In today’s society, it can be difficult to let children be children for as long as possible. From social media to politics, children are exposed to adult topics at an earlier and earlier age. This was highlighted by a recent controversy at a Waukesha, Wisconsin, elementary school.
The school was hosting its annual spring concert, which is always an adorable event filled with smiling children, cute songs, and plenty of photos and videos for parents to look back on fondly. This year’s theme was “The World,” but controversy quickly arose when a first-grade teacher chose to have her class sing a song about the acceptance of the LGBTQ community.
The song in question was “Rainbowland” by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton, and it was ultimately banned from the performance due to concerns that it was too controversial. While the song has a catchy tune and a positive message, it raises the question of why 6-year-olds are being taught about sexual orientation at school, and why they are being used as performative activists to teach a moral lesson to society at a spring concert?
Of particular concern were lyrics such as “All the hurt and the hate going on here” and “Brush the judgement and fear aside,” which seem out of place in a song intended to spread joy and happiness. Additionally, many feel that children should be shielded from adult topics as long as possible, and should not be forced to grow up too quickly.
While there has been backlash against the administration for banning the song, it is important to remember that their decision was based on school policy, which states that anything “on which opposing points of view have been promulgated by responsible opinion; which may be the subject of intense public argument, disagreement or disapproval; which may have political, social or personal impacts on students and/or the community; and which is likely to arouse both support and opposition in the community” is considered controversial and should be avoided.
It is also worth noting that the LGBTQ community does not “own” the rainbow – while it has been adopted as a symbol of the community, there are plenty of songs about rainbows that have nothing to do with this topic, including the beloved “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog.
In conclusion, while it is important to teach children about acceptance and inclusion, it is equally important to let them be children for as long as possible. They should not be exposed to adult topics before they are ready, and they should not be used as pawns in the fight for social justice. Let children enjoy the simple magic of a rainbow for as long as they possibly can, and don’t take away their naivete before it is necessary.
