I don’t understand why schools feel the need to do “seasonal” music at all. Let them sing old top 40 hits or something.

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 ... Next year they should perform "White Christmas"?

Songs like Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angel Sing are all time best sellers in multiple languages all over the world. My school did a good job of putting it into context. I loved that my daughter in choir knew these songs and could appreciate hearing a holiday choral concert at the Kennedy Center.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I do not practice any religion, but being a classical music lover, I would rather hear beautiful music rooted in meaningful experiences and history than anything else. All religious songs are welcome, and I wouldn't mind hearing them in a public school setting.

Good for you as an adult to make a choice for YOURSELF. Not appropriate for you to compel children to sing in a publicly funded school.

+1, I am an atheist and never been Christian and I would be completely annoyed with my child, who identifies as atheist being forced to sing this at a public school. Not appropriate.

Then you can pull your kid from school for that day. Do you also object to them studying Islamic art, playing Handel's Messiah in band?

OMG. I can't believe that not only some penny-ante Hill preschool parent is up in arms about this, but that they are ALSO taking their absurd grievance to MOTH and DCUM and g-d knows where else. I think what gets met he most is the attack on the Peabody teachers that organized the concert. It takes a special kind of person to go on a public crusade against your child's teachers and school like this, as opposed to just taking it up privately if you're so bothered.

As long as the performance wasn't a full-on Nativity play, there's absolutely no legal or ethical reason why it can't include a historical religious song. If you are so opposed to your child signing that, then yes, you can keep them out of the performance. But to excise all religious music and art from schools is obviously untenable. As the mom in an interfaith family, I find that generally the schools around here do a good job of balancing the Christmas season by having some fun and keeping it mostly secular.

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.

DCPS is majority African American. Though I personally don’t think that’s the most important argument— exposing your kids to classic American spirituals and choral music is a good thing. Trust me, as a catholic raised in the post-Vatican II guitar mass era, there is PLENTY of religious Christmas music that doesn’t qualify.

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.

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.

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?

What's "insensitive" about it? Educate me please.

NP

I agree. The things parents get offended by is getting crazy. Enjoy the singing and move on.

Some of us wouldn't want that coming out of our kids mouths.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I do not practice any religion, but being a classical music lover, I would rather hear beautiful music rooted in meaningful experiences and history than anything else. All religious songs are welcome, and I wouldn't mind hearing them in a public school setting.

Good for you as an adult to make a choice for YOURSELF. Not appropriate for you to compel children to sing in a publicly funded school.

+1, I am an atheist and never been Christian and I would be completely annoyed with my child, who identifies as atheist being forced to sing this at a public school. Not appropriate.

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?

What's "insensitive" about it? Educate me please.

NP

I agree. The things parents get offended by is getting crazy. Enjoy the singing and move on.

Anonymous wrote:
I do not practice any religion, but being a classical music lover, I would rather hear beautiful music rooted in meaningful experiences and history than anything else. All religious songs are welcome, and I wouldn't mind hearing them in a public school setting.

Good for you as an adult to make a choice for YOURSELF. Not appropriate for you to compel children to sing in a publicly funded school.

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 mean I think in a lot of schools it is the norm. Heck, at our dcps when they sign "happy birthday" a large number or teachers and students include the line "and may God bless you" at the end. It surprised me a lot the first time. But we just talked about different beliefs, how often people are intending to be kind not mean or exclusionary as a family and moved on.
I would love that my kid could learn the history of such music and enjoy it independently of the religion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inappropriate.

Oh, get a life. What do you want them to sing? Beyoncé?

How about nothing to do with one religion? Would you be so dismissive if they were sign Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist songs and not one Christian song for the school winter show?? After all it can not be a Christmas show at a dcps.