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Video: Teacher Susan Johnson Suspended for Allowing Pro-Gay Marriage Song to be Played in Class
Performing arts teacher Susan Johnson was suspended without pay for allowing a student to play a pro-gay marriage song during class at Centennial Middle School in South Lyon, Michigan (video below).
In her eighth grade class, last Wednesday, a student asked if he could play a song called 'Same Love' by rapper Ben Maclemore, which is in support of gay marriage, reports Fox 2 News.
Johnson told Fox 2 News: "I asked him a few questions about the song. If it was violent, if there was any profanity, and he said 'no.' And I said this sounds like a great song to go ahead and use for the class."
"This is one of the things in my school that we're trying to practice and we're trying to instill in our students is tolerance to diversity."
However, another student went to the school's office and complained.
Johnson says that the principal and assistant superintendent told her she was suspended indefinitely without pay. Later, in a closed door meeting, Johnson found out that she would be suspended for three days and not paid for two.
"I don't think that it was really even thought through," Johnson said. "I was paralyzed. I really didn't understand why I was being suspended. I'm very disappointed in the bias, the bigotry that I feel that they're really hiding behind."
"I really love my kids and I never want to hurt them, but I also know that there's a lot of bullying and there's a lot of gay bashing and racial issues going on in our country and I want the kids to feel comfortable in my class no matter who they are."
In paperwork given to Johnson, the school claims the song had controversial content (homosexuality, religion, politics views and a sexual slur). The school also said that Johnson should have asked permission first.
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Comments
This seems like a dramatic
This seems like a dramatic overreaction. It is likely her pay will be restored with interest and damages. It was a bad decision on the district's part to suspend this teacher. A warning or even a letter in the teacher's personnel file would have been a better decision.
Hmm, does she know the words
Hmm, does she know the words to "All gay-Dogs Go To Hell", as well?
Do you know the words to "All
Do you know the words to "All Hate Filled Hypocrites Go to Hell?"
I thought school was were we
I thought school was were we sent our children to learn & think.
Here are the
Here are the lyrics:
http://www.elyricsworld.com/same_love_lyrics_macklemore.html
Was it appropriate to play requests in a performing arts class, for all the students, or just this one?
In a preforming arts class?
In a preforming arts class? Yes. In a science or foreign language class, not so much. When someone writes a better song about accepting fellow human beings and equal rights for all, then that song will be played in its place.
Was it appropriate to play
Was it appropriate to play requests, for ALL the students?
If not, then why was it appropriate to play a request, just for this ONE student?
YES. It is very appropriate
YES. It is very appropriate to teach all children to be civil human beings. Its very appropriate to talk about a song about current events in a performing art class.
I'm very liberal. My husband...meh not so much. I played the song for him and told him the situation and he replied with "fu**in' ridiculous... she didn't even play the music video? Just the song and got suspended? What the f***!" We rarely agree on these matters, but we we're on the same page this time.
God forbid we ask children to stop harassing others for being gay, a different race, disabled, poor, etc. Until then, you just go ahead and give the OK for those whom are outcasts to commit suicide. Maybe they should make a song about that.... oh wait...
@ ThePonyToes Are you saying
@ ThePonyToes
Are you saying "yes", the teacher should play requests for every student, or "no" that would take up too much time, but "yes", she was right to single out this particular student for the favouritism she showed him by playing HIS request, whilst denying other students the opportunity to have their requests played?
Whereabouts in the lyrics does the passage come that teaches children to be civil human beings, or asks children to stop harassing others? Do you think that studying the lyrics in an English or Civics class might have been more appropriate, than simply allowing them to have whatever effect they might have had when listened to in a performing arts class, without any discussion afterwards?
I agree that suspending the teacher was an overreaction. And I am sorry that your husband swears so much.
Did some students say she was
Did some students say she was denying their request? I don't recall seeing that anywhere. She could play a different students song everyday, or spend on class playing all requests or whatever. If doesn't really matter anyway. Its not favoritism, its supporting equal rights. There is difference
I don't know if there was a discussion afterwards or not, but if a student wants to talk about it, they just need to speak up. Then it would be a different story. I still think an art class is a great place to discuss lyrics.
I'm not sorry my husband swears, and he rarely does. That's how ridiculous he thought the situation was. I swear far more than he does. So feel bad for him.
The lyrics clearly preach legal and social equality for gays. Does it have to actual spell out "Stop burning gay people alive. Let gays get married. Homosexuals can be amazing parents and are statically better at raising children. Stop using religion as an excuse to fuel anti-gay discrimination. Gays can't sit next to their partners as they die because of stupid hospital laws about relatives." ?
Is "When kids are walking ‘round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are And a certificate on paper isn’t gonna solve it all But it’s a damn good place to start" not clear enough?
