School Pictures is a dynamic look into the breakdown of gifted students and more. Milo Cramer shows the behind the scenes regarding his time as a tutor with the New York Students. Does it hurt students as a whole, to have a gifted program? In the gifted program even for me when I was a student there were discrepancies in resources and more. Milo takes us behind the scenes as the students prepare to test out to obtain services and more.
Before you Go to see School Pictures
The production is only about 70-80 minutes. There is strong language. I took my 11 year old son who I prepped before we went and he had no issues at all. It will talk about things that kids in middle school and above are going through and if you bring a middle schooler it may open up conversation afterwards. Be prepared to have a good time while you learn. Come before the show or stay afterwards for a treat in the cafe. Masks are still required although the checking of vaccination cards aren’t. Be a little early as the doors will lock. I had to leave to go to the bathroom and was let back in but its up to the direction of the staff. The show is intimate and disturbances can be an issue.
Milo Cramer’s Students Takes
As an ex gifted student in my time at school, I learned early on the concept of working hard to maintain and more. I had a lot to do when it comes to course loads and more. From having access to more work and resources it propelled me to place into the International Baccalaureate program. In addition, being in that program gave me an advancement of college applications and more. Milo showcases how these students had to deal with the pressures of learning to obtain an overall stance in getting into a good school and graduate.
Background Information in Student Pictures
The larger picture of how the New York school systems works plays a role in the production. We through music learn of each of the mental and emotional plights of each student. Based on real stories of these students, some were dealing better than others. From the parental pressure to do well and more many of these students are posed to set the standard in their homes and more. Without going into the details and the specifics of the New York schools they are one of the most segregated schools in the country. The students who live in the most urban areas in order for them to have access to the good schools, they have to test out. If they don’t test out, those students get placed in the schools that are in their neighborhood.
Students who can’t afford to not only go to another school since most schools lack the ability to also transport to the better schools. We get to see how each of the student’s that Milo tutors is fairing. One of the things that I appreciate is how well he uses music and quirkiness that I enjoyed, to demonstrate the uniqueness of the students journey.
Student Pictures and Audience Participation
I loved how we all got the opportunity to participate. During the production we are asked to calculate figures of the student in the program. Now math isn’t my strong suit so I watched and was floored by the final numbers. There is a lot of red tapping that is occuring in the New York school system. This making sure that students who could afford it fair better than the ones who can’t. Sounds like the movement in a lot of the world.
I took my son with me and asked him since he’s one of the kids who doesn’t always do well with the pressure to do well in school. My son is super smart and on his own tries to get perfect grades. We do our best to alleviate that perfectionist mindset. The issues that many of the students showcased allowed me to use the production as a way to show how him how unhealthy it can be.
School Pictures is playing at The Wilma Theatre until November 20, 2022. Make sure you get your tickets. Thank to the staff of the Wilma Theatre for having me.
