Video stirs controversy
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14 years 7 months ago #1
by lioneltrainguy
Video stirs controversy was created by lioneltrainguy
...for those of you who do not get the news from south new jersey...
Teacher Makes Kids Sing Obama Praises in School
Video stirs controversy
By: DAVID LEVINSKY AND DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - An Internet video showing children at a local elementary school singing a song praising President Barack Obama is garnering national attention and its appropriateness will be the subject of a school district review.
The video, which was posted on the Web site YouTube, shows more than a dozen children from the B. Bernice Young Elementary School dancing and singing a song about the president.
The song's chorus includes the chant, "Mmm, mmm, mmm! Barack Hussein Obama," as well as verses about Obama statements and rhetoric.
"He said that all must lend a hand/To make this country strong again/Mmm, mmm, mmm! Barack Hussein Obama" goes one verse.
Another verse touts an equal-pay measure Obama signed after becoming president: "He said we must be clear today/Equal work means equal pay."
Stories about the video appeared on Fox News and Internet blogs, some of which accused the school of indoctrinating students to support Obama and his policies.
Superintendent Christopher Manno and other school officials said the video shows students rehearsing the song for an assembly related to Black History Month last February. They performed the song at schoolwide assemblies Feb. 26 and 27. The latter assembly was open to parents.
Manno declined to identify the teacher because doing so would identify the students in the video, but he defended the performance as a legitimate educational activity related to Black History Month.
"Our teachers regularly recognize Black History Month and the children learn about various African-American individuals who have served and contributed to our country. The children learn about Martin Luther King and other prominent African-Americans, and certainly Barack Obama is a prominent African-American," Manno said in an interview.
"There was no intention to indoctrinate children. There was no political agenda underlying the activity. The teacher's intention was to engage the children in an activity to recognize famous and accomplished African-Americans during Black History Month," Manno continued. "We are not in the business of promoting a political agenda and there was no intention to promote a political agenda."
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Education said Lucille E. Davy, state commissioner of education, has directed Manno to conduct a review of the matter to "ensure that students can celebrate the achievement of African-Americans during Black History Month without the inappropriate partisan politics in the classroom, as well as ensuring the privacy of children is not violated."
The spokeswoman said the department was informed that the teacher who taught the children the song retired at the end of the school year.
Manno said the district does not know who posted the video on YouTube. He said the person did not have the district's permission to do so.
Manno said the district asked township police to investigate and was told that posting the video was not a criminal act.
Public Safety Director Walt Corter said police also investigated reports that threats were made against the school district because of the video and found that they were unsubstantiated.
"We will continue to work with the school, as we do daily to ensure student safety," Corter said.
Syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin reported Thursday that the video was posted by Charisse Carney-Nunes, a Washington, D.C., author who wrote a children's book about the president titled, "I Am Barack Obama."
School district officials said Carney-Nunes appeared at an assembly and book signings in the district in March, but that the Obama song was not performed then.
Carney-Nunes could not be reached for comment.
The office of the White House press secretary also did not respond to requests for comment about the video and the attention it has received.
The school district sent a letter home to parents Thursday addressing the video and also posted a statement on its Web page. The site was down for most of the day because of high traffic.
School officials said the district also was inundated with phone calls and e-mails from parents.
Leslie Gibson, who has two children at the Young school, said she was "shocked and outraged" by the video.
"They're pushing their views on (children) and the president had only been in office six weeks when this was shot. + So how can he be the greatest person if he's not dead, he hasn't proven himself, he's not out of office? + That made me angry," Gibson said Thursday afternoon outside the school. "Also, the fact that they were praising the children for singing these words, (which) their parents had no idea that they were saying (and which) may not project their political views or their parents' political views. The politics should be kept home, just like religion."
Other parents attending Back to School Night at the Young school Thursday had varying opinions.
"I think (the song) was a little too political," said one parent, who asked not to be identified. "I think it's outside of what they really understand."
Another parent said she felt the controversy was being overblown.
"I don't think there should be any problem with kids giving praise to the president. They're showing patriotism. What's the big deal?" said the parent, who declined to identify herself. "The people who are blowing this out of proportion need to get a life."
This is not the first time the Burlington Township School District has been thrust into the national spotlight.
