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School plays 'could lose love scenes'
17/ 2/2006
TEACHERS have raised fears that plays such as Romeo and Juliet could be robbed of their meaning after draft new guidelines said pupils should not act out love scenes in schools.
A peck on the cheek is as far as most portrayals of love should go in order to protect youngsters from abuse, according to the guidelines, reported in the Times Educational Supplement.
Teachers should also weigh the impact of strong language and consider banning it from lessons and plays if this is in the best interest of pupils.
Guidelines
The guidelines, which have been launched for consultation in Wales and could be considered for England, said there is no role for "nudity or intimate physical contact" in school productions.
Margaret Higgins, of the National Association for the Teaching of Drama, told the TES: "You can't just cut out scenes like the kiss in Romeo and Juliet.
"It is a crucial moment. If this isn't fit subject matter for children, perhaps they should put on EastEnders after the watershed."
The draft guidance said: "Drama teachers need to consider carefully what gestures and movements are appropriate to communicate the emotion or idea required in the play or improvisation and what gestures and movements are acceptable.
Intimacy
"For example, many learners are uncomfortable with kissing in performance because of the physical intimacy that it entails, whatever the motivation of the characters or genre of the performance.
"In most cases, a peck on the cheek or an embrace can communicate the required emotion.
"These gestures show affection in an acceptable and obvious way."
The guidelines said teachers should be "very sensitive" to these concerns and "must never insist that any child or young person should kiss another".
A review of drama teaching was one of the key recommendations from the 2004 Clywch inquiry into allegations of child abuse at Rhydfelen secondary school, in south Wales.
A former drama teacher at the school was found to have used his subject as a vehicle for improper activity with children.
"Drama teachers must cut or adapt plays if they have to, in order to protect children and young people," the guidelines stated.
"Drama teachers should be able to provide a proper justification for what they do, based on the best interests of the learner, and not rely on arguments about the artistic integrity of the text."
Sexual
This means that plays such as Romeo and Juliet, or Equus, by Peter Shaffer, could be cut for school use, because they include kissing or sexual scenes, the TES reported.
All four qualifications, curriculum and assessment authorities in the UK were consulted when the guidelines were drawn up.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will consider whether to adopt the guidelines in England, once they have been considered in Wales.
A Department for Education spokesman said: "To teach or not to teach Shakespeare is not even a question. It's vital that children learn the Classics and that will not change."
SHOULD intimacy be taken out of school drama productions? Have your say.
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11/03/2006 at 17:13
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