Principal bars patriotic song from kindergarten graduation ceremony

Patriotic song barred from kindergarten graduation. Photo via stock.xchng.

A Coney Island principal is coming under a lot of heat for removing a patriotic song from her school’s kindergarten graduation song list. PS 90 kindergarteners were to sing Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American” at their June 20th ceremony. However, at a recent rehearsal, Principal Greta Hawkins decided to have the song removed from their performance.

Teachers have told the New York Post that Hawkins decided to pull the plug on the song because she did not want to offend other cultures. The New York Department of Education has stated that Hawkins removed the song from the list because the lyrics are age-inappropriate. The Department supports Hawkins decision that the song, which starts “If tomorrow, all the things were gone,” is not appropriate for the kindergartners.

According to My Fox New York, the children will be singing “Shake Your Sillies Out” by Raffi,”You’ve Got A Friend In Me” from the movie “Toy Story” and “Baby” by Justin Bieber. “God Bless the USA” has reportedly been scrapped from the performance as well.

Parents and staff members have been stunned by Hawkins’ decision.

Luz Lozada, a parent of one of the kindergartners, revealed to My Fox New York some of the parents’ frustration over the choice, “‘I’m Proud to be an American’ is a patriotic song that everybody should be happy to sing and a lot of other cultures are here because they want to live freely and that should be no problem.”

She has also voiced concern over the appropriateness of the Justin Bieber song which addresses teenage love.

Jessica Scaperotti, a spokesperson for the DOE, said that Hawkins has been targeted by the teacher’s union and has received threatening mail. The situation is currently being investigated by the NYPD.

UPDATE: Principal Hawkins has also removed the Justin Bieber song from those to be sung at the ceremony according to Fox News.