NYC principal won't let kindergarteners sing 'God Bless the USA' at graduation

[proud2BlibKansan]

Last edited Fri Jun 15, 2012, 12:12 PM - Edit history (1)

NYC Educators Back Ban on Patriotic Song

The New York City Board of Education is defending a principal who banned the song “God Bless the USA” from being performed at a kindergarten graduation ceremony reportedly because it might offend other cultures.

Greta Hawkins, the principal of the Edna Cohen School in Coney Island, came under fire from parents after she instructed teachers to remove the song from the upcoming program. Staffers at the school told the New York Post that Hawkins was afraid the song might “offend other cultures.”

A spokesperson for the Dept. of Education released a statement to Fox News Radio indicating the song was pulled because “the principal felt the lyrics were not age appropriate for a kindergarten moving up ceremony.”
The spokesperson also noted that students recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing “America the Beautiful” at the start of every school day.

Instead of performing “God Bless the USA,” students will be performing “Baby,” a Justin Bieber song about teenage romance.

more . . . http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/nyc-educators-back-ban-on-patriotic-song.html

Update: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=811837
Thank you RZM!

[randome]

1. In theory, I see where the principal is coming from.

But the reality is that she's an uptight asshole who should be smart enough to finesse this without making a public spectacle out of herself or her school.

Stupid patriotism and absurd lyrics aside...it's just a song. Now whether the parents made enough of a stink about this without Fox News' help is another subject.

[obamanut2012]

11. Why does this make her an "uptight asshole"?

And, to children of non-Abrahamic faiths, or of no faiths, it is more than just a song. It is also a public school.

[randome]

14. To students of common sense, a JB song is just as ridiculous.

There is likely no song that will please everyone so why make an issue of it? Maybe there was a reason for making an issue of it but I didn't see one in the article.

[obamanut2012]

27. There is no Bieber song being sung

However, as dumb and random as that would have been, why should non-Christians/Jews/Muslims have to sit through a religious song? If a patriotic song must be performed, the National Anthem is fine.

[randome]

34. Why would pacifists have to sit through a 'patriotic' song that glorifies violence?

Eh. Maybe I'm just digging myself in deeper here. Oh well.

[hifiguy]

2. Freeper meltdown in

3...2...1...

Glad to see the Board is backing the principal.

[snooper2]

3. Jesus Yvonne Christ I don't know which song is worse

"Gawd Bless the USA" or "Baby"...


I really don't, either one could be used as torture

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. LOL the kids lose either way.

[RC]

5. kindergarten graduation ceremony?

Do they have cap and gowns too?
What is wrong with waiting till High School, where at least some of them will have a clue by?

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Thank you.

I'm one of the few teachers who thinks this is ridiculous.

[malthaussen]

41. Charlie Schulz did a "Peanuts" segment about it 'way back in the 60's

Doing away with "cap and gown graduations for elementary school" was one of Linus's planks when he ran for class president. I'm sure ol' Charlie would think Kindergarten Graduation was even sillier.

In the urge to create "memories" for our children (or are they for us, eh?), we seem to have forgotten that if all events are transcendent, none are.

-- Mal

[MightyOkie]

13. You said it. nt

[grantcart]

16. absurd.

The rest of the world thinks we are nuts giving out outlandish awards to our kids everytime they turn around.

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. They are not called 'graduations'

Indeed, even in the article, it's called a "moving up ceremony." I went to my daughter's on Wednesday, and it was just called a kindergarten celebration. They do not receive diplomas, and it was explicitly never referred to as a graduation.

Neither are these new. I had a kindergarten "celebration" or moving up ceremony when I completed kindergarten in a NYC public school...in 1979.

It's just an opportunity for the kindergartners to have a nice year-end assembly and recognize a few for good performance (spelling bee, attendance awards) and the like. I see nothing wrong with it. Remember, for kindergarteners, this is perhaps the first time through the school rhythm - they are being acclimated to the idea of summer break, the fact that they may be in different classes next year, and all that. Very obviously, elementary school educators have decided this is a good idea - across the country and for quite some time. I'm not in primary education at that age level, so I really don't have the expertise to judge that decision.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Some schools really play it up

Caps and gowns and diplomas.

You're right about teachers liking this. I'm one of the few who thinks it's ridiculous.

[alcibiades_mystery]

29. I think there's a logic to it

Kindergarteners get a sense of completion. For those who didn't attend pre-school, it might be their first of the kind.

You keep saying it's ridiculous, but you don't say why.

They actually had a cap and gown "graduation" from my daughter's Montessori pre-school. I agree that the whole exercise is odd. But the kindergarten "celebration" seemed very deliberately to not be a graduation. Indeed, it seemed so deliberately not a graduation, that I understood there to be some pedagogical point being made about that. And if that's the case, I'm not entirely convinced that there are 'graduations' with cap and gowns and diplomas on any large scale.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. I think it's ridiculous because it's KINDERGARTEN

And I'm talking about the cap and gown diploma ceremonies. They are very popular here.

[alcibiades_mystery]

33. Alright

If you say so.

Like I said, I think the cap and gown graduations are somewhat odd for kindergarten, but I'd still get the logic of it as training students in school rhythms and customs. The celebration bit works better, in that it does the same without inflating the "accomplishment.' I'll admit that i was snarking a bit at my daughter's ceremony (this was TWO days ago), wondering about the failure and drop out rate for kindergarten, etc. I see your point there, for sure.

But the article in the OP was not a graduation. I think most of them aren't. Whether they are by you, I don't know.

