NYC principal bans God Bless America at graduation to avoid upsetting 'cultural sensitivities'

Daily Mail ^ | 6/10/2012 | Laura Cox

[Patriotic1]

A New York principle has sparked fury among parents, students and teachers after banning a patriotic song from being sung at graduation.

Kindergartners at PS 90, the Edna Cohen School in Coney Island will not be allowed to sing ‘God Bless the USA’ at their moving-up ceremony because principle Greta Hawkins has decided it is inappropriate.

The lyrics, she says could ‘offend other cultures’ and are ‘too grown-up’ for five-year-olds.

Controversially, Hawkins is allowing alternatives including ‘Baby’ by Justin Bieber, with flirty lyrics such as: ‘Are we an item? Girl, quit playing.’

In past years the kids would sing the song with pride at the end of their June 20 commencement, waving tiny American flags, all dressed up for the occasion.

But Hawkins has pulled the plug on their patriotism, much to the annoyance of many parents. 'A lot of people fought to move to America to live freely, so that song should be sung with a whole lot of pride,' mom Luz Lozada told the New York Post. She recalled one of her children singing the song at last year’s celebration. 'Everybody applauded and whistled,' she said. 'They gave it a standing ovation.'

It is not the first time that Hawkins, a Jehovas Witness, has tried to stamp down on the school's patriotic rituals. A few years ago she tried to end the tradition of students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing ‘America the Beautiful’.

[publius911]

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[gunsequalfreedom]

Thanks for posting the lyrics.

We would have had so much fun with this situation when we were in high school. We probably would have done the song ten times back to back.

What is wrong with kids these days?

Someone will probably consider going off to some separate location to sing the song, like they do when the pray before school. Like I need someone’s permission where and when to pray, or sing a song if I want to.

It is not like they are putting epoxy in all the locks to the class rooms the night before the first day of school. That would be really bad.

[Thumper1960]

I can still recall being in first garde and singing ‘’America, the beautiful’’, every morning after the pledge of allegiance. That was 46 years ago. I remember Kate Smith’s recording because of being a Philadelphia Flyers fan.
Back when I was in school, had any school administrator or teacher suggested such a thing as to ‘’ban’’ an American classic patriotic song, they’d not have been employed very long and we’d have sung, anyway.
If those parents had any gonads, they’d just stand up, en masse, and start singing and damn the ‘’consequences’’.
What will Missy Principal do? Call the cops? Make everyone stay in detention? Give ‘em all a spanking?
Bring it on!

[RedMonqey]

I agree with everything but I will add this:

Before there was a “Department of Education,” A Teachers Union and “tenure” and education was a local affair, teachers were picked from the local population and most likely attended the same church.

People knew the morals(or lack thereof) these teachers and were quick to rid themselves of unfit teachers.

An example:
I had a couple of harsh(my opinion at the time) teachers whom we called “the old dragons.” Nobody wanted to be in their class because they were very big on disciple and quick with the paddle.

One day my grandmother took me visiting to her friends as she often did when to my horror, Mrs Win opened the door. Little did I know my grandmother knew them all. Quiet as a church mouse I entered and discovered "the dragon" didn't breathe fire and have fangs of iron but was the nicest, kindest lady who chatted, made jokes and offered us cookies(homemade of course).

I was flabbergasted!
This couldn't be the same mean old woman in the classroom and the terror of all fifth graders..

But she and the rest of the “dragons” were kindly old grandmothers and I got to know them better in the years to follow. They were the best of their generation and took their job seriously. They weren't bottomfeeders looking for a cushy job with good 'benies" and the summers off. Like most things in life, I didn't know how good I had it until it was gone.