Is 'Rainbowland' Too Controversial For Waukesha's First Graders?

WAUKESHA, WI — After the song "Rainbowland" by Miley Cyrus was deemed too controversial for an upcoming Waukesha elementary school concert, the district said "Rainbow Connection" by Kermit The Frog will take its place.

A classroom teacher at Heyer Elementary had suggested the Miley Cyrus/Dolly Parton duet, which prompted a music teacher to check with the principal, the district said. But, officials decided the song could be too controversial for use under District School Board Policy 2240, a news release from the district said.

"Rainbowland" lyrics include "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."

Related: Read the full lyrics to Rainbowland from Genius.com.

The board policy in question notes that "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 removal of the song has sparked reactions from the community, Waukesha County's The Freeman newspaper noted in a report Wednesday.

Resident Dan Schneiderman told The Freeman, in part, "we have a whole community of adults clamoring about how the song should be sung or it shouldn't be sung... ...but has anyone just simply asked the children what they would like to sing?"

Do you think "Rainbowland" is too controversial for a first-grade concert? Take Patch's poll:

See also: 'Rainbowland' Too Controversial For Waukesha First Graders: District