Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Wisconsin First Grade Teacher Speaks Out After School 'Vetoes' Dolly Parton And Miley Cyrus Song

Dolly Parton; Miley Cyrus
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Melissa Tempel, a teacher at Heyer Elementary School in Waukesha, Wisconsin, says her class was excited to sing Parton and Cyrus' song 'Rainbowland' until the administrators vetoed it for being 'controversial.'

A lot of schools are cracking down on what they consider inappropriate. But to many people schools are taking things a bit too far.

This is the criticism facing Heyer Elementary School is Waukesha, Wisconsin.


The school decided to not allow first graders to sing the song "Rainbowland" by Miley Cyrus and her godmother Dolly Parton. The song is about acceptance and being who you are, but the school decided it is inappropriate.

While many of the students were excited to sing the song at their spring concert, the school decided to veto the song for being controversial.

The teacher of the first grade class, Melissa Tempel, took to social media to speak out against the school's decision.

You can see the tweet here:

The school district superintendent, James Sebert, made a statement saying when the teacher checked with the principal about the song, the principal compared the song to the district policy and:

"...determined that the song could be deemed controversial in accordance with the policy."

You can see news coverage here:

youtu.be

A lot of people had things to say about Tempel's tweet.

Among hateful comments, there was still a lot of support for the first grade teacher and her students.







The song lyrics speak of authenticity, diversity and inclusion.

For many it's hard to see how anyone would consider it controversial.

"Living in a Rainbowland, The skies are blue and things are grand,"
"Wouldn't it be nice to live in paradise, Where we're free to be exactly who we are,"
"Let's all dig down deep inside, Brush the judgment and fear aside,"
"Make wrong things right, And end the fight,"
"'Cause I promise ain't nobody gonna win."

You can see the music video for "Rainbowland" here:

youtu.be

More from News/lgbtq

Screenshot of Anne Hathaway; Kamala Harris
Yay Show Vids/YouTube; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Anne Hathaway Endorses Harris While Belting Out Queen Song For Broadway Fundraiser

Academy Award-winning actor Anne Hathaway endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris while belting out Queen's "Somebody to Love," a song she also sang in the 2004 movie Ella Enchanted, during for a Broadway for Harris fundraiser on Monday.

A video from the fundraiser captured Hathaway on stage wearing a black shimmery tuxedo jacket, matching shorts, and thigh-high leather boots as she voiced her support for Harris ahead of November's presidential election.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pharrell Williams
Apple Music

Pharrell Williams Gets Candid About How Writing The Song 'Happy' Actually 'Broke' Him

Music artist Pharrell Williams divulged the surprising origin for his optimistic bop "Happy," written for the soundtrack of the Dreamworks animated film Despicable Me 2.

Williams showed up with filmmaker Morgan Neville for an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe to discuss their latest collaboration, Piece by Piece, an upcoming biographical documentary film about the musician's life and career rendered in Lego animation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sydney Sweeney; Puddles duck mascot for University of Oregon
Earl Gibson III/Penske Media via Getty Images, Tom Hauck/Getty Images

Sydney Sweeney Hilariously Responds To Oregon Mascot's Flirtatious Sign At Football Game

Actor Sydney Sweeney has no plans of becoming romantically linked with anyone else but her fiancé, businessman Jonathan Davino, to whom she got engaged last year.

Still, that didn't stop the football mascot for the University of Oregon Ducks, Puddles, from shooting his shot at winning her affection.

Keep ReadingShow less
Josh Hawley; Harrison Butker
Joe Raedle/Getty Images; Chris Unger/Getty Images

Josh Hawley Posted A Pic With BFF Harrison Butker On National Coming Out Day—And Here Come The Jokes

Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley raised eyebrows after sharing a photo on X of himself with conservative Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker on a football field on October 11—which just so happened to be National Coming Out Day.

Hawley's post came after Butker endorsed him over the weekend while announcing he'd launched UPRIGHT PAC, a political action committee designed to court Christian voters.

Keep ReadingShow less
Robot from 'I, Robot'; Elon Musk
20th Century Fox; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

'I, Robot' Director Puts Musk On Blast After New Tesla Designs Bear Striking Similarity To Film

If you took a look at Elon Musk's new Optimus robots and self-driving vehicles and thought "where have I seen this before?" you are not alone.

You might be thinking of the 2004 futuristic Will Smith sci-fi film I, Robot, because the film's director is convinced that's where Musk got his design ideas.

Keep ReadingShow less