Posted March 29, 2023 by: Admin #News

A school in Wisconsin has banned Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton’s duet song “Rainbowland” from being performed at their first-grade spring concert. The decision has left students and their teacher, Melissa Tempel, feeling disappointed and confused. Tempel, who has been teaching for 20 years and is national board certified, introduced the song to her students and said they loved it and wanted to hear it “over and over again.”

However, the Heyer Elementary School administration decided to drop “Rainbowland” from the setlist, citing concerns that the song could be perceived as controversial and may not be appropriate for the age and maturity level of the students. School District of Waukesha Superintendent Jim Sebert confirmed that the decision was based on a specific school board policy, and that the district questioned whether the song’s “social or personal impacts” would be appropriate for the students.

When asked why the song was pulled, Tempel expressed confusion and said that the controversial content policy within the district is “a little bit vague.” She also heard through the grapevine that the song’s veto had to do with Cyrus being the singer of it. Tempel said that the lyrics of “Rainbowland” promote inclusivity, acceptance, and being true to oneself, which are values that schools strive to teach their students.

The school replaced “Rainbowland” with “Rainbow Connection” from “The Muppet Movie” for the May concert, but then that song was also axed, according to Tempel. The school has since re-added “Rainbow Connection” and other songs, such as “It’s a Small World,” “De Colores,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “What a Wonderful World,” will be performed at the show.