Firenze Sage: Insult no culture but our own

A controversial Coney Island principal OKs young children singing “Are we an item? Girl, quit playing.”
but pulls the plug on kids singing “God Bless the USA”.

Her refusal to let students sing “God Bless the USA” at their graduation has sparked fireworks at a school filled with proud immigrants.

Greta Hawkins, principal of PS 90, the Edna Cohen School, wonâ€t allow kindergartners to belt out the beloved Lee Greenwood ballad, also known as “Proud to be an American,” at their moving-up ceremony.
Greta Hawkins, principal of PS 90

Five classes spent months learning the patriotic song, which skyrocketed in popularity after the 9/11 attacks and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

It was to be the rousing finale of their musical show at the June 20 commencement. The kids, dressed up for their big day, would wave tiny American flags — which, as the lyrics proclaim, “still stand for freedom.”

But Hawkins marched in on a recent rehearsal and ordered a CD playing the anthem to be shut off, staffers said.

She told the teachers to drop the song from the program.

“We donâ€t want to offend other cultures,” they quoted principal Greta Hawkins as explaining.

Department of Education spokeswoman Jessica Scaperotti gave The Post an explanation staffers said they never heard — that Hawkins found the lyrics “too grown up” for 5-year-olds.

But Justin Bieberâ€s flirty song about teen romance, “Baby,” was deemed a fine selection for the show. Hawkins had no problem with 5-year-olds singing lines such as, “Are we an item? Girl, quit playing.”

Scaperotti noted PS 90 kids recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing “America the Beautiful” each morning. Insiders say Hawkins tried to end that tradition a couple years ago but staff objected.

The principal, a Jehovahâ€s Witness, does not recite the pledge because her religion forbids it.

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“O say can you see..” Well no I cannot. Where do these “educators” learn this drivel? Oh yes, taxpayer supported schools.

JAJ48@aol.com http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/109312