The district drew the ire of several conservative groups in 2007, when it hosted a police and emergency drill at the high school that involved fictional members of an armed "right wing fundamentalist group."
The fictional scenario did not specify any religion, but many believed it described the school invaders as conservative Christians.
Conservative groups and bloggers from across the nation learned about the drill and leveled criticism at the police and school district. Fox News also aired commentary about the event.
Teacher Makes Kids Sing Obama Praises in School
Video stirs controversy
By: DAVID LEVINSKY AND DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - An Internet video showing children at a local elementary school singing a song praising President Barack Obama is garnering national attention and its appropriateness will be the subject of a school district review.
The video, which was posted on the Web site YouTube, shows more than a dozen children from the B. Bernice Young Elementary School dancing and singing a song about the president.
The song's chorus includes the chant, "Mmm, mmm, mmm! Barack Hussein Obama," as well as verses about Obama statements and rhetoric.
"He said that all must lend a hand/To make this country strong again/Mmm, mmm, mmm! Barack Hussein Obama" goes one verse.
Another verse touts an equal-pay measure Obama signed after becoming president: "He said we must be clear today/Equal work means equal pay."
Stories about the video appeared on Fox News and Internet blogs, some of which accused the school of indoctrinating students to support Obama and his policies.
Superintendent Christopher Manno and other school officials said the video shows students rehearsing the song for an assembly related to Black History Month last February. They performed the song at schoolwide assemblies Feb. 26 and 27. The latter assembly was open to parents.
Manno declined to identify the teacher because doing so would identify the students in the video, but he defended the performance as a legitimate educational activity related to Black History Month.
"Our teachers regularly recognize Black History Month and the children learn about various African-American individuals who have served and contributed to our country. The children learn about Martin Luther King and other prominent African-Americans, and certainly Barack Obama is a prominent African-American," Manno said in an interview.
"There was no intention to indoctrinate children. There was no political agenda underlying the activity. The teacher's intention was to engage the children in an activity to recognize famous and accomplished African-Americans during Black History Month," Manno continued. "We are not in the business of promoting a political agenda and there was no intention to promote a political agenda."
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Education said Lucille E. Davy, state commissioner of education, has directed Manno to conduct a review of the matter to "ensure that students can celebrate the achievement of African-Americans during Black History Month without the inappropriate partisan politics in the classroom, as well as ensuring the privacy of children is not violated."
The spokeswoman said the department was informed that the teacher who taught the children the song retired at the end of the school year.
Manno said the district does not know who posted the video on YouTube. He said the person did not have the district's permission to do so.
Manno said the district asked township police to investigate and was told that posting the video was not a criminal act.
Public Safety Director Walt Corter said police also investigated reports that threats were made against the school district because of the video and found that they were unsubstantiated.
"We will continue to work with the school, as we do daily to ensure student safety," Corter said.
Syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin reported Thursday that the video was posted by Charisse Carney-Nunes, a Washington, D.C., author who wrote a children's book about the president titled, "I Am Barack Obama."
School district officials said Carney-Nunes appeared at an assembly and book signings in the district in March, but that the Obama song was not performed then.
Carney-Nunes could not be reached for comment.
The office of the White House press secretary also did not respond to requests for comment about the video and the attention it has received.
The school district sent a letter home to parents Thursday addressing the video and also posted a statement on its Web page. The site was down for most of the day because of high traffic.
School officials said the district also was inundated with phone calls and e-mails from parents.
Leslie Gibson, who has two children at the Young school, said she was "shocked and outraged" by the video.
"They're pushing their views on (children) and the president had only been in office six weeks when this was shot. + So how can he be the greatest person if he's not dead, he hasn't proven himself, he's not out of office? + That made me angry," Gibson said Thursday afternoon outside the school. "Also, the fact that they were praising the children for singing these words, (which) their parents had no idea that they were saying (and which) may not project their political views or their parents' political views. The politics should be kept home, just like religion."
Other parents attending Back to School Night at the Young school Thursday had varying opinions.
"I think (the song) was a little too political," said one parent, who asked not to be identified. "I think it's outside of what they really understand."
Another parent said she felt the controversy was being overblown.
