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August 7, 2007
An Open Letter to Julia Davidow
By Constance Lavender
Principal's decision to ban The Laramie Project is an instance of "...the most blatant, undisguised nature; it is an example of homophobia of the most perverse, obvious kind that it is hard to know how you can possibly justify... " such censorship.
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Ms. Julia Davidow
Principal, Ocean Township High School
Ocean Township, NJ
Dear Ms. Davidow:
As an educator in New Jersey, I find your decision to ban the performance of "The Laramie Project" indefensible and shockingly unenlightened. Your bigoted, partial decision is of the most blatant, undisguised nature; it is an example of homophobia of the most perverse, obvious kind that it is hard to know how you can possibly justify it on the grounds of not wanting to provoke children under whose shallow leadership they, unfortunately, fall. Education, Ms. Davidow, is about inciting children to think, to challenge them to new heights and ideas that they would otherwise fail to achieve. Unfortunately, schools like yours are less about children and more about the so-called administrators who incompetently run them. In the end, this decision, Ms. Davidow, is really about you and the district superintendent, Mr. Pagano. It is too kind to say that you both should seek professional counseling. Your mindless pandering to anti-gay bigots you imagine to exist in the community only underscores the surrealism of your protest. Your utter lack of understanding of the play, its purpose, and the pedagogical value of its performance is dismaying.I wish you well, but I even more fervently hope and pray that the children under whose administration they unfortunately devolve are relieved of your mind-numbing haplessness.
Sincerely,
Constance Lavender