We have been giving you a guide to the world of school assemblies, aimed primarily at parents who are new to this exciting world.

For those PTO and PTA representatives who do not yet know, a quick word about principals. They come in all shapes, sizes and personalities, but their personal style sets the tone for the entire school.

Some are sweet little women dispensing hugs, while others are bullit-headed ex-football players. Some are bespectacled intellectuals and others are good old boys who can’t wait to get out and go fishing. I have worked with principals for twenty years and I have enormous respect for them and for the very difficult the they do. I have a great deal of admiration for the vast majority. Many I count as dear personal friends. For you, as a coordinator of programs, they can be your best friend ... or your worst nightmare, and sometimes both!

Some will make you jump through hoops. You can only schedule on Fridays! Or only in the afternoon. Or only under a blue moon in the rain! Some will give you thre specific days in the netire year when you can have an assembly. Three out of 160. Take it or leave it!

Try to be understanding. Schools have different scheduling issues to do with lunch times, and recess breaks, and gym times etc. And principals are dealing with many issues, from particular Superintendants to angry parents to sick or bullied kids to, well... just about a zillion things you can probably not even begin to imagine.

Some don’t want assemblies at all, and will fight against anything you try to do. They just won't allow kids out of class for anything. Time on task! I have never understood this mentality. High quality programs coming into the school augment the education of children in ways the value of which cannot be overstated. I have performed as Lincoln for kids for years, and I have spoken to school representatives years after a performance and had them tell me that kids still talk about the show. Most quality programs have a similar effect. Some kids have minds that just don’t learn in a traditional manner. Live programs touch their imaginations when nothing else will. But all kids benefit. Still, you will occasionally find a principal who considers assembly programs a total waste of time. What can you do? Not much. Move to a different school? Hardly practical. Be patient but persistant. Eventually you may catch a break.

Luckily, most principals truly appreciate the value of educational assemblies and some take a very active role in planning them. When, years ago as a parent myself, I was charged with the job of arranging shows for the school my kids attended, I would always try to get a few minutes with the principal after school. We would go over the ideas we had together. He knew the school in ways I never could. Together, with give and take, we would work out directions and goals. I was fortunate in that my principal was one who knew the value of assemblies. Hopefully you will also be lucky in that regard.

Principals will let you know if you are on the right track or not, and they will be happy to make suggestions. In fact, many principals do all the scheduling themselves. Listen to them and enlist their assistance and everyone will be happy!

Geoff Beauchamp is the Regional Manager of Mobile Ed Productions where "Education Through Entertainment" has been the guiding principal since 1979. Mobile Ed Productions produces and markets quality educational school assembly programs in the fields of science, history, writing, astronomy, natural science, mathematics, character issues and a variety of other curriculum based areas. In addition, Mr. Beauchamp is a professional actor with 30 years of experience in film, television and on stage. He created and still performs occasionally in Mobile Ed's THE LIVING LINCOLN. He also spent ten years coordinating assembly programs for the elementary school where his own children went to school.