"I don't think there should be any problem with kids giving praise to the president. They're showing patriotism. What's the big deal?" said the parent, who declined to identify herself. "The people who are blowing this out of proportion need to get a life."
This is not the first time the Burlington Township School District has been thrust into the national spotlight.
The district drew the ire of several conservative groups in 2007, when it hosted a police and emergency drill at the high school that involved fictional members of an armed "right wing fundamentalist group."
The fictional scenario did not specify any religion, but many believed it described the school invaders as conservative Christians.
Conservative groups and bloggers from across the nation learned about the drill and leveled criticism at the police and school district. Fox News also aired commentary about the event.
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14 years 7 months ago #2
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Replied by lioneltrainguy on topic Video stirs controversy
School video was filmed by author's associate
By: DAVID LEVINSKY
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - An associate of a children's book author who visited the B. Bernice Young Elementary School in March was the person who recorded a controversial video of students singing a song praising President Barack Obama, school officials said Friday.
The video, which shows more than a dozen students dancing, and singing a song about the president, has been the subject of national news reports and has been criticized by some political pundits and parents as indoctrinating children to support Obama and his policies.
School officials said the song was performed by the students in honor of Black History Month during assemblies on Feb. 26 and 27. Skits celebrating Groundhog Day, Chinese New Year, Abraham Lincoln, Valentine's Day, George Washington, Mardi Gras and Dental Health Month also were performed, and officials said lyrics from the Obama song were sent home to parents in advance of the assemblies.
Officials said there were no complaints before or after the two assemblies.
In a letter sent home to parents Friday, Superintendent Christopher Manno said officials learned that the students also performed the song March 23 during a special presentation to Washington, D.C., author Charisse Carney-Nunes.
Manno said that Carney-Nunes, who wrote a children's book titled "I Am Obama," was visiting the school as part of a Women's History Month recognition, and that one of two associates who accompanied her recorded the students' performance and subsequently posted it on Carney-Nunes' Web site.
Manno did not identify the associate in the letter but said school staff had no knowledge of the recording and that it was posted on the author's Web page "without district approval or knowledge." He said it apparently was copied and posted on YouTube before it was removed from the author's Web site.
F Carney-Nunes, who was a classmate of Obama's at Harvard Law School, did not return requests for comment last week or Monday.
The Office of the White House Press Secretary also has not responded to an e-mail request for comment.
The video became the subject of several national news reports, including on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC last week.
After the news broke, New Jersey Education Commissioner Lucille Davy requested that Manno conduct a review of the matter to ensure that student privacy is not violated and that "inappropriate partisan politics" is kept out of the classroom.
School was closed Monday for Yom Kippur so it was not known if the review had been completed.
In his Friday letter, Manno said the district is "carefully evaluating what occurred and will implement any additional needed procedures to prevent children's images in school from being publicly posted without permission. We will also provide reasonable direction and guidelines so that classroom activities will not give the appearance of promoting a particular political perspective."
Manno said the district is working with the township police to maintain school security and that news crews were being kept off school campuses.
He said the district also was working with the police to have the video removed from YouTube.
By: DAVID LEVINSKY
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - An associate of a children's book author who visited the B. Bernice Young Elementary School in March was the person who recorded a controversial video of students singing a song praising President Barack Obama, school officials said Friday.
The video, which shows more than a dozen students dancing, and singing a song about the president, has been the subject of national news reports and has been criticized by some political pundits and parents as indoctrinating children to support Obama and his policies.
School officials said the song was performed by the students in honor of Black History Month during assemblies on Feb. 26 and 27. Skits celebrating Groundhog Day, Chinese New Year, Abraham Lincoln, Valentine's Day, George Washington, Mardi Gras and Dental Health Month also were performed, and officials said lyrics from the Obama song were sent home to parents in advance of the assemblies.
Officials said there were no complaints before or after the two assemblies.
In a letter sent home to parents Friday, Superintendent Christopher Manno said officials learned that the students also performed the song March 23 during a special presentation to Washington, D.C., author Charisse Carney-Nunes.
Manno said that Carney-Nunes, who wrote a children's book titled "I Am Obama," was visiting the school as part of a Women's History Month recognition, and that one of two associates who accompanied her recorded the students' performance and subsequently posted it on Carney-Nunes' Web site.
