The music students at New Milford High had been through a lot in the last year. They suffered through severe flooding, with a number of students being forced from, and even losing, their homes. When Office Max heard of the difficulties, they decided to help the school with money for supplies -- but not before playing a practical joke on some unsuspecting students.

On the CW network’s special Schooled (August 5^th, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT),

New Milford High’s music students became hapless victims of an elaborate prank. Pulled from summer vacation and asked to take part in a “music assessment program,” they were told that their performance would determine whether or not the school would be allowed to keep its music program. The students were required to take an oral exam about music, and then perform in order to determine whether their program has been successful.

The proctors of the oral exam were actors, but they were believable as they ordered the wide-eyed students to sing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” using only the vowels, to dance the Electric Slide in the style of the Funky Chicken, and to describe a crescendo using a crescendo.

Next came the musical performance part of the “assessment.” In rehearsals, students ambled through a powerful piece of music in a cute and awkward way that can only be described as endearing. The students were then given the chance to hear the same piece being played by the New Jersey Youth Symphony Orchestra -- although they were told that another ordinary high school orchestra was playing the piece. The students from New Milford could only laugh with nervousness when they heard the polished performance from the Youth Symphony. When the piece was over, the pretend judges critiqued the Youth Symphony’s performance and gave them only the barest praise, leaving the New Milford students baffled.

When it was their turn to perform, the New Milford students launched into a performance replete with intonation problems, a complete lack of dynamics, and an inappropriately lively drum beat that was missing from the Youth Symphony’s performance. The judges shook their heads and proclaimed New Milford to be “the worst we’ve heard today,” and informed the students that New Milford’s petition to keep its music program would likely be rejected. The principal made a show of kicking out the judges – and then let his students in on the prank. The next thing the astonished students knew, they were being treated to a performance by the popular band, the All-American Rejects.

Schooled was a fun summer treat for slightly older children. It served as a reminder that school can be fun and, more importantly, that music programs are extraordinarily important to young students all over the country. For being a fun and entertaining summer special with a heart, Schooled is our Best of the Week.

Best TV Show of the Week

The Parents Television Council - www.parentstv.org