Peabody holiday concert inappropriate song selection

[Anonymous]

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

You guys should sue. That would show ‘em.

And they would lose and look really stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yet, a PP complianed because they thought it inappropriate to teach 5 year olds about slavery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious do other DC public schools perform super religious songs in their holiday concerts? The Peabody music teacher had the kindergarten students perform "Mary Had a Baby:"

Mary had a baby (My Lord)
Mary had a baby (Oh My Lord)
Mary had a baby (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Where did she lay him (My Lord)
Where did she lay him (Oh My Lord)
Where did she lay him (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Laid him in a manger (My Lord)
Laid him in a manger (Oh My Lord)
Laid him in a manger (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone
What did she name him? (My Lord)
What did she name him? (Oh My Lord)
What did she name him? (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone

When parents complained, the principal apparently called it a "negro spiritual" and said if you don't like it, your kids can sit it out. This seems wholly inappropriate and insensitive for a DC public school. Is this the norm across the city?

Your kid is in PK4. He/She is just singing a song taught to them by the teacher. They're not reading anything whatsoever into it. Relax and try to enjoy/get through the Winter Concert, ferchrissakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious do other DC public schools perform super religious songs in their holiday concerts? The Peabody music teacher had the kindergarten students perform "Mary Had a Baby:"

Mary had a baby (My Lord)
Mary had a baby (Oh My Lord)
Mary had a baby (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Where did she lay him (My Lord)
Where did she lay him (Oh My Lord)
Where did she lay him (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Laid him in a manger (My Lord)
Laid him in a manger (Oh My Lord)
Laid him in a manger (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone
What did she name him? (My Lord)
What did she name him? (Oh My Lord)
What did she name him? (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone

When parents complained, the principal apparently called it a "negro spiritual" and said if you don't like it, your kids can sit it out. This seems wholly inappropriate and insensitive for a DC public school. Is this the norm across the city?

Your kid is in PK4. He/She is just singing a song taught to them by the teacher. They're not reading anything whatsoever into it. Relax and try to enjoy/get through the Winter Concert, ferchrissakes.

#ChristianPrivilege

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents should vote with their feet. Stop going to these concerts. Some funding these concerts in whole or in part. Get excused absences for any class time wasted on preparation for these concerts.

I dont think there should be any holiday concerts at public school. Heck we call it winter break not Christmas break. I don't actually know why Christmas is even a federal holiday but that is a bigger problem and a different thread.
Spot wasting kids time with this type of thing. They should be focused on actual learning. Leave the plays, dancing and singing for creative writing time or lit classes, dance and music in their respective specials classes or work led into lesson plans.
Have parent show up for a learning show case or winter science fair, math competition or spelling bee. Same for the end of year preforming a bunch of kind of cute song that have absolutely nothing to do with anything they learned that year. Just stop.

Sure my kid was cute in the preschool "graduation" but honestly it was a waist or time and money for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Your kid is in PK4. He/She is just singing a song taught to them by the teacher. They're not reading anything whatsoever into it.

Right, that's exactly the problem.

[Anonymous]

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.

So they should sing Taylor Swift?

[Anonymous]

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.

So they should sing Taylor Swift?

There are lots of songs that don’t focus on Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents should vote with their feet. Stop going to these concerts. Some funding these concerts in whole or in part. Get excused absences for any class time wasted on preparation for these concerts.

I dont think there should be any holiday concerts at public school. Heck we call it winter break not Christmas break. I don't actually know why Christmas is even a federal holiday but that is a bigger problem and a different thread.
Spot wasting kids time with this type of thing. They should be focused on actual learning. Leave the plays, dancing and singing for creative writing time or lit classes, dance and music in their respective specials classes or work led into lesson plans.
Have parent show up for a learning show case or winter science fair, math competition or spelling bee. Same for the end of year preforming a bunch of kind of cute song that have absolutely nothing to do with anything they learned that year. Just stop.

Sure my kid was cute in the preschool "graduation" but honestly it was a waist or time and money for everyone.

Holy cow. It’s only Jan 3 and you are this negative?

Learning to sing together, be part of a team effort, memorize lyrics, try a solo, perform in front of a group All these things ARE learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious do other DC public schools perform super religious songs in their holiday concerts? The Peabody music teacher had the kindergarten students perform "Mary Had a Baby:"

Mary had a baby (My Lord)
Mary had a baby (Oh My Lord)
Mary had a baby (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Where did she lay him (My Lord)
Where did she lay him (Oh My Lord)
Where did she lay him (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone
Laid him in a manger (My Lord)
Laid him in a manger (Oh My Lord)
Laid him in a manger (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone
What did she name him? (My Lord)
What did she name him? (Oh My Lord)
What did she name him? (My Lord)
The people keep coming but the train has gone

When parents complained, the principal apparently called it a "negro spiritual" and said if you don't like it, your kids can sit it out. This seems wholly inappropriate and insensitive for a DC public school. Is this the norm across the city?

Your kid is in PK4. He/She is just singing a song taught to them by the teacher. They're not reading anything whatsoever into it. Relax and try to enjoy/get through the Winter Concert, ferchrissakes.

#ChristianPrivilege

#ChristianHoliday, but who really gives a crap about a random song sung by a bunch of kindergarten kids. You're too thin-skinned. Grow up and get some perspective.