Manno did not identify the associate in the letter but said school staff had no knowledge of the recording and that it was posted on the author's Web page "without district approval or knowledge." He said it apparently was copied and posted on YouTube before it was removed from the author's Web site.
F Carney-Nunes, who was a classmate of Obama's at Harvard Law School, did not return requests for comment last week or Monday.
The Office of the White House Press Secretary also has not responded to an e-mail request for comment.
The video became the subject of several national news reports, including on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC last week.
After the news broke, New Jersey Education Commissioner Lucille Davy requested that Manno conduct a review of the matter to ensure that student privacy is not violated and that "inappropriate partisan politics" is kept out of the classroom.
School was closed Monday for Yom Kippur so it was not known if the review had been completed.
In his Friday letter, Manno said the district is "carefully evaluating what occurred and will implement any additional needed procedures to prevent children's images in school from being publicly posted without permission. We will also provide reasonable direction and guidelines so that classroom activities will not give the appearance of promoting a particular political perspective."
Manno said the district is working with the township police to maintain school security and that news crews were being kept off school campuses.
He said the district also was working with the police to have the video removed from YouTube.
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14 years 7 months ago #3
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Replied by lioneltrainguy on topic Video stirs controversy
Burl. City targeted over video controversy
By: DAVID MACCAR
BURLINGTON CITY - Controversy surrounding a video posted on YouTube of children singing a song about President Barack Obama at the B. Bernice Young Elementary School in Burlington Township almost immediately spilled over into the city because of public confusion about the school's location.
Various principals and school officials received more than 150 phone calls and more than 100 e-mails about the video Thursday from people who did not realize the school is in the township, not the city, according to Patricia Doloughty, superintendent of the city school district.
"I have one written letter that was quite accusatory. It's ended up consuming a lot of time. We've tried to respond to the e-mails with 'you have the wrong district,' and with the phone calls we've done the same thing," Doloughty said.
"They were talking about an e-mail that had been sent out among different groups giving them our number to call," she said.
District employees initially were confused about the calls and hadn't seen the video because YouTube is a blocked Internet site in school buildings, Doloughty said. They referred all calls and e-mails to the Burlington Township School District.
"One asked us why the school isn't on our district's Web site; what are we trying to hide? I explained the school isn't on our site because it isn't in our district," she said.
The confusion has not been limited to the Burlingtons or even New Jersey.
The Associated Press reported that officials at Bernice Young Elementary School in northwest Arkansas also received angry calls about the video from across the nation and Canada.
School Principal Debbie Flora told the AP that so far she had received no calls from anyone from Arkansas about the matter.
Doloughty said national media outlets should have been more accurate in describing the location of the school. Most stories referred to the Young school as being in Burlington, New Jersey, without distinguishing between the city and township.
By: DAVID MACCAR
BURLINGTON CITY - Controversy surrounding a video posted on YouTube of children singing a song about President Barack Obama at the B. Bernice Young Elementary School in Burlington Township almost immediately spilled over into the city because of public confusion about the school's location.
Various principals and school officials received more than 150 phone calls and more than 100 e-mails about the video Thursday from people who did not realize the school is in the township, not the city, according to Patricia Doloughty, superintendent of the city school district.
"I have one written letter that was quite accusatory. It's ended up consuming a lot of time. We've tried to respond to the e-mails with 'you have the wrong district,' and with the phone calls we've done the same thing," Doloughty said.
"They were talking about an e-mail that had been sent out among different groups giving them our number to call," she said.
District employees initially were confused about the calls and hadn't seen the video because YouTube is a blocked Internet site in school buildings, Doloughty said. They referred all calls and e-mails to the Burlington Township School District.
"One asked us why the school isn't on our district's Web site; what are we trying to hide? I explained the school isn't on our site because it isn't in our district," she said.
The confusion has not been limited to the Burlingtons or even New Jersey.
The Associated Press reported that officials at Bernice Young Elementary School in northwest Arkansas also received angry calls about the video from across the nation and Canada.
School Principal Debbie Flora told the AP that so far she had received no calls from anyone from Arkansas about the matter.
Doloughty said national media outlets should have been more accurate in describing the location of the school. Most stories referred to the Young school as being in Burlington, New Jersey, without distinguishing between the city and township.
