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Teacher suspended for playing song about being gay

rocket88

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South Lyon teacher suspended for playing song about being gay - Fox 2 News Headlines

Freedom of Speech issue?

One student asked to play the song. Since it wasn't violent or explicit, the teacher said it was OK. Another student took offense to the song and complained to the Principal. Teacher got suspended.

I think this is a prime example of political correctness gone wrong. Much like if a teacher played a song about being a Christian, and some kid got offended, the teacher would also be suspended.

There comes a time when the sillyness has to stop from all sides and just accept that you will NEVER be 100% not offended by something.
 
Here are the song lyrics:

When I was in the third grade I thought that I was gay
‘Cause I could draw, and my uncle was, and I kept my room straight
I told my mom tears rushing down my face
She’s like “Ben you've loved girls since before pre-k shrimp”
Trippin’, yeah, I guess she had a point, didn’t she?
Bunch of stereotypes all in my head.
I remember doing the math like, “yea I’m good at little league”
A preconceived idea of what it all meant
For those that liked the same sex
Had the characteristics
The right wing conservatives think it’s a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man made rewiring of a predisposition
Playing god, aw nah here we go
America the brave still fears what we don’t know
And god loves all his children, is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago
I don’t know

And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
I can't change
Even if I try
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately
"Man, that’s gay" gets dropped on the daily
We become so numb to what we’re saying
A culture founded from oppression
Yet we don’t have acceptance for ‘em
Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser
It’s the same hate that’s caused wars from religion
Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment
The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins
It’s human rights for everybody, there is no difference!
Live on and be yourself
When I was at church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service those words aren’t anointed
That holy water that you soak in is then poisoned
When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same, but that’s not important
No freedom till we’re equal, damn right I support it

And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

We press play, don’t press pause
Progress, march on
With the veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
Till the day that my uncles can be united by law
When kids are walking ‘round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are
And a certificate on paper isn’t gonna solve it all
But it’s a damn good place to start
No law is gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god we believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it’s all the same love
About time that we raised up

And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
I can't change
Even if I try
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is patient
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
Love is kind

I really don't see why the teacher should have been suspended for this. The song's message is amazing. Perhaps there should have been more consideration of why the offended kid was offended...seems that's where the real problem lies.
 
Conservative correctness - RationalWiki

Conservative correctness is a term referring to a brand of political correctness practiced by conservatives. Where as political correctness attempts to minimize offense through the rebranding of certain words and terms to be neutral or inclusive, its conservative counterpart rebrands terms to include extreme political bias. Concepts which are liked are Americanized or linked with positive thoughts such as freedom or liberty, while the disliked terms are rebranded in the most negative light possible - notably describing homosexuality as an "unnatural vice", for example. "C.C." is especially ironic considering that the most heated decrying of "P.C." usually comes from conservatives.
 
South Lyon teacher suspended for playing song about being gay - Fox 2 News Headlines

Freedom of Speech issue?

One student asked to play the song. Since it wasn't violent or explicit, the teacher said it was OK. Another student took offense to the song and complained to the Principal. Teacher got suspended.

You know - I had to read the lyrics:
MACKLEMORE - SAME LOVE LYRICS

And then I thought to my Theater and Dance class last semester - almost EVERYTHING we learned about regarding modern theater and music had to do with homosexuality. . . it comes up when you're in that subject.

Now - thinking back to this - they're in the 8th grade.

1) Is there a rule or guideline that explicitly states the content of music should be considered?
2) Is there a rule or guideline that explicitly states that the content of music should be heard ahead of time before okaying to listen to?


I think the teacher in the OP shouldn't be suspended - but instead they should consider defining what is ok to play in school and what isn't. They push violence - etc - so she asked about that. if she asked 'what is it about?" and he said 'homosexuality' what would she have done?

Honestly - I was shocked when my kids said they were listening the LMFAO's 'Sexy and I Know It" song in class. . . but the lyrics of the aforementioned song aren't about sex. . . so apparently it's all in response to the complaint from the student. . . which is a school-by-school issue.
 
You know - I had to read the lyrics:
MACKLEMORE - SAME LOVE LYRICS

And then I thought to my Theater and Dance class last semester - almost EVERYTHING we learned about regarding modern theater and music had to do with homosexuality. . . it comes up when you're in that subject.

Now - thinking back to this - they're in the 8th grade.

1) Is there a rule or guideline that explicitly states the content of music should be considered?
2) Is there a rule or guideline that explicitly states that the content of music should be heard ahead of time before okaying to listen to?


I think the teacher in the OP shouldn't be suspended - but instead they should consider defining what is ok to play in school and what isn't. They push violence - etc - so she asked about that. if she asked 'what is it about?" and he said 'homosexuality' what would she have done?

Honestly - I was shocked when my kids said they were listening the LMFAO's 'Sexy and I Know It" song in class. . . but the lyrics of the aforementioned song aren't about sex. . . so apparently it's all in response to the complaint from the student. . . which is a school-by-school issue.

I see the point. I understand that there may be a rule in place about certain things, but if the song had been about how he loves his girlfriend, there would be no issue.
 
Here are the song lyrics:



I really don't see why the teacher should have been suspended for this. The song's message is amazing. Perhaps there should have been more consideration of why the offended kid was offended...seems that's where the real problem lies.

