A teacher at Heyer School in Waukesha introduced her first-grade students to the song “Rainbowland” by Miley and Dolly Parton, which was planned for their spring show.
The students loved the song and wanted to hear it repeatedly. However, the school administration later informed the teacher that the song would not be permitted to be performed, leaving both the teacher and her students disappointed.
The teacher expressed confusion and sadness over the decision, given the students’ excitement and her extensive teaching experience.
Caretaker Deems “Rainbowland” Controversial
School District of Waukesha Superintendent Jim Sebert has confirmed that “Rainbowland” was removed from the set list for the spring show due to a specific school board policy.
The decision was made as the song was deemed potentially controversial and not age-appropriate for the students.
The district raised concerns about the social and personal impacts of the song on the student’s maturity level.
On Sunday, Sebert Was Unable To Be Reached For Any Comment
Heyer Elementary School teacher says it’s unclear what the district’s issue is with ‘Rainbowland.’
When questioned about why the song was removed, Tempel informed the Journal Sentinel that she was unsure of the reason.
The district has a vague policy regarding controversial content, which makes it difficult to determine what would be considered controversial.
Tempel had heard through word of mouth that the song was vetoed because of Cyrus’ involvement.
She expressed that musical artists often engage in controversial activities, so it would be odd to approach the topic in this manner. Every song could potentially be deemed controversial due to individuals’ past actions.
According to Parton’s interview with Taste of Country in 2017, the song promotes treating others with kindness and love to create a better world. She stated that the song is appropriate for the current times.
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The teacher expressed that the central message of “Rainbowland” is to embrace individual differences.
Tempel particularly admired lyrics such as “Let’s all dig down deep inside, brush the judgment and fear aside.
Make wrong things right and end the fight,” which align with the core values taught in schools and beyond.
Everyone should be proud of their appearance and learning style and appreciate the differences in others without fear.
For the upcoming May concert, “Rainbowland” was initially replaced by “Rainbow Connection” from “The Muppet Movie,” but that song was also later removed before being re-added.
Other songs scheduled for the performance include “It’s a Small World,” “De Colores,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “What a Wonderful World.
