Packed crowd fights Wausau religious-music rules (video)

[rug]

Oct. 11, 2013
Written by
Keith Uhlig
Daily Herald Media

WAUSAU — Hundreds of students, parents and community members packed a Wausau school auditorium Thursday night, many begging the School Board to reverse administrative decisions to limit religious music in winter concerts.

The Wausau School Board called the special meeting amid an uproar over new limits placed on holiday programs, particularly those involving an elite choir group at Wausau West High School called the Master Singers.

Even before dozens of residents stood to speak, the board voted to put the decision about whether to schedule winter concerts back in the hands of school principals. Wausau elementary schools had canceled holiday concerts, and the school district administration said the decision was related to the need for state-test preparations — not to avoid issues with religious songs.

Board members also backed away from administrative efforts to update the district’s rules on the performance of sacred music, and voted to revert to an older policy in which principals reviewed song lists of performances. The School Board also voted to forge out a new policy in the next year, with input from the community.

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20131010/WDH01/310100506/Packed-crowd-fights-Wausau-religious-music-rules

[digonswine]

1. Religious music clearly should be represented in the music curriculum-

I was unable to find the exact policy of the district.
I must admit my reason for interest-I sang some beautiful religious music when in choir, though it was balanced with other music, AND I live only 30 miles from Wausau. It was not immediately apparent what the real problem was. Was it too representative of Christianity?

[rug]

2. They've decided to rescind the new policy until after - Christmas.

Until then it's left to the discretion of each principal. I think the proposed policy is to have five nonreligious song for each religious carol, or no religious songs at all.

The controversy erupted last week when Buch put the choir group on hiatus. Buch said he made the decision after a meeting with a new musical review committee and the district’s legal counsel. He said he was told Master Singers would have to perform five secular songs to every religious song the group performed, or not perform any religious music at all. Those options were unacceptable for a group that sings at Christmas programs in nursing homes, for service clubs or other venues, Buch said.

http://www.waow.com/story/23663369/2013/10/10/special-meeting-about-wausau-music-controversy