[NoPasaran]

22. If it's a "moving up" ceremony, maybe they should sing the theme song from The Jeffersons

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. LOL

One year one of my co-workers made that suggestion for our 5th grade graduation.

[vaberella]

36. Interesting. In my public school in NYC PS 87.

We had a graduation. I remember it being named graduation. No cap and gown, but were given a certificate. My cousin did have a graduation in NY Catholic school for kindergarten with cap and gown.

[alcibiades_mystery]

38. PS21 Q

Edward hart School



cheers, yo.

a_m

[vaberella]

18. Depending on the school. Yeah, they have cap and gown.

The idea is that you're moving from a fairly non-academic world to one that is academic. No more nap time or extended play times.

[alcibiades_mystery]

30. When was the last time you had a child in kindergarten?

Nap time?

Not anymore, sister.

Extended play time?

Don't think so.

My six year old just completed kindergarten in CPS. They don't nap, trust me.

[vaberella]

35. I don't. I'm a teacher. Though not in the states...but will be in September.

Last I heard...they did do that. Maybe the school your daughter goes to changed things. But then again this was a Catholic school and not a public school.

[alcibiades_mystery]

37. They definitely don't nap in kindergarten in any Chicago Public Schools

[FSogol]

19. Cue David McCullough Jr.: "You're Not Special!"

[kestrel91316]

21. I agree. It's absurd. I graduated from HIGH SCHOOL and COLLEGE, which were

genuine achievements.

A waste of limited resources, IMHO, to do this with 6-yr-olds. Let them have a last day of school party. It will be less stressful for them.

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. Exactly.

[daaron]

28. THIS!!! ^^^^^

It's all part of the Cult of the Child that's become so prevalent among parents today. My two sons (now in teens) went to one public elementary school, and it was the same thing - all reward and punish Pavlovian attempts to shape behavior into little citizen-bots. Constant pestering from the school and other parents (including, eventually, my ex) to involve them in every activity - a sport, play-group, music lessons. There was always a message or an email trying to schedule carpools and babysitting and it's only $30 and... and... everyone seemed to walk to TALK and TALK and TALK about everything in minute detail. Jesus Christ! 3 o'clock? Sure. Babysitting? Fine. $30? Nah. Are we done now? Can we get back to reading or homework or farting around? Every generation seems to think they're doing it all for the first time. Well, we got here somehow, and that somehow was parenting. It can come as naturally as shitting, when one just loves and defends one's kids, every day.

Now, teh boys are in a public charter with an outward bound type program, and the end of term 'passage' means something to them, not me - they always come back chapped head to toe, and some kid always has to be evac'd on horseback from the deep wilderness for some minor injury... and with puffed up chests. They start these in 2nd grade, and the older kids watch out for the younger and really get attached. It's great to witness. So in the end, their passage means something to THEM, in part because it's a 10-day survival course and they survived, and in part because they create their own subculture in the process.

Meh. Most kids are great. Most teachers, too. It's most parents and the school administrators who kiss parent ass that I can't stand.

[vaberella]

6. I agree with what she's saying. Star Spangled Banner was a better song any way.

By the way she stopped the Bieber one...so that's not worth mentioning.

[obamanut2012]

12. Good to know -- thanks for posting!

[RZM]

7. The Bieber song has since been axed from the program as well

Although that seemed to be a hasty attempt at damage control in the face of all this publicity.

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/06/13/No-Greenwood-Bieber-for-kindergarten/UPI-13971339618482/

The principal was already something of a controversial figure before this. She has publicly referred to the school as 'racist' and refuses to join in the pledge of allegiance due to religious reasons (she's a Jehovah's Witness).

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Good news. Thanks.

[4th law of robotics]

15. She sounds like a fun boss to have

[obamanut2012]

10. I 100% agree with her about God Bless America

ESPECIALLY in NYC.

The Bieber song, however, is a bit random.

[lapislzi]

24. This is a big bucket of wtf

I absolutely agree that the "God Bless..." song is grossly inappropriate. But to replace it with...?

I remember kindergarten, and I remember belting out "This Land Is Your Land" with all the fervor in my little five-year-old soul. I still think that should be our national anthem.

[sakabatou]

25. My ears would've bled either way.

[Nye Bevan]

26. "I’m black. Your previous principal was white and Jewish. More of us are coming.”

http://www.newsy.com/mobile/video/song-choice-at-ny-kindergarten-graduation-causes-controversy/

This school is very, very lucky to have such a wonderful person as its principal.

[RZM]

39. Fuck her. She's the type of school administrator that believes tension serves her career

Instead of saying:

'I don't care what anybody's color is, I'm going to run this shit'

She says:

'Look at me! Race! FTW!'

I went to an 'inner city' school as a child and I watched these racial politics play out. They never serve the students. It's always about the administrator trying to claim some sort of racial throne so that they will be respected and obeyed on racial grounds. It's fucking bullshit.

Stop worrying about the racial politics and start worrying about the kids. Do that and there's no time for grandstanding, racial or otherwise.

[cherokeeprogressive]

40. Thus making the World a safer place... n/t

[oberliner]

42. Principal Is Trampled in a Rush to Vilify

Anyone who has ever considered a career in school administration, and paid attention to the recent experiences of Greta Hawkins, must surely be wondering whether tending a tollbooth on the George Washington Bridge would secure greater karmic rewards. Since September 2009, Ms. Hawkins, a former French teacher who worked in the New York City school system for 18 years, has served as the principal of Public School 90, an elementary school in Coney Island, Brooklyn, where attacks against her have had an eerie constancy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/nyregion/greta-hawkins-a-principal-trampled-in-the-rush-to-vilify.html