sharing your children with the world. They are extraordinary!! And, you and Ray are extraordinary for nurturing them, taking care of them, keeping them safe, and providing opportunities for them. My day has been made and it’s only 9:27 am. All my love, Nancy.
I think you know Cooper has had roles in both of his school’s productions (thankfully their theatre program is open to all — but it is an “after school” activity) and I can assure you it is just as wonderful an experience for the other kids and the audience (man, the audience loves him) as it is for him. I think it is ESSENTIAL that Sophie get on the stage – even if it’s not the one at her school. The highlight of the whole Annie play this season was at the community night production of it (open to the whole community, not just the school) when Cooper, playing President Roosevelt, said “Aloha” when he was supposed to say hello. The whole place exploded in laughter and I feel like their was this group “a ha” moment when everybody thought, “that kid is FUNNY.”
Worms, schmerms. That double standard stuff deserves to be questioned. I’m cheering you both on from my corner of the universe and I hope I’m able to get front row seats at her performances! <3
You MUST. One of my formers, a student with a disability who had a one-on-one aide (though he bravely ditched the aide in his senior year), played a role (and not some minor, invented role) in every theater production at our high school in his four years there. Sophie already knows the magical world of the stage — in so many iterations — and you will make sure her passions are fed. But the school needs to do its job, too.
Sophie loves a good joke. “Would you like some (wink) peanuts?” Think of opening one of those joke can of worms (snake on a spring), and the pleasant surprises in store for the school when your advocacy pushes the school’s program to be the program it should be. Where is the school’s sense of adventure? Where is its spirit of inclusion and, oh, social justice? Break a friggin leg!
You guys got this!! It will be fun and besides what’s with the discrimination policy at that school… gifted or not the stage is for all!