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14 years 6 months ago #4
by lioneltrainguy
Replied by lioneltrainguy on topic Video stirs controversy
Protesters to target Young school
By: DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - In response to the controversy over a video about President Barack Obama that surfaced on YouTube in September, several groups are planning a protest at the B. Bernice Young Elementary School on Neck Road on Monday morning.
According to a source, members of at least three groups - the 9/12 Burlington County Group, the Jersey Shore Tea Party Patriots and the Bayshore Tea Party Group - will gather at the school at 10 a.m. to support "the constitutional rights of our children" and protest against "the progressive social agenda promoted by the New Jersey Education Association and the National Education Association."
Director of Public Safety Walt Corter said Thursday that he had been in contact with the Jersey Shore Tea Party Patriots regarding the protest and last communicated with the group by e-mail Wednesday morning.
In the e-mail, Corter stated, "As we discussed on Oct. 6 and again this morning Oct. 7 during our telephone conversation, you are free to assemble and voice your objections to what occurred at the Young school, but you are reminded, for planning purposes, the township, by ordinance, requires an event permit for any rally or demonstration held in Burlington Township."
Township Clerk Anthony Carnivale said no event permits had been filed by any group as of Thursday afternoon.
Though Monday is Columbus Day, classes will be in session at the township's schools, Corter said.
"The school is open and that information was provided to that organization," he said. "They were told - and I did express concerns - that it's a school that houses the youngest of our students."
Corter said the media will be allowed only on sidewalks where the public has the right of way and not on school grounds.
"Basically our main concern is the safety of everyone that's going to be there, but our priority is the children and the staff at the Bernice Young school," Corter said.
Superintendent Christopher Manno said he also had been in contact with the rally organizer.
"I requested directly that they reconsider the rally, since school is in session. I told the organizer that our first priority is always the safety of our students and staff and we're concerned about this making our students uncomfortable," Manno said.
"I also offered to meet personally with the organizer of the event to discuss this matter in lieu of them having a rally. I personally believe it would be more productive if the organizer would sit down with me and discuss the issues at hand rather than rally at an elementary school that is in session."
Manno said the organizer "indicated that they planned to move ahead with the rally."
"I'm going to be sending out a message to all of our families. We certainly don't want our families to be alarmed," Manno said. "I'll be assuring our families that our students and staff will be safe. Participants in the rally will not be permitted on school property."
He said he had been in communication with Corter.
"(Corter) has assured me they will have sufficient officers present," Manno said. "I've also assigned additional administrators to the Young school for the day. I want parents to be assured that it's safe to send their children to school."
The calendar page on the 9/12 Project Burlington County Group's Web site announces the protest for 9:30 a.m. As of Thursday afternoon there were three sign-ups for the protest.
The controversy stems from a video clip posted on YouTube that recently garnered national media attention. The clip depicts students at the Young school singing a song about Obama.
School officials said an associate of a children's book author who visited the school in March recorded the video, which has been the subject of national news reports and criticized by some political pundits and parents as indoctrinating children to support the president and his policies.
School officials said the song was performed in honor of Black History Month during assemblies on Feb. 26 and 27 along with skits celebrating Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras and Dental Health Month.
By: DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - In response to the controversy over a video about President Barack Obama that surfaced on YouTube in September, several groups are planning a protest at the B. Bernice Young Elementary School on Neck Road on Monday morning.
According to a source, members of at least three groups - the 9/12 Burlington County Group, the Jersey Shore Tea Party Patriots and the Bayshore Tea Party Group - will gather at the school at 10 a.m. to support "the constitutional rights of our children" and protest against "the progressive social agenda promoted by the New Jersey Education Association and the National Education Association."
Director of Public Safety Walt Corter said Thursday that he had been in contact with the Jersey Shore Tea Party Patriots regarding the protest and last communicated with the group by e-mail Wednesday morning.
In the e-mail, Corter stated, "As we discussed on Oct. 6 and again this morning Oct. 7 during our telephone conversation, you are free to assemble and voice your objections to what occurred at the Young school, but you are reminded, for planning purposes, the township, by ordinance, requires an event permit for any rally or demonstration held in Burlington Township."