This, ridiculous to get offended by this song.
 
South Lyon teacher suspended for playing song about being gay - Fox 2 News Headlines

Freedom of Speech issue?

One student asked to play the song. Since it wasn't violent or explicit, the teacher said it was OK. Another student took offense to the song and complained to the Principal. Teacher got suspended.

This is the perfect example of people being offended over things that really don't matter...
So a song had something to do with gays, why does that effect someone? People need to stop being so butthurt, and accept that there are gays in the world and that they're just as natural as anyone else.
 
This is the perfect example of people being offended over things that really don't matter...
So a song had something to do with gays, why does that effect someone? People need to stop being so butthurt, and accept that there are gays in the world and that they're just as natural as anyone else.

In fairness, that should also go for songs about being Christian. However, the elementary school near our house is not allowed to play any songs dealing with religion because it may "offend" someone.

L
 
Says student played music on class. Now the student can't play music on class but should pay attention to the lectures. Was this an assignment?
 
Mere paranoia from the political/religious/dogma bigots who have too much time on their hands.
 
In fairness, that should also go for songs about being Christian. However, the elementary school near our house is not allowed to play any songs dealing with religion because it may "offend" someone.

L

I agree whole-heartedly, but I don't think that there should be a ban on any sort of media in schools unless it's actually explicit in some way. People just need to learn to be more accepting than condemning.
 
I agree whole-heartedly, but I don't think that there should be a ban on any sort of media in schools unless it's actually explicit in some way. People just need to learn to be more accepting than condemning.

I'd agree with that.
 

"Conservative correctness" imo comes as a result of the expunging of school prayer and bible study groups. Free speech for thee, but not for me? The line was drawn too broadly on religious expression in schools, but some seem to think that no line ought to be drawn at all when it comes to the subject of sex and sexual orientation and young children. These were eighth graders, not seniors.
 
"Conservative correctness" imo comes as a result of the expunging of school prayer and bible study groups. Free speech for thee, but not for me? The line was drawn too broadly on religious expression in schools, but some seem to think that no line ought to be drawn at all when it comes to the subject of sex and sexual orientation and young children. These were eighth graders, not seniors.

Conservatives have been pushing their own version of political correctness for decades before the Supreme Court secularized the school system. Again: "Liberty Cabbage" is at the top of the page.
 
Conservatives have been pushing their own version of political correctness for decades before the Supreme Court secularized the school system. Again: "Liberty Cabbage" is at the top of the page.

So you agree that pushing a sanitized version of reality, from either side, is pointless and people should allow others to freely express themselves?

ADDED: BTW I believe...in homicide, too. That's the truth of it.
 
So you agree that pushing a sanitized version of reality, from either side, is pointless and people should allow others to freely express themselves?

Yes. And I see "political correctness" coming primarily from conservatives these days, particularly with their Christian whitewashing of American foundational history and Catholicism in America pre-1960.

But feel free to nail yourself to that cross if it assuages your persecution complex.
 
Yes. And I see "political correctness" coming primarily from conservatives these days, particularly with their Christian whitewashing of American foundational history and Catholicism in America pre-1960.

But feel free to nail yourself to that cross if it assuages your persecution complex.

Don't be a jerk, dude. You can't pray or have a bible study group in any public school in the U.S. and that is flat out not fair. I would hope you could have a fair and friendly discussion of the issue unlike most internet gadflies who live to troll.
 
Don't be a jerk, dude. You can't pray or have a bible study group in any public school in the U.S. and that is flat out not fair. I would hope you could have a fair and friendly discussion of the issue unlike most internet gadflies who live to troll.

Frankly, I don't like Catholics. Neither did most of America's Founders, except maybe the Maryland delegation, or its WASP establishment until the 1950s. They were right.
 
"Conservative correctness" imo comes as a result of the expunging of school prayer and bible study groups. Free speech for thee, but not for me? The line was drawn too broadly on religious expression in schools, but some seem to think that no line ought to be drawn at all when it comes to the subject of sex and sexual orientation and young children. These were eighth graders, not seniors.

I think 8th graders can deal with the fact that some people are gay. My son's in 4th grade and he gets it.

I agree that the line on religious expression has been drawn too broadly. While I don't like the idea of mandatory prayers to Jesus, I think a moment to allow private prayer to the student's god of choice is fine. I also have no real problem with having a Bible Study club as long as it's voluntary.
 
That the influence of Catholicism in America ought to be curtailed. (Consider that the first push to remove religion from the school system came, not from liberal Democratic radicals, but conservative Republicans in the 1920s in the Midwest to fight Catholicism.)

Since you brought the issue up: Do you have religious courses anywhere in US in schools that is?

This is an important question for people sometimes ask me.
 
Since you brought the issue up: Do you have religious courses anywhere in US?

This is an important question for people sometimes ask me.

It very strongly correlates to physical location in the country. Most of the time, no, but biology classes in much of the South have become de facto religious classes in the past ten to fifteen years. In fact, the public school system in the southern fourth of the country is becoming increasingly indistinguishable from parochial schools, save the emphasis tends to be on evangelical Protestantism.
 
I personally see nothing wrong with the lyrics, as it's nothing explicit or obsene.

But then again, the school may have rules about this. I would have to look into it.
 
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