Peabody holiday concert inappropriate song selection

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Wow this is a classic spiritual. I could see how you could be put off if you didn’t know, but once you know...really?

+1

I'm a atheist, and a former (ancient) Peabody parent, and I think this is a great choice, with historical ties to DC's majority population.

That was DC’s majority population when you had kids at Peabody - the city has changed and DCPS needs to keep up.

Nope. Next year, ask the music teacher in advance about the chosen music. Don’t like it? Have your kid sit out. Or just shut up and learn something that is clearly outside of your comfort zone.

Someone who clearly missed civics herself- minority populations, STFU - while the majority rules. Yikes.

What does it matter? Seriously. Is this deeply traumatizing for you? The kid’s teacher picked a song that’s culturally relevant to a population (clearly not YOUR population nor a population you have NO interest about). At least it’s historical. Still angry? LEAVE. withdraw your child, move, go away. I assure no one Willl miss you.

Your racism in assuming all POC are Christians is traumatizing - as is your grammar. Similarly, your racism that people don’t care about children outside their “population” unless they support children in a public school singing about Jesus is troubling.

I think someone worked up over a racially diverse DC elementary school singing a traditionally black spiritual Christmas song (in a concert that included a Hannukah song) likely has zero actual interest or insight in actually doing anything to help the actual disparities in the world.

It seems like the person most worked up is YOU, and totes agree you have zero interest in little beyond your internet slacktavism and/or little understanding of the world or its disparities. Sorry people disagreeing with you is so shocking to your system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow this is a classic spiritual. I could see how you could be put off if you didn’t know, but once you know...really?

+1

I'm a atheist, and a former (ancient) Peabody parent, and I think this is a great choice, with historical ties to DC's majority population.

That was DC’s majority population when you had kids at Peabody - the city has changed and DCPS needs to keep up.

Nope. Next year, ask the music teacher in advance about the chosen music. Don’t like it? Have your kid sit out. Or just shut up and learn something that is clearly outside of your comfort zone.

Someone who clearly missed civics herself- minority populations, STFU - while the majority rules. Yikes.

What does it matter? Seriously. Is this deeply traumatizing for you? The kid’s teacher picked a song that’s culturally relevant to a population (clearly not YOUR population nor a population you have NO interest about). At least it’s historical. Still angry? LEAVE. withdraw your child, move, go away. I assure no one Willl miss you.

Your racism in assuming all POC are Christians is traumatizing - as is your grammar. Similarly, your racism that people don’t care about children outside their “population” unless they support children in a public school singing about Jesus is troubling.

Why is it when an elitist is called out for an ignorant racist they rallying cry is BUT YOUR GRAMMER!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow this is a classic spiritual. I could see how you could be put off if you didn’t know, but once you know...really?

+1

I'm a atheist, and a former (ancient) Peabody parent, and I think this is a great choice, with historical ties to DC's majority population.

That was DC’s majority population when you had kids at Peabody - the city has changed and DCPS needs to keep up.

Nope. Next year, ask the music teacher in advance about the chosen music. Don’t like it? Have your kid sit out. Or just shut up and learn something that is clearly outside of your comfort zone.

Someone who clearly missed civics herself- minority populations, STFU - while the majority rules. Yikes.

What does it matter? Seriously. Is this deeply traumatizing for you? The kid’s teacher picked a song that’s culturally relevant to a population (clearly not YOUR population nor a population you have NO interest about). At least it’s historical. Still angry? LEAVE. withdraw your child, move, go away. I assure no one Willl miss you.

Your racism in assuming all POC are Christians is traumatizing - as is your grammar. Similarly, your racism that people don’t care about children outside their “population” unless they support children in a public school singing about Jesus is troubling.

Why is it when an elitist is called out for an ignorant racist they rallying cry is BUT YOUR GRAMMER!!!!

It's their equivalent of "your mama".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow this is a classic spiritual. I could see how you could be put off if you didn’t know, but once you know...really?

+1

I'm a atheist, and a former (ancient) Peabody parent, and I think this is a great choice, with historical ties to DC's majority population.

That was DC’s majority population when you had kids at Peabody - the city has changed and DCPS needs to keep up.

Nope. Next year, ask the music teacher in advance about the chosen music. Don’t like it? Have your kid sit out. Or just shut up and learn something that is clearly outside of your comfort zone.

Someone who clearly missed civics herself- minority populations, STFU - while the majority rules. Yikes.

What does it matter? Seriously. Is this deeply traumatizing for you? The kid’s teacher picked a song that’s culturally relevant to a population (clearly not YOUR population nor a population you have NO interest about). At least it’s historical. Still angry? LEAVE. withdraw your child, move, go away. I assure no one Willl miss you.

Your racism in assuming all POC are Christians is traumatizing - as is your grammar. Similarly, your racism that people don’t care about children outside their “population” unless they support children in a public school singing about Jesus is troubling.

I think someone worked up over a racially diverse DC elementary school singing a traditionally black spiritual Christmas song (in a concert that included a Hannukah song) likely has zero actual interest or insight in actually doing anything to help the actual disparities in the world.

The constitution applies to black people too. You don’t get to sing Jesus songs in public school just because you’re black or because it’s a traditionally black song.

And btw, adding other religious songs doesn’t make it better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure that “negro spirituals” are appropriate for kindergarteners. I am fine with them for older children who are learning about slavery and the civil war in history class who them learn them in music class.

The music teacher knew they overreached.