Township Clerk Anthony Carnivale said no event permits had been filed by any group as of Thursday afternoon.
Though Monday is Columbus Day, classes will be in session at the township's schools, Corter said.
"The school is open and that information was provided to that organization," he said. "They were told - and I did express concerns - that it's a school that houses the youngest of our students."
Corter said the media will be allowed only on sidewalks where the public has the right of way and not on school grounds.
"Basically our main concern is the safety of everyone that's going to be there, but our priority is the children and the staff at the Bernice Young school," Corter said.
Superintendent Christopher Manno said he also had been in contact with the rally organizer.
"I requested directly that they reconsider the rally, since school is in session. I told the organizer that our first priority is always the safety of our students and staff and we're concerned about this making our students uncomfortable," Manno said.
"I also offered to meet personally with the organizer of the event to discuss this matter in lieu of them having a rally. I personally believe it would be more productive if the organizer would sit down with me and discuss the issues at hand rather than rally at an elementary school that is in session."
Manno said the organizer "indicated that they planned to move ahead with the rally."
"I'm going to be sending out a message to all of our families. We certainly don't want our families to be alarmed," Manno said. "I'll be assuring our families that our students and staff will be safe. Participants in the rally will not be permitted on school property."
He said he had been in communication with Corter.
"(Corter) has assured me they will have sufficient officers present," Manno said. "I've also assigned additional administrators to the Young school for the day. I want parents to be assured that it's safe to send their children to school."
The calendar page on the 9/12 Project Burlington County Group's Web site announces the protest for 9:30 a.m. As of Thursday afternoon there were three sign-ups for the protest.
The controversy stems from a video clip posted on YouTube that recently garnered national media attention. The clip depicts students at the Young school singing a song about Obama.
School officials said an associate of a children's book author who visited the school in March recorded the video, which has been the subject of national news reports and criticized by some political pundits and parents as indoctrinating children to support the president and his policies.
School officials said the song was performed in honor of Black History Month during assemblies on Feb. 26 and 27 along with skits celebrating Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras and Dental Health Month.
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14 years 6 months ago #5
by lioneltrainguy
Replied by lioneltrainguy on topic Video stirs controversy
Video protest in Burlington Township
By: DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - About 80 protesters gathered outside the B. Bernice Young Elementary School on Monday morning, clutching signs, chanting slogans and singing songs.
They came from several organizations and many South Jersey towns to voice their disapproval of a video of students singing a song praising President Barack Obama that was filmed in March. When the video hit the Internet in September, it became fodder for cable TV talk and news shows.
The protesters, who were not permitted on school property, assembled across the street on the sidewalk about 10 a.m. for about 45 minutes of singing songs such as "God Bless America" and chanting slogans including, "No politics in the classroom," "Reassign the principal" and "Liar, liar pants on fire."
About 10 township police officers kept an eye on the protest.
"We want to keep this day as normal as possible for the children in school, which is what this is all about," Lt. Wayne Maver said.
Bill Haney of Tabernacle, the organizer of the 9/12 Project of Burlington County group, said the protest was put together before it was known that classes would be in session at the school for prekindergartners through second-graders.
"We thought that the school would be closed on Columbus Day. Unfortunately it's not," Haney said. "We're protesting politicization of children. It's about politics. It's about an agenda. We think that is not fair. You should not use children for that purpose. Whoever organized this is trying to force their views on the children."
Haney said he is not concerned with the particulars of the song performed by the students, but more with the fact that it was set to the music of well-known songs.
"It's the use of 'Jesus Loves the (Little) Children' and 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic.' Those tunes + are part of our history and to use those tunes as a vehicle to promote a particular agenda, we don't think that's correct," he said.
Haney, along with many of the protesters, said their end goal was to have Young principal Denise King reassigned.
"Schools should be teaching reading, writing and arithmetic and not providing a political message, particularly not using children as the medium for that message," he said.
About a dozen people assembled at a distance from the protesters were of the opposing viewpoint.
Dana Williams, the parent of a 7-year-old at the school and an employee in the Trenton School District, said he believes there was an ulterior motive behind the protesters' message.
"They shouldn't be doing it in front of the school," Williams said. "I'm sure many of the townships they come from have no diversity. Some of them are coming with racist attitudes, racist views, and they're trying to cover it up with politics."
