Rainbows and spectrums are also well recognized symbols of neurodiversity and autism – An Open Letter
Good Evening
Re the statement to stakeholders on Rainbowland.
District administration and the School Board are entirely responsible for the implementation of the “controversial issues” policy. This policy implementation has created uncertainty around wether a song that is about inclusion, acceptance and references rainbows is “controversial.”
Previously the choice of this song would not even have been questioned – the “ burden” on the district and the time wasted on this matter due to the public interest and scrutiny of the decision is entirely of your own creation.
You support the decision to remove the song- but despite having made multiple statements to “stakeholders” and media outlets – you STILL cannot explain how or why the lyrics are controversial or age inappropriate.
The only logical explanation is that the district is afraid to anger those who seek to find evidence of a “woke” agenda in every corner of our schools and proudly display their hostility to the LGBTQIA+ community. Because the song COULD be seen as LGBTQ affirming it MUST be controversial.
It strikes me as obvious that a song which promotes inclusion acceptance and encourages everyone to be “who they truly are” when sung by six year olds as a class is one that would be especially beneficial to promote the acceptance of disabled and neurodivergent students. Rainbows and spectrums are well recognized symbols of neurodiversity and autism.
The lyrics of Rainbowland would encourage acceptance and understanding of autistic and Neurodivergent students, help autistic kids feel seen, increase their self esteem and actually encourage authentic behavior instead of the masking of autistic traits that so often leads to depression and burnout among autistic students.
How sad and ridiculous that first grade autistic ADHD and other neurodivergent students are denied the opportunity to sing a song celebrating their individuality and uniqueness- which would greatly enhance their self esteem and help improve their peer relationships ; Simply because administration and the school board, continue to prioritize the feelings of some adults who wish to erase the LGBTQ community in our district.
Finally, the attempt in the statement to stakeholders to deflect blame for the negative publicity this decision has bought, onto employees is only further demonstrates poor leadership. The environment of uncertainty that led to the questioning of this material was created by the superintendent and the school board and both continue to support the removal of the song from the concert.
ALL children and families deserve to be welcome, respected and represented in our school district. It’s well past time to stop trying to remove any representation of one group; in trying to do so you are harming us all.
For all our sakes do better.
Helen
