We just finished Leonardo DiCaprio's version of Romeo and Juliet in drama. Perhaps, however, the more interesting show was the response of the viewers. There is a dread of Shakespeare at school. I think that if that dread was not present, students would even learn to enjoy Shakespeare. If taught well, of course.

Back to Romeo and Juliet; it took a while for it's audience to get over the long lines and odd composition of the movie, in general. It is hard to follow, at first. They were appalled at how quickly everyone drew their guns, and one student asked confusedly "Why are all the words weird?" It took her a while to understand the meaning of a modern adaptation. And then there was the question of "why do they keep talking to themselves? Can't they hear each other?" Welcome to Shakespeare, middle-schoolers.

Most of all though, they laughed.

How They Laughed

At tears, at laughter, at romance, and cruelty.

With anxiety, with embarrassment, with pure joy.

And though they laughed, as Romeo uncapped his poison and brought it to his lips, the entire room broke out with shocked and breathless 'oh my god's, and "No! Don't do it!" Even though we all knew he was.

 

"What if they came in here?"

"Well, we could blockade the door with the desks..."

"Or we could just bust through the window."

"If it happens, of course."

It didn't happen. Despite the rumors and the jokes, yesterday was just another day. Besides from the fact that nine hundred and thirty four students didn't show up to T.C. Williams. Or the fact that yesterday was the anniversary of Columbine.

It all began when a few high school students began spreading rumors that they were going to recreate Columbine at T.C. This led to searches, suspensions, and even more rumors. As you can imagine, students reacted differently. Some students laughed at it, like a joke. Some took it very seriously. So seriously, they didn't come to school.

Of course, what happens at T.C. trickles down into the middle schools. Rumors flew there, too. Kids began discussing what would happen if a shooter really did come into the school (completely forgetting that, even if there was an actual plot, T.C. was the only target). They joked about it and added gory details and then stopped abruptly with an expression of "What if this really did happen? In fact, it has happened. What if?"

The school sent out talking points to all of the teachers so that they could talk to their students. That meant that anyone who hadn't known before, now knew.

Nine hundred and thirty four students stayed home from T.C. Williams yesterday.

It was just another day.