Linda Hoffman, whose daughter attended the school last year when she was in second grade, agreed.
"I absolutely believe this is racially motivated," Hoffman said. "I don't believe this has anything to do with politics. Do you see any black individuals down here in their group? Not one. These kids were so proud of themselves for what they did. They did this play; it was beautiful. There's no politics involved in this. They're second-graders. I just think the whole thing is ridiculous."
Hoffman said she agreed with parents who were mostly upset about the shooting of an unauthorized video of the children, which is against district policy, and its later dissemination on the Internet.
Gina and Jim Pronchick, who joined the protest, said their 8-year-old son, Jimmy, was in the controversial video.
"We're out here for the kids. We're not racist. We do not hate the president. We just believe our children should have freedom of choice," Gina Pronchick said. "It's America, land of the free, and they pushed their political views on our children. It's not right."
Jim Pronchick said he believes the investigation into the incident has been one-sided.
"(District officials) said they didn't authorize the video, but video was being taken right out in the open. I just think they're not protecting the kids and there's a lot of teachers who have contacted us who want to speak up but are afraid to," he said. "I'd like to see Principal King reassigned. I'd like to see (Superintendent Christopher Manno) reprimanded for this one-sided investigation, and I'd like the school to at least apologize for what happened and admit there was a violation of policy."
Hoffman said she believes that the protest was disruptive to the students and that they are too young to understand the controversy.
"These kids don't even know what it's about. And the brainwashing, it's coming from home. It's not coming from the education system," she said. "They did this skit in front of their parents. They didn't think, 'Oh, wow, this is politics.' It was just kids singing a song about a man who has made history. History belongs in our schools."
Protester Gina Altukova of Old Bridge, Middlesex County, said she had personal reasons for being wary of songs praising leaders.
"As a kid I was singing to 'great leader.' I came here from Soviet Union. I am an American citizen. I was in it and I know what it is. They proclaim they are great leaders, greater than God, and I know where it leads to. This is a shame and it must stop immediately," Altukova said. "We came because I suffered as a kid. I don't want my grandchildren to suffer."
The song about Obama was performed with seven other skits during a Black History Month celebration in February. A video of the children singing was taken by the sister of author Charisse Carney-Nunes, who was visiting the school. Carney-Nunes wrote the children's book, "I Am Barack Obama."
Director of Public Safety Walter Corter said Friday the groups were notified that they needed a permit to assemble, in accordance with a township ordinance. Haney said he was not informed of that requirement and that the group did not have a permit.
"It's unfortunate that they're protesting in front of a school instead of in a location without disrupting the students. It would be better if they protest away from the school, but it's democracy and they're allowed to do it," Mayor Stephen George said. "We raise our kids to respect authority and to obey the law, and the people protesting didn't bother following the law. They're flouting the law and they expect our kids to be influenced. I don't understand what that means."
Video: Protesters at B. Bernice Young Elementary School
blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bct/v ... rotestors/
Video: Burlington Twp. elementary students sing Obama praises
blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bct/v ... a-praises/
By: DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - About 80 protesters gathered outside the B. Bernice Young Elementary School on Monday morning, clutching signs, chanting slogans and singing songs.
They came from several organizations and many South Jersey towns to voice their disapproval of a video of students singing a song praising President Barack Obama that was filmed in March. When the video hit the Internet in September, it became fodder for cable TV talk and news shows.
The protesters, who were not permitted on school property, assembled across the street on the sidewalk about 10 a.m. for about 45 minutes of singing songs such as "God Bless America" and chanting slogans including, "No politics in the classroom," "Reassign the principal" and "Liar, liar pants on fire."
About 10 township police officers kept an eye on the protest.
"We want to keep this day as normal as possible for the children in school, which is what this is all about," Lt. Wayne Maver said.
Bill Haney of Tabernacle, the organizer of the 9/12 Project of Burlington County group, said the protest was put together before it was known that classes would be in session at the school for prekindergartners through second-graders.
"We thought that the school would be closed on Columbus Day. Unfortunately it's not," Haney said. "We're protesting politicization of children. It's about politics. It's about an agenda. We think that is not fair. You should not use children for that purpose. Whoever organized this is trying to force their views on the children."
