Student Well-Being

The Politics of School Choir Selections

By Anthony Rebora — May 13, 2011 1 min read
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When the Wasilla (Alaska) High School symphonic jazz choir’s plan to sing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” at this year’s graduation ceremony was suddenly cancelled due to parental complaints about the Freddy Mercury‘s sexual orientation, an angry—and resourceful—choir member took the matter to a local gay and lesbian support group and thence to the ACLU. The performance is back on again (although the lyrics about killing a man have been excised).

“We were joking about singing Elton John’s ‘Candle in the Wind,’ instead,” noted one choir member. “I guess no matter what you do, someone’s feathers are going to get ruffled.”

That’s a remark we’re sure many teachers can sympathize with.

(HT: The Daily Dish)

A version of this news article first appeared in the Teaching Now blog.