Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton song

2023 - 3 - 29

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Wall Street Journal"

Wisconsin First Grade Class Banned From Singing Miley Cyrus ... (The Wall Street Journal)

Administrators at a Waukesha school said the song 'could be deemed controversial'. Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus's 'Rainbowland' is about living in a world ...

Melissa Tempel, 44 years old, and her students had been rehearsing the tune for three days, she said, singing melodies about how nice it would be to live in a world without judgment. Then officials in the Waukesha School District said last week that the first-graders couldn’t sing “Rainbowland” at a school concert in May. First-graders at a Wisconsin school have been banned from singing “Rainbowland” by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton at a concert after school officials said the song “could be deemed controversial.”

Wisconsin school district bans Miley Cyrus-Dolly Parton Song (CBS News)

"Wouldn't it be nice to live in paradise, where we're free to be exactly who we are," Cyrus and Parton sing.

Sebert said some signage has been taken down in accordance with the policy that resulted in the "Rainbowland" ban, but did not specifically refer to signage with rainbows. But within one day of students learning the song, Tempel said that school administration asked her to remove "Rainbowland" from the concert. She said that last year, administrators asked teachers throughout the district to take down rainbow decor and to stop wearing rainbow lanyards or clothing. "Wouldn't it be nice to live in paradise, where we're free to be exactly who we are," Cyrus and Parton sing. Students were also set to perform "Rainbowland," a 2017 duet by Miley Cyrus and her godmother, Dolly Parton, with lyrics that advocate for inclusion. Tempel and her co-teacher, dual-language instructors at the school, wanted the concert to have a theme of world unity and peace.

Parent Outrage Over 'Rainbowland' Song Ban at Wisconsin School (Newsweek)

The school district has banned rainbow Pride flags from classrooms and explained that the song may have been too "controversial."

"It's really just about dreaming and hoping that we could all do better. "It's so sad that this is seen as a 'controversial issue' by the School District of Waukesha. The song says that it would be "nice to live in paradise" to be "free to be exactly who we are," away from judgment and fear. "So this song being an 'issue' has not in any way come as a surprise. He pointed to school board policy that prevented raising political or controversial topics in classrooms. The move was backed by Jim Sebert, superintendent at School District of Waukesha.

Wis. school blocks 1st-graders from singing 'Rainbowland' in spring ... (The Washington Post)

The School District of Waukesha said the song was deemed controversial in accordance with district policy. Parents and teachers want to know why.

“This is so much more than a decision to not sing a song,” she said. I feel confident that their problem is with what they think Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton and rainbows represent — not about the message of the song.” The song selected was Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog.” The idea to perform a song that describes a utopia “where we’re free to be exactly who we are” came in a collaboration with the school’s music teacher. But after backlash from parent groups, the school decided to keep “Rainbow Connection.” And we love Dolly.”

Wisconsin school district bans kids from singing a Dolly Parton-Miley ... (Boing Boing)

A first grade class at Heyer Elementary in Wisconsin was told they could not sing a song by Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus for an upcoming spring concert ...

Warning: it contains "rainbow" in the title. Its name, however, includes the word "rainbow," and in a school district taken over by right-wingers, this word and all things colorful seem to be taboo. A first grade class at Heyer Elementary in Wisconsin was told they could not sing a song by Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus for an upcoming spring concert because it was too "controversial."

Miley Cyrus-Dolly Parton song banned from school concert for being ... (silive.com)

Wisconsin parents say the decision was made because the song encourages acceptance and references rainbows.

First-grade teacher Melissa Tempel said she chose the song because its message seemed universal and sweet. “Let’s all dig down deep inside, brush the judgment and fear aside,” the song from Cyrus’ 2017 album “Younger Now” goes. Students at Heyer Elementary School in Waukesha had prepared a rendition of “Rainbowland” for their spring concert, but school officials struck the song from the lineup last week.

Wis. school district bans first graders from singing Cyrus-Parton duet ... (NBC News)

A Wisconsin school district has banned a first grade class from singing Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton's duet “Rainbowland” because it was deemed ...

The class ultimately stuck with "Rainbow Connection" after “parents sent emails to admin,” Tempel said. "The Rainbowland story is about much more than a banned song. D’oh, I thought for sure it was [@DollyParton](https://twitter.com/DollyParton) and her beautiful drag queen followers! “It’s really just about dreaming and hoping that we could all do better. Where we’re free to be exactly who we are / Let’s all dig down deep inside / Brush the judgment and fear aside.” “It’s really about if we could love one another a little better or be a little kinder, be a little sweeter, we could live in rainbow land,” Parton said.