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Wisconsin First Grade Teacher Speaks Out After School 'Vetoes' Dolly Parton And Miley Cyrus Song

Dolly Parton; Miley Cyrus
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Melissa Tempel, a teacher at Heyer Elementary School in Waukesha, Wisconsin, says her class was excited to sing Parton and Cyrus' song 'Rainbowland' until the administrators vetoed it for being 'controversial.'

A lot of schools are cracking down on what they consider inappropriate. But to many people schools are taking things a bit too far.

This is the criticism facing Heyer Elementary School is Waukesha, Wisconsin.


The school decided to not allow first graders to sing the song "Rainbowland" by Miley Cyrus and her godmother Dolly Parton. The song is about acceptance and being who you are, but the school decided it is inappropriate.

While many of the students were excited to sing the song at their spring concert, the school decided to veto the song for being controversial.

The teacher of the first grade class, Melissa Tempel, took to social media to speak out against the school's decision.

You can see the tweet here:

The school district superintendent, James Sebert, made a statement saying when the teacher checked with the principal about the song, the principal compared the song to the district policy and:

"...determined that the song could be deemed controversial in accordance with the policy."

You can see news coverage here:

youtu.be

A lot of people had things to say about Tempel's tweet.

Among hateful comments, there was still a lot of support for the first grade teacher and her students.







The song lyrics speak of authenticity, diversity and inclusion.

For many it's hard to see how anyone would consider it controversial.

"Living in a Rainbowland, The skies are blue and things are grand,"
"Wouldn't it be nice to live in paradise, Where we're free to be exactly who we are,"
"Let's all dig down deep inside, Brush the judgment and fear aside,"
"Make wrong things right, And end the fight,"
"'Cause I promise ain't nobody gonna win."

You can see the music video for "Rainbowland" here:

youtu.be

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