Parents of a Georgia high-schooler upset at a poster display in the classroom that depicts a theme of the famous play “The Crucible” with a penned “God is dead” message, started a Facebook page as a counter, assuring that “God is alive.”
The Facebook page is titled “God Is Alive in Newton,” named for the town in which the girl attends high school. The mother of the girl, Crystal Mitchell, said in a United Press International report that the drawing and message made her angry — even though it’s not an opinion but rather a portrayal of “The Crucible.”
“It made my daughter very uncomfortable,” she said, as UPI reported. “If my child can’t pray in school and they’ve taken religion out of school, for this to be plastered on the walls of school is a huge concern for me.”
“The Crucible” is common high-school reading fare and has also been adapted for two films. It’s a long-running Broadway production, too. The play, written by Arthur Miller — who also wrote “Death of a Salesman” — is about a wrongfully imprisoned man, John Proctor, during the time of the Salem witch trials. The phrase “God is dead” was meant to be a metaphorical statement, UPI reported.
But Ms. Mitchell’s Facebook page has gained hundreds of followers already. Newton County school officials aren’t sure how to respond but have agreed to meet with students to explain the context of the message in order to avoid further incidents and complaints.
“Thousands of students read this book every year,” said Sherri Davis-Viniard, with the school system, in UPI. “If it’s not appropriate on the classroom wall, where is it appropriate?”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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