Last week, the news that Heyer Elementary, a school located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, banned its first-grade students from rehearsing and performing in their school’s concert “Rainbowland,” a song by Miley Cyrus and her godmother Dolly Parton, made rounds.
AMP in the post
The news came out when Melissa Tempel, a teacher at the school took to Twitter to vent her displeasure with the school’s administrators for their actions.
She tweeted, “My first graders were so excited to sing Rainbowland for our spring concert but it has been vetoed by our administration. When will it end?” Melissa went on to tag both Miley, Dolly, and Waukesha schools in her post. She also shared two stanzas from the song:
“Living in a Rainbowland / The skies are blue and things are grand / Wouldn’t it be nice to live in paradise / Where we’re free to be exactly who we are.”
“Let’s all dig down deep inside / Brush the judgment and fear aside,” the song continues. “Make wrong things right / And end the fight / ‘Cause I promise ain’t nobody gonna win (come on).”
Reports have it that the song was first sent to the school principal by a music teacher for approval but the central office administrator found out that the song “could be deemed controversial in accordance with [Board Policy 2240 – Controversial Issues in the Classroom].”
AMP in the post
Miley Cyrus — Parents and Teachers’ Reaction To The Song Being Vetoed
Associated Press reported that parents in the district gave the reason for the song’s ban saying it “encourages LGBTQ acceptance and references rainbows.”
However, James Sebert, Waukesha Superintendent said “the question was around whether the song was appropriate for the age and maturity level of the first-grade students.”
Due to the reason behind the pulling of the song, parents were outraged with the school, one parent called the move “politically motivated.”
Sarah Schindler, a mother of a first-grader at Heyer Elementary shared with the “Los Angeles Times” during an interview that, alongside “Rainbowland,” Kermit the Frog’s “Rainbow Connection” from “The Muppet Movie” was also axed but, while Kermit was later on reinstated, Miley and Dolly’s song is still axed.
AMP in the post
“I know, Miley Cyrus kind of has a past, in the spotlight with, you know, talking about drug use, and sexuality, and all of that. And Dolly Parton supports drag queens, and you know, that’s another thing going about in our country these days,” said Sarah to the outlet.
“It feels like, because of these extreme policies that have been put into place by our school board in the past year or two, that administration, principals, and teachers are now starting to second-guess all of their choices.”
Melissa on the other hand, sympathizes with the students who would be left confused as to why they were stopped from performing the song.
On Thursday, March 30, Melissa once again shared her thoughts on Twitter, “I feel for their mental and physical well-being, and I feel for their mental health. It’s really pretty terrifying to know that we’re going backwards.”
She went on to add, “If you don’t let me have a rainbow in my classroom, and my student has two moms, or if I had a rainbow sign in my class, and then it was removed, what is that telling that student? And how is that student expected to be able to learn under those conditions?”
Miley Cyrus — Miley’s Happy Hippie Foundation Responds To The Ban
Neither Miley nor her godmother Dolly dropped a comment about the issue. However, Miley’s Happy Hippie Foundation which was founded by the Hannah Montana alum decided to do something about it.
On Thursday, the foundation announced that they will be donating “LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms to help students and teachers.”
The organization which is none profit, created solely to support young people in the LGBTQIA+ community and those facing homelessness, made a statement that says self-acceptance has no particular age.
“To the inspiring first grade students at Heyer Elementary, keep being YOU. We believe in our Happy Hippie heart that you’ll be the ones to brush the judgment and fear aside and make all of us more understanding and accepting.”
The statement continued, “In honor & celebration of your BRIGHT future Happy Hippie is making a donation to [Pride and Less Prejudice] to help make classrooms more inclusive!”
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Miley Cyrus right now. Come back here often for all the Miley Cyrus’ spoilers, news, and updates.
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