Wausau schools blow up over music

[goddess40]

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20131007/WDH01/310070289/Expert-Wausau-schools-reform-holiday-concerts-right-track-heavy-handed-

Expert: Wausau schools' reform of holiday concerts on the 'right track' but 'heavy handed'

...The controversy began Friday when Phil Buch, who has directed Wausau West High School choir programs since 1981, told Daily Herald Media that he had temporarily disbanded the school’s elite choir group, Master Singers, after a meeting with district officials. Buch said administrators gave district music educators three options for December concerts: choose five secular songs for each religious song performed; have no holiday music whatsoever, or postpone any concerts in December.

The statement released Monday contends that changes are part of a review of an administrative rule governing the use of religiously themed music in the district’s curriculum. The rule was put in place in 2001 and reviewed in 2010. As part of the process, a committee of teachers and administrators reviewed proposals submitted by music teachers for musical performances for the first semester of this school year.

Williams also said in the statement that elementary-school holiday concerts were postponed not because of their content but because students need to devote their time to preparing for and taking state and federally mandated tests....

[sybylla]

1. Yay!

Nice spine, there Wausau Schools. Wish my local would get one. Had a dust up here about 10 years ago about all the religious music and it got better for a year or two. Now it's right back where it was. Choral director thinks if you sing a Christian song in another language that counts as religious diversity.