'Rainbowland' Too Controversial For Waukesha First Graders: District

WAUKESHA, WI — A Miley Cyrus song that was suggested for a first-grade music program has been banned by the School District of Waukesha after a decision was made that the song’s lyrics are considered controversial, according to a district policy.

A classroom teacher at Heyer Elementary suggested the song “Rainbowland” for the upcoming concert, prompting the music teacher to check with the school’s principal to see if the song was acceptable for use for a first-grade concert, district officials said in a news release.

However, when the principal checked with the district’s central office to review the song in accordance with District School Board Policy 2240— Controversial Issues In The Classroom — officials decided that the song was considered too controversial for use, the district said.

The song, which Cyrus performs as a duet with Dolly Parton, includes the lyrics “Living in Rainbowland, where you and I go hand in hand, Oh, I’d be lying if I said I was fine, all the hurt and hate going on here, we are rainbows me and you, every color, every hue, let’s shine on through, together, we can start living in a Rainbowland.”

Melissa Tempel told the Associated Press on Monday that the song was chosen because it was considered "wonderful and sweet". The grade school concert also includes performances of the Beatles song "Here Comes The Sun" and "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.

But school administrators, who had previously prohibited rainbow flags and Pride flags from being displayed in classrooms, decided the Cyrus song would not be allowed, the AP reported.

“My students were just devastated. They really liked this song and we had already begun singing it,” Tempel told the AP on Monday.

The district said that the music teacher asked the classroom teacher to look into using a different song. The song that was chosen was “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit The Frog, which will be performed as part of the first-grade music program, the district said.

According to the board policy, "a controversial issue is a topic on which opposing points of view have been promulgated by responsible opinion and likely to arouse both support and opposition in the community."

“The entire matter has been reviewed and the outcomes are fully supported by the superintendent,” the district said, adding that at no time did the school board become involved.