Current:Home > StocksPennsylvania school district’s decision to cut song from student concert raises concerns -Edge Finance Strategies
Pennsylvania school district’s decision to cut song from student concert raises concerns
View
Date:2025-04-24 12:57:25
ROARING SPRING, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania school district’s decision to remove a song from a recent student choral concert has divided the community and spurred a review by a civil rights group.
“ Lift Every Voice And Sing,” a late-19th century hymn sometimes referred to as the Black national anthem, was among several songs that were to be performed during the May 7 show by the Spring Cove Middle School chorus. The Altoona Mirror reported that district officials cut the song the day before the concert, saying students had voiced concerns about the song and the “divisiveness and controversy in the nation.”
The district also received several calls from people regarding the song and its inclusion in the concert, officials said. This raised concerns about potential disruptions at the show.
School Board President Troy Wright called the decision a “lose-lose situation” and said parents were threatening to pull their children from the concert over the song.
“We can’t make everyone happy,” Wright told the newspaper. “We have to do the balancing act between who supports it and who doesn’t support it, and our job is trying to find the balance between it.”
The decision to cut the song was made by District Superintendent Betsy Baker and Middle School Principal Amy Miller. Baker said “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was one of many songs selected for the chorus by the music teachers who “picked songs that they felt were appropriate.” Because the chorus practiced other songs, one of those was picked to fill the slot.
“We wanted everyone to feel comfortable,” Baker told the newspaper, saying the decision to cut the song was “clearly a divisive issue here” and stressing that race had nothing to do with the decision.
“There was no right decision, but we focused on letting all of the kids participate in the concert,” Baker said.
Stephen Hershberger, whose son was among the students performing in the chorus concert, was among residents who criticized the decision.
“Cutting the song just sends the message that a few individuals’ discomfort outweighs the perspective and care and concern of minority students and others who don’t have the same beliefs as them,” Hershberger told the newspaper.
The Blair County NAACP has said it executive board will proceed with a formal investigation into the district’s decision, the newspaper reported.
veryGood! (62487)
Related
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- California’s Car Culture Is Slowing the State’s Emissions Cuts
- Kate Middleton Is Pretty in Pink at Jordan's Royal Wedding With Prince William
- Richard Allen confessed to killing Indiana girls as investigators say sharp object used in murders, documents reveal
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- The 9 Best Amazon Air Conditioner Deals to Keep You Cool All Summer Long
- Perry’s Grid Study Calls for Easing Pollution Rules on Power Plants
- Latest Canadian wildfire smoke maps show where air quality is unhealthy now and forecasts for the near future
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- Hurry to Aerie's Sale Section for $15 Bikinis, $20 Skirts, $16 Leggings & More 60% Off Deals
Ranking
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Why Jury Duty's Ronald Gladden Could Be Returning to Your Television Screen
- Should ketchup be refrigerated? Heinz weighs in, triggering a social media food fight
- Only Rihanna Could Wear a Use a Condom Tee While Pregnant
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Hurry to Aerie's Sale Section for $15 Bikinis, $20 Skirts, $16 Leggings & More 60% Off Deals
- Amanda Seyfried Shares How Tom Holland Bonded With Her Kids on Set of The Crowded Room
- Ulta 24-Hour Flash Deal: Dry and Style Your Hair at the Same Time and Save 50% On a Revlon Heated Brush
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Going, Going … Gone: Greenland’s Melting Ice Sheet Passed a Point of No Return in the Early 2000s
Proof Fast & Furious's Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel Have Officially Ended Their Feud
TikTok forming a Youth Council to make the platform safer for teens
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Can air quality affect skin health? A dermatologist explains as more Canadian wildfire smoke hits the U.S.
After the Hurricane, Solar Kept Florida Homes and a City’s Traffic Lights Running
As low-nicotine cigarettes hit the market, anti-smoking groups press for wider standard