Is that not spelling out " You are harassing your fellow classmates who are gay into suicide, we should legalize gay marriage now, and maybe someday they will be treated like equals." ? Is that not clear enough?
@ ThePonyToes I find it too
@ ThePonyToes
I find it too distressing to try to reason with you any longer.
No. That wasn't distressing.
No. That wasn't distressing. Those were all legitimate questions and points. You just have no arguments left. Good day, sir.
No arguments left? I haven't
No arguments left? I haven't used any arguments yet!
After asking twice, and getting replies that had nothing to do with what I'd asked, I gave up on trying to find out whether you are in favour of the teacher playing requests for all the students, or whether you think the song she played was so brilliant, that she did the right thing making an exception in this one case.
I am assuming that she doesn't simply play one student request every lesson, until the whole class has had a turn at picking the song of the week, and today it just happened to be the turn of the particular student to pick the song, who picked the controversial song that another student complained about.
In my school days we were
In my school days we were allowed to play music in certain classes, and used the songs to create discussion. People disagreed but i don't remember having whiny little bitches go tattle.
J. L.
It's a really beautiful song.
It's a really beautiful song. I know the rules say "no controversial songs" but isn't that the point of the song? That gay rights shouldn't be controversial? It seems like anything related to art can be offensive to some, and that's always been the point. Art isn't about just making pretty things, it's also about making people think outside the box, helping others question their surroundings, interpret the abstract, and creating a space for people to talk these things over with one another. This is a school, I thought this is where students where supposed to come to exchange ideas. Where does the correct about of controversy lie? If this was a song about an interracial couple and one of the students complained would she still have been suspended or would the issue have been handled differently? Some things to think about.
@theponytoes: The rebuttal
@theponytoes: The rebuttal songs should be allowed. How about this one from Avalon:
Part of me is the prodigal Part of me is the other brother But I think the heart of me Is really somewhere between them Some days I'm running wild Some days we're reconciled But I wonder all the while Why You put up with me, when
I wrestle most days To find ways to do as I please
I always have, I always will You saved me once, You save me still My longing heart, Your love alone can fill You always have, You always will
I was born with a wayward heart Still I live with a restless spirit My soul is so well worn You'd think I'd have arrived by now I'm caught in the trappings of My search for lasting love I've made mistakes enough To last me a lifetime
I still slip, I still fall But I'll always run back to You
I'm gonna keep trusting You I see what You've seen me through I'm goin' where You have gone I'm letting You lead me on All my days...always and forever Never far...never leave me never Here I'll stay...ever love me ever Here's my heart I'll always love You
The Catholic Heretic
I don't see why that wouldn't
I don't see why that wouldn't be OK. As long as it doesn't say "god hates fags". Its not specific at all as to which "mistakes" were made and has no anti-gay message.
When I went to school there was a very small group of pro-gay students. 95% of my school was Christians and they loved to get together and pick on and laugh at the gay students who were proud and stood up for themselves. They used to chant " Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve!". That does not create a loving or welcoming atmosphere. Couples were allowed to kiss in the halls and it wasn't a big deal. But the lesbian couple we had was yelled at all the time It was utter discrimination.
My one friend used to say to me all the time "Its not that I think gays are wrong, I just don't agree with their lifestyle." What delusional lies they tell themselves. We are our lifestyles. If you don't approve of our lives, then you don't approve of us. Why does the gay community have to lie and hide their lifestyles until college or well after while everyone else is allowed to be who they are openly?
The hate needs to stop. The harassment and abuse needs to stop. Equality for all was taught but never practiced. I don't really care how it is done at this point (of course violence is never acceptable) but the hatred against the gay community has to stop.
If you want to "rebuttal" with a song that secretly is bashing gays, well its a school, unfortunately it should be entertained and discussed. Its pretty shameful if a student wants to play it, especially if its from the Christian faith, but current topics and controversy should be discussed at a school. I would hope the student has enough common sense to wait until the next day and discuss a plan with the teacher first. Orelse, how awful would that be to give gay classmates hope and then tear it away 5 seconds later? It would unacceptable if it was a song about accepting people of color and women equally and then have a student play a song as a rebuttal that preached white supremacy. I don't see how the subjects are any different.
So now teachers are
So now teachers are completely unable to make decisions about what is appropriate content for their classrooms? And the administrators have any better judgment?
Suspending a teacher because students heard a song that espoused a non-violent, supportive view that one of them didn't agree with? Time for that student to grow a skin - or should we call them a waaahmbulance?
Time for the superintendent and principal to both receive an extended suspension without pay, and make up the pay they docked the teacher out of their own pocket.
Well, exactly. I still find
Well, exactly. I still find it amazing that marriage equality is still an issue. Since religious people claim to be the 'owners' of morality, you'd think they'd act a bit more moral.