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Conference 7.286::maynard

Title:	Maynard -- Center of the Universe
Notice:	Welcome to our new digs...
Moderator:	PRAGMA::GRIFFIN

Created:	Wed Aug 06 1986
Last Modified:	Thu Feb 20 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	509
Total number of notes:	4062

158.0. "Over Reaction at Maynard Talent Night" by IAMOK::DELUCO (A little moderation never hurt anyone) Thu May 18 1989 09:53

    
    I was at the Maynard Talent Night festivities last night and was very
    upset at the manner in which a "disturbance" was handled.  Following
    the completion of the formal acts, Easy Access, a local rock band, was
    scheduled to play a few songs while the judges scored the formal talent
    entrants. As the band began their first song many of the kids crowded
    in front of the stage and were screaming...similar to what you might
    see at a concert.  The woman running the show began to get visibly
    upset at the kids and toward the end if the first song, she started
    gesturing to the crowd to get back from the stage, which they did.  At
    the end of the song she told the kids to get back in their seats and
    threatened that this sort of thing could threaten future such events
    She then stated that the show was over and she would read the winners
    of the talent contest. Then came the clincher.....in walked the police.
    Someone had obviously called the police (I assume one of the staff).
    Several police cars eventually showed up, some from Stow and Maynard. 

    First of all, my opinion is that the kids were not out of control,
    although they were screaming and crowding the stage. They were having a
    great time and were not harming anyone or anything. But even assuming
    that their actions were out of place, cancelling the rest of the songs
    (obviously as some sort of punishment) and calling the police were
    over-reactions, to say the least.  Once told to move back from the
    stage, the kids did so, *immediately*. They were not out of control and
    did not deserve to be treated with such disrespect.  They could have
    enjoyed the rest of the show from their seats and certainly did not
    deserve to have the police called on them. 
                     
    I'm dismayed at the handling of the situation and feel the kids
    and the band deserve an apology from the people responsible for
    the situation.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
158.1		LDYBUG::PEARCE	All things bright and beautiful	`Thu May 18 1989 10:33`	12
	Have you considered sending a letter to the Beacon or Middlesex News? You've already written it in the base note. I agree with what you've said, kids should not be treated with such disrespect. - Linda
158.2	ridiculous!	PVAX::DDCT1		`Thu May 18 1989 11:07`	10
	Go for sending a letter to the Beacon. How foolish of this woman and her staff - doesn't working with kids give her any idea that this is a pretty normal thing? SHE owes them a BIG apology. I imagine the police weren't too thrilled either. They have better things to do.
158.3	Talking to the School Administration	IAMOK::DELUCO	A little moderation never hurt anyone	`Thu May 18 1989 11:52`	13
	Yes, I considered sending a letter to the newspaper but for the moment I've decided to talk to the person who pulled the plug. I called the school and have been directed to the music director who they think was running the show. I've left a message for her to call me back. I may send the letter anyway, but perhaps to the school principal or administrator. Is Jim Dugan still principal? Also, were any of you present last night and can you share your opinions? My impression may be different than some others (obviously it's different than the music director's).
158.4	An Entertaining Evening!?	AKOV11::BARE		`Thu May 18 1989 12:48`	16
	My husband and I were present and my daughter was a participant in the talent show. We were, also, upset with the way the director handled the stopping of the band. As soon as we arrived home he wrote a letter to the Beacon which I'll make sure he sends to the paper. I thought the kids reacted to the music the way typical teenagers do at a concert. My high school daughter was there and her comment was "the kids are so psyched because they have a band from their town". I think the band and the kids handled the whole situation in a very respectable and obliging manner to the director and police. The kids retreated to their seats or left the auditorium with a few groans of disappointment. Regarding the talent show. . . I thought it was very entertaining and would hope it would continue in future years.
158.5	What wonderful role models...	PRAGMA::GRIFFIN	Dave Griffin	`Fri May 19 1989 10:42`	13
	My wife attended the show and had a slightly different story. First of all she didn't feel that it was appropriate for the high school band to be at the show. It apparently attracted a number of high school students into the auditorium who could care less about the talent show, which was the event. Catcalls and other rude remarks were apparently flying before the band took the stage. Regardless of the one's opinion, one thing appears to be clear: the organizers were clearly responsible for this fiasco and should be held accountable for the results. - dave
158.6	The Plot Thickens	IAMOK::DELUCO	A little moderation never hurt anyone	`Fri May 19 1989 13:45`	25
	Well, one of the band members was brought to a "hearing" yesterday at the high school and he was threatened with not receiving his diploma this year. I don't know all of the details about what specifically were the charges against him but it appears that they are attempting to place the fault for the incident on the band. From what I understand they decided not to withhold his diploma but that the band, Easy Access, is banned from the battle of the bands in June. I will get more details tonite when I talk to the student. I sent a letter, closely resembling what I entered in .0, to the principal yesterday. I also called the music department head and left a message but I never received a return call. While I can understand that it could have been a mistake to have the band play, the crowd reaction was not their responsibility. My personal opinion is that the crowd reaction wasn't even out of line, but I can understand that others would feel the kids acted inappropriately. Even so, making the band responsible appears to be an abdication of responsibility. More details will follow this weekend.