Oh come on! Black kids learn about this way younger than kindergarten. Just like Jewish kids learn about the treatment of Jews in Egypt very early. Hell, I learned that Christ was crucified before I was in kindergarten. It is fine for kids to learn about these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The constitution applies to black people too. You don’t get to sing Jesus songs in public school just because you’re black or because it’s a traditionally black song.

And btw, adding other religious songs doesn’t make it better.

THIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure that “negro spirituals” are appropriate for kindergarteners. I am fine with them for older children who are learning about slavery and the civil war in history class who them learn them in music class.

The music teacher knew they overreached.

Oh come on! Black kids learn about this way younger than kindergarten. Just like Jewish kids learn about the treatment of Jews in Egypt very early. Hell, I learned that Christ was crucified before I was in kindergarten. It is fine for kids to learn about these things.

Are you assuming that black and brown children are all Christian? Weird. Did you learn about “Christ being crucified” in a public school? Doubtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow this is a classic spiritual. I could see how you could be put off if you didn’t know, but once you know...really?

+1

I'm a atheist, and a former (ancient) Peabody parent, and I think this is a great choice, with historical ties to DC's majority population.

That was DC’s majority population when you had kids at Peabody - the city has changed and DCPS needs to keep up.

Nope. Next year, ask the music teacher in advance about the chosen music. Don’t like it? Have your kid sit out. Or just shut up and learn something that is clearly outside of your comfort zone.

Someone who clearly missed civics herself- minority populations, STFU - while the majority rules. Yikes.

Are we assuming African American parents have bad grammar? Super racist.

What does it matter? Seriously. Is this deeply traumatizing for you? The kid’s teacher picked a song that’s culturally relevant to a population (clearly not YOUR population nor a population you have NO interest about). At least it’s historical. Still angry? LEAVE. withdraw your child, move, go away. I assure no one Willl miss you.

Your racism in assuming all POC are Christians is traumatizing - as is your grammar. Similarly, your racism that people don’t care about children outside their “population” unless they support children in a public school singing about Jesus is troubling.

Why is it when an elitist is called out for an ignorant racist they rallying cry is BUT YOUR GRAMMER!!!!

It's their equivalent of "your mama".

[Anonymous]

Sorry. I really don’t mind any of it and I’m agnostic.

You guys should sue. That would show ‘em.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The constitution applies to black people too. You don’t get to sing Jesus songs in public school just because you’re black or because it’s a traditionally black song.

And btw, adding other religious songs doesn’t make it better.

THIS.

Well, this is what the constitution says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;". Cases related to holiday religious displays/music in schools are interesting and complicated. Courts have affirmed the choice of some districts to strictly limit displays and performances with religious content, but have also suggested that music with religious themes can be permissible as long as it is educational and not so weighted toward one faith tradition that it begins to "establish" that religion.

[Anonymous]

I'm fine with it for my kid, but I can empathize for families of other faiths who don't like their kid being taught to recite/sing a line where they're saying that a religious figure is their own. Would any of you Christian or Jewish families feel differently if your kid was asked to sing a song some other time during the year where the chorus included "My Allah" or "Praise Allah"? Since parents aren't privy to most things going on in individual classes, I don't think expecting a kid to choose to sit out on their own is the right solution.

Seems to me like this song is pretty far outside the traditional Christmas setlist and wouldn't be missed since there are so many other songs to choose from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm fine with it for my kid, but I can empathize for families of other faiths who don't like their kid being taught to recite/sing a line where they're saying that a religious figure is their own. Would any of you Christian or Jewish families feel differently if your kid was asked to sing a song some other time during the year where the chorus included "My Allah" or "Praise Allah"? Since parents aren't privy to most things going on in individual classes, I don't think expecting a kid to choose to sit out on their own is the right solution.

Seems to me like this song is pretty far outside the traditional Christmas setlist and wouldn't be missed since there are so many other songs to choose from.

So, there was actually a school that got in hot water over a Ramadan song in which the kids sing "Allah is God, we pray...something something" and I would not have been bothered by that either. If my child's faith is so fragile that they can't sing about another religious tradition, that's on me.

[Anonymous]

My kids have sung songs about other religions with similar lyrics throughout their ES years. I don’t care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm fine with it for my kid, but I can empathize for families of other faiths who don't like their kid being taught to recite/sing a line where they're saying that a religious figure is their own. Would any of you Christian or Jewish families feel differently if your kid was asked to sing a song some other time during the year where the chorus included "My Allah" or "Praise Allah"? Since parents aren't privy to most things going on in individual classes, I don't think expecting a kid to choose to sit out on their own is the right solution.

Seems to me like this song is pretty far outside the traditional Christmas setlist and wouldn't be missed since there are so many other songs to choose from.

So, there was actually a school that got in hot water over a Ramadan song in which the kids sing "Allah is God, we pray...something something" and I would not have been bothered by that either. If my child's faith is so fragile that they can't sing about another religious tradition, that's on me.

If it was all the time I'd get it, but the amount of complaints about one song is weird! Maybe not the best choice but not the end of the world as we know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Courts have affirmed the choice of some districts to strictly limit displays and performances with religious content, but have also suggested that music with religious themes can be permissible as long as it is educational and not so weighted toward one faith tradition that it begins to "establish" that religion.

I think the important thing to remember here is this was 5 year olds that were given zero instruction as to the background or explanation of the meaning of the song. The teacher didn’t have lesson plans around it or provide any context to the history of the song. She simply did a repeat after me to teach the song so the children memorized it (confirmed by multiple families). Everyone up in arms about how the song is an important piece of American and African American history is missing this point - there was no discussion, there was no learning, there was no educational component. There simply was memorization.