Up on my Soap Box

Oh, man, I've put my foot in my mouth again - or maybe my laptop keyboard.
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(That's me climbing up on my soap box)

My 17 year old daughter came home from school yesterday and was furious about a "Literacy Rally" held at school that morning. Now, you must understand, my daughter is a straight A student, is on the Student Body Council and plans to go to college in the fall. She is all about reading and education, and although she hates going to "pep rallies" for the sports teams, she got her hopes up this one would be different.

Her first complaint was the "motivational speech" the superintendent gave. She said instead of trying to pump the kids up and get them excited about reading and learning, he basically said they were all stupid. I wasn't at the rally, so I only have her commentary to go on, but she said he complained about low test scores and bad attitudes. I realize there are some bad apples in the bunch, but they aren't all slackers. Not to brag again, but my daughter's reading ACT score is 30 - she is definitely not a slacker.

Then, as a reward to celebrate literacy, they were supposed to be impressed by having a professional football player give a speech. Really, for a literacy speech, a football player?! With a beautiful Commonwealth full of talented authors and poets, the school system picks a football player to motivate the students to do better in school. My daughter would have been better served by listening to our Poet Laureate, Gurney Norman - or Silas House or Chris Offutt or Wendall Berry or Bobbie Ann Mason or Ed McClanahan - the list of great KY writers is infinite.

But the thing that really pissed her off is the Dance Team performing to a vulgar song by Kesha call Tick Tock. Really, the principal at MCSH thought these lyrics were appropriate to present at a Literacy Rally, really??

"... brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack ..."

... Pulling up to the parties trying to get a little bit tipsy ..."

... Ain't got a care in world, but got plenty of beer ..."

... Boys trying to touch my junk, junk ..."

... Don't stop, make it pop ..."

This is the same principal that censors every word the school newspaper prints - and he won't allow them to write stories on music or musicians, or certain comedians.

I don't believe in censorship, so I really don't have a problem with the lyrics. Hell, "Bat Out of Hell" is one of my favorite songs, but dangit, there is a time and place for everything and in my opinion, a public high school is not the time or place. Not all children listen to rap - I know mine doesn't (but she does love her European metal bands!), and she was embarrassed by the lyrics - mainly because of all the hormonal boys sitting around her.

Again, it's not the Dance Team (or the volleyball team or the cheerleaders or the tennis players or insert your own sport) I have a problem with - it's their choice of skimpy clothing and vulgar music. In the case of a high school presentation, in my opinion they should have performed to instrumental music. After all, I have to give signed permission for my daughter to watch R rated movies at school (for Drama and AP Literature) - but the school decides what they can listen to without consulting a parent. Many of these so called "rap" songs come with warning labels to help keep parents informed.

I'm just sick of the double standard in school - from the dress code to activities. I know it will never stop, and since my daughter only has 5 1/2 more months at this school, I'm choosing not to battle the school system.

Okay ...

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I'm stepping off my soap box ...