In today’s society, children are often exposed to adult topics and situations far too soon. This can quickly rob them of their innocence and leave parents wondering how they can protect their children’s childhood for as long as possible. One recent controversy that exemplifies this phenomenon occurred at a Waukesha, Wisconsin, elementary school during the annual spring concert where children were set to perform a number of cheerful and uplifting songs. However, one teacher chose to have her first-grade class sing a country ditty called “Rainbowland” by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton, which was subsequently axed by the administration due to its contentious message of acceptance of the LGBTQ community.
The controversy hinges on an important question: why are 6-year-olds being taught anything about sexual orientation at school? It’s important to note that this is not an issue of supporting LGBTQ rights or denying children access to information that could help them understand important social issues. Rather, the issue at hand is that the first-grade children were being used as performative activists, to teach a moral lesson to society at a spring concert. Performing at a school concert should be about spreading joy, not promoting a particular social or political agenda.
Furthermore, the lyrics of the song are concerning. The children were being asked to sing about “All the hurt and the hate going on here,” among other things, which is not appropriate for a spring concert intended to spread happiness and jubilation. It doesn’t matter what the context is – young children should not be exposed to words and concepts that they don’t fully understand.
The backlash against the decision to cancel the performance of “Rainbowland” is understandable, as the LGBTQ community has adopted rainbows as a symbol of their movement. However, it’s important to remember that rainbows aren’t “owned” by anyone. There are plenty of songs about rainbows that have nothing to do with social or political issues, such as the classic “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie. Children should be allowed to enjoy the simple magic and beauty of rainbows without being exposed to complex social issues at a young age.
In conclusion, it’s important to let children be children for as long as possible. They will have their whole lives to deal with adult topics and situations, but childhood is a time that should be cherished and protected. School concerts should focus on spreading joy and excitement, not promoting social or political agendas. Let’s give children the gift of childhood for as long as we can. And let’s remember that rainbows are a symbol of beauty and magic, not social or political issues.