Frugal Café Blog Zone

Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on August 24, 2010

Cool vintage photo: Hippie parents throwing a kids’ birthday party in Haight-Ashbury, during 1967 ‘Summer of Love’
Photo credit: Pondering Pig Looks Back… click image to enlarge

Good grief, it never ends. Progressives in Missouri have now tried to ban students from singing the song “Happy Birthday” at school — supposedly this is to be “sensitive” to “all student beliefs.”

What bogus baloney.

However, the school’s attempt failed. Parents went on the rampage.

The primary progressive moron who wanted to silence the traditional birthday song was none other than the elementary school’s principal.

This leftist loon was lambasted by a majority of torqued parents (and let’s not forget how many public schools have forced their students, including those from conservative families, to sing creepy songs of praise to Pres. Obama).

So her left-wing idiocy was reversed in just four days. She’s done some mighty quick back-pedaling since then.

The only thing that really surprises me is that this attempted ban didn’t happen in a Massachusetts school. For a sampling of left-wing Massachusetts school craziness, check out this post and this one and this one.

Todd Starnes reported on the attempted ban in Missouri… “Happy Birthday” Song Insensitive?

A ban on singing “Happy Birthday” lasted all of four days at Chesterfield Elementary School in Missouri after angry parents bombarded the school with complaints.

“Singing is not permitted due to the sensitivity of all student beliefs,” wrote Principal Jodi Davidson in a letter to parents dated August 13.

On August 23 Davidson sent another letter reversing the policy noting that students “are permitted and encouraged to sing the happy birthday song in the classroom.”

However, students will not be permitted to sing the traditional song in the cafeteria and all birthday treats must be individually inspected by the school nurse.

“We have lots of students who celebrate birthdays on the same day and we just didn’t want to have the loud chaos that happens in the cafeteria,” Davidson told KSDK television. “That should be a calming environment so that it’s safe for all students and they can celebrate their birthdays with their classmates and friends.”

Kim Cranston, a spokesperson for the Rockwood School District, told FOX News Radio, the initial ban on the birthday song was meant to protect the students.

“One of the things that she (Davidson) had explained to me is they always want to be sensitive to all children,” Cranston said. “And there are some children in their school – as there are in many schools – who don’t participate in holiday or birthday celebrations.”

Cranston said to her knowledge there had been no prior complaints about the singing of the “Happy Birthday” song.

As for the inspections of the birthday goodies?

“We have to be especially careful with children with allergies,” she said.

While cupcakes and other pre-packaged treats are allowed, the school also encourages non-food related items to be distributed for birthday celebrations.

Among the “non-food” related items suggested by the principal are pencils, erasers, book marks, and book donations to the class library.

The school district acknowledged the situation could have been handled a bit more delicately.

“Mrs. Davidson has freely admitted that she didn’t communicate that very well,” Cranston said. “She has apologized.”

From KDSK St. Louis News, ‘Happy Birthday’ controversy in Rockwood School District ends:

Chesterfield, MO (KSDK) — A principal in the Rockwood School District has apologized after a firestorm of criticism about the singing of a popular song in school. The song involved is one many of us have heard throughout our lives: “Happy Birthday.”

Last week, Dr. Jodi Davidson, principal of Chesterfield Elementary School, sent a letter home to parents. Among other things, she announced a new policy for the distribution of birthday treats at school. From now on, all food brought in for birthdays will be reviewed by the school nurse who will check for allergens.

Davidson’s note also included a ban on singing. She said it was because of the sensitivity of all student beliefs.

That led to angry emails and phone calls; also, viewers contacted NewsChannel 5, upset about the apparent ban on singing “Happy Birthday.”

On Monday, Davidson apologized to parents and changed her first missive, saying it was okay to sing the birthday song in individual classrooms, just not in the cafeteria.

More posts on sensitivity, or lack thereof: Gateway Pundit: New York Officials Refuse to Allow Christians to Rebuild Church Destroyed on 9-11
Doug Powers, Michelle Malkin: Tennessee Football Coach Says He Was Fired For Recording Anti-Obama Song
Camp of the Saints: Penance For The People!
Good Morning Patriots: Progressive Lefty Upset That Republicans Want to Follow the Proper Process for Amending the Constitution
Frugal Café Blog Zone: LA Times Readers Weigh in on Muslim Employee’s Lawsuit Against Disneyland… Hijab or No Hijab? and Disneyland Being Sued by Muslim Female Employee: Wants to Wear Her Islamic Headscarf While Working As Hostess (video) and “Worst Kind of Group Therapy Psycho-Babble”: Charles Krauthammer Slams Obama’s NASA Muslim Outreach Program (video) and Black Panthers Voter Intimidation Case: Megyn Kelly KO’s Left-winger Kristin Powers, Rep. Brad “Smirky” Sherman in California Is Smirky & Clueless at Townhall (video) and New Low: Delaware First-Grader Kicked Out of School for Bringing Camping Utensil to Use at Lunch

Categories: Education, Government, Social and Political Climate
Tags: American school, birthday, Birthday Song, Chesterfield Elementary School, Dr. Jodi Davidson, Happy Birthday, liberal, Massachusetts, Missouri, Missouri school, Obama song, progressive, Rockwood School District, school, statist, students