UFRSD is right not to renege on 'Rent'

More than 50 high schools across the country, including Allentown High School, will put on productions of "Rent: High School Edition" this school year, the first time licenses for the play have been made available. We are proud to support them.

Some parents and community members have concerns about the content of the work, which highlights the lives of friends leading a Bohemian lifestyle in New York's East Village and discusses issues surrounding infidelity, HIV/AIDS, drug addiction and homosexuality. Beyond being dumfounded as to why in this day and age theatrical drug addiction and gay affection cannot be tolerated and why the 30 people who signed a petition against the production can't see the entertainment and educational value of such a theater piece, we just can't believe, unless the dissenters haven't seen "Rent," that they're completely ignoring its use of these themes to teach grandiose lessons about breaking down stereotypes through tolerance and using love as a gauge for how well lives are lived.

Mark Megill, the choral director and theater arts teacher at Allentown High School, should be commended for seeing the educational value of this project and for giving students the opportunity to learn more about these issues in a safe, school environment where any questions and concerns can be addressed by educators who care.

Parents and community members should be thankful that the Upper Freehold School District is taking yet another bold approach to reach its students about the importance of these real-life issues in a setting more open and comfortable than a health class and more artistic and interesting than a textbook. For other examples of the district's caring attitude toward its diverse student population, look no further than the newly implemented Gay Straight Alliance and random drug-testing policy. Child welfare and safety on a physical, mental, emotional and social level are obviously at the top of this district's priorities and "Rent: School Edition" is merely another means to those ends.

So, we say break a leg to those 50-plus Allentown High School students who tried out for the play and to those parents using the performance to have more open discussions in their own homes about sex, drugs, rock and roll, love, acceptance and unity.

We do sympathize with the community members who won't be able to attend the performance with their young children, as the play is rated PG-13, but otherwise we hope area residents will support the kids and their art and education by attending the spring production. To those who aren't allowing their children to participate in the show and who won't attend the performance simply due to ignorance of societal issues and high-school youth intellect, we would like to quote songwriter Jonathan D. Larson's "Seasons of Love" lyrics from "Rent" for pondering: "You know that life is a gift from up above. Remember the love. Share love. Give love. Spread love. Measure in love. Measure your life in love."