Dear Editor: Be Part of the Solution

Dear Editor,

I have lived in Whitehall for nearly 30 years now. At one time, I was very involved in this community, but life has taken some hard turns, so now I live quietly and relatively uninvolved. However, I was in a local store the other day, and two women were attempting to talk in "hushed" tones. Obviously, they did not want people to know they were talking about the heated "issue" at hand in Whitehall. They were simply voicing their opinions, but I was a bit shocked to realize what the problem was.

It turns out there has been a public squabble over a high school drama production. At first glance, it seemed like there was just another disagreement between the public school and the people. Long story short, for those who may not know, the play the students had learned was ready to be performed in front of the student body. After reviewing the content and seeking professional advice, the administration felt it was not appropriate for a general school audience. However, the school was willing to support the students at the Missoula Thespian Festival (at which the group won various awards) and at performances in our local Star Theatre.

The play is called "I Don't Want to Talk About It" by Bradley Hayward. It covers a wide variety of current issues teens are facing today. Some of the most prominent examples are problems with their peers, parents, and teachers, self-worth, bullying, sexual identity, dating, self-image, hopelessness, anger, and spiritual beliefs. I made myself go to the Sunday showing to better understand. The actors did a fantastic job with the script, and their drama coach, Mrs. Pullman, was largely instrumental in fostering their success. There was nothing inherently "wrong" with the play, and it successfully made its point.

The main character finally could not take any more of her struggle, especially after hearing the other characters saying terrible things about her. A theatrical "BANG" rang out, representing that student taking her own life. I sat there feeling overwhelmed with sadness and terrified that suicide has become common enough that there is a desensitization to it happening in our society. I am not saying people don't think it is awful, but it seems like in our world today, it "just happens." It is such a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Like the character who ended her life, so many people do not see any other choice, and the problem does not feel temporary. I lost a child to suicide four and a half years ago. That theatrical "BANG" the audience heard was not theater in my life.

I left the performance agreeing how critically important it is to understand what our youth are struggling with. Yet, all that was going through my head was, "Yes, but NOW WHAT?" I wish the playwright would have reflected on what is wrong with the status quo or offered some direction for the younger members of his potential audience. However, his goal might have been simply to bring the issue to the forefront, and from there, someone else would handle the rest. I believe that is where the school is bound to offer guidance to students who might need more available to them after "the curtains close." Perhaps with more time, all parties involved could have coordinated something appropriate and/or involved the parents' opinions and permission necessary in a diverse school setting. Obviously, discussing the play sooner is a given.

Unfortunately, how to prevent suicide is eluding us all. Raising children in this modern era with such a high level of technology, the internet, in particular, is scary and overwhelming. However, we have no choice but to tackle the daunting task of trying to find answers and solutions. It will take a collaborative effort by all, putting our differences aside and working together. The school has access to resources and research, whereas an individual may not, and they are with our children for at least 180 hours a year.

So, pooling our ideas and efforts with the school staff seems like a reasonable and potentially powerful, and effective approach. Of course, it would require humility, flexibility, and cooperation by everyone, but I believe our children are worth it.

Having been a substitute at the school in years past, I caught a glimpse of the restraints and parameters our teachers and administrators have to operate within due to regulations and the countless variety of opinions parents have. I think that all parties had good intentions with this play initially. Yes it got ugly, but I firmly believe that if we could funnel the energy that was used to create so much community discord into a collaborative effort, we might actually have a fighting chance to help our young people.

This recent uproar has encouraged some students and parents to feel angry towards the administration and led plenty of people to speak quite negatively and freely in public. There are always two sides to a story, so I am not trying to defend or attack anyone. I simply want to remind people that the subject matter of this play is worth our attention.

When I needed the school's help while trying to hold my family together under the most excruciating circumstances imaginable, they sincerely came to my aid. Again, they had to operate within the requirements for graduation from Whitehall High School, but they helped me navigate the next four years so my child would successfully meet the criteria and graduate. I have to say I am forever grateful to the teachers, counselors, Principal Slater, and our Superintendent, Hannah Nieskens.

We are fortunate to live in a small town where we actually can come together and make a difference for the one thing many of us have in common: we all love our children and would go to great lengths to help them. Unless people can home-school, public school is here to stay. I am a firm believer in the idea that in any situation we engage in, we are either part of the solution or we are part of the problem.

Please let us all be part of the solution, as the stakes can literally be life and death, as the play so poignantly pointed out.

Sincerely,

HEATHER M. DOVE

Whitehall, Montana