Haney said he is not concerned with the particulars of the song performed by the students, but more with the fact that it was set to the music of well-known songs.
"It's the use of 'Jesus Loves the (Little) Children' and 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic.' Those tunes + are part of our history and to use those tunes as a vehicle to promote a particular agenda, we don't think that's correct," he said.
Haney, along with many of the protesters, said their end goal was to have Young principal Denise King reassigned.
"Schools should be teaching reading, writing and arithmetic and not providing a political message, particularly not using children as the medium for that message," he said.
About a dozen people assembled at a distance from the protesters were of the opposing viewpoint.
Dana Williams, the parent of a 7-year-old at the school and an employee in the Trenton School District, said he believes there was an ulterior motive behind the protesters' message.
"They shouldn't be doing it in front of the school," Williams said. "I'm sure many of the townships they come from have no diversity. Some of them are coming with racist attitudes, racist views, and they're trying to cover it up with politics."
Linda Hoffman, whose daughter attended the school last year when she was in second grade, agreed.
"I absolutely believe this is racially motivated," Hoffman said. "I don't believe this has anything to do with politics. Do you see any black individuals down here in their group? Not one. These kids were so proud of themselves for what they did. They did this play; it was beautiful. There's no politics involved in this. They're second-graders. I just think the whole thing is ridiculous."
Hoffman said she agreed with parents who were mostly upset about the shooting of an unauthorized video of the children, which is against district policy, and its later dissemination on the Internet.
Gina and Jim Pronchick, who joined the protest, said their 8-year-old son, Jimmy, was in the controversial video.
"We're out here for the kids. We're not racist. We do not hate the president. We just believe our children should have freedom of choice," Gina Pronchick said. "It's America, land of the free, and they pushed their political views on our children. It's not right."
Jim Pronchick said he believes the investigation into the incident has been one-sided.
"(District officials) said they didn't authorize the video, but video was being taken right out in the open. I just think they're not protecting the kids and there's a lot of teachers who have contacted us who want to speak up but are afraid to," he said. "I'd like to see Principal King reassigned. I'd like to see (Superintendent Christopher Manno) reprimanded for this one-sided investigation, and I'd like the school to at least apologize for what happened and admit there was a violation of policy."
Hoffman said she believes that the protest was disruptive to the students and that they are too young to understand the controversy.
"These kids don't even know what it's about. And the brainwashing, it's coming from home. It's not coming from the education system," she said. "They did this skit in front of their parents. They didn't think, 'Oh, wow, this is politics.' It was just kids singing a song about a man who has made history. History belongs in our schools."
Protester Gina Altukova of Old Bridge, Middlesex County, said she had personal reasons for being wary of songs praising leaders.
"As a kid I was singing to 'great leader.' I came here from Soviet Union. I am an American citizen. I was in it and I know what it is. They proclaim they are great leaders, greater than God, and I know where it leads to. This is a shame and it must stop immediately," Altukova said. "We came because I suffered as a kid. I don't want my grandchildren to suffer."
The song about Obama was performed with seven other skits during a Black History Month celebration in February. A video of the children singing was taken by the sister of author Charisse Carney-Nunes, who was visiting the school. Carney-Nunes wrote the children's book, "I Am Barack Obama."
Director of Public Safety Walter Corter said Friday the groups were notified that they needed a permit to assemble, in accordance with a township ordinance. Haney said he was not informed of that requirement and that the group did not have a permit.
"It's unfortunate that they're protesting in front of a school instead of in a location without disrupting the students. It would be better if they protest away from the school, but it's democracy and they're allowed to do it," Mayor Stephen George said. "We raise our kids to respect authority and to obey the law, and the people protesting didn't bother following the law. They're flouting the law and they expect our kids to be influenced. I don't understand what that means."
Video: Protesters at B. Bernice Young Elementary School
blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bct/v ... rotestors/
Video: Burlington Twp. elementary students sing Obama praises
blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bct/v ... a-praises/
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14 years 6 months ago #6
by lioneltrainguy
Replied by lioneltrainguy on topic Video stirs controversy
School superintendent speaks out
By: DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - Following Monday's protest outside the B. Bernice Young Elementary School, Superintendent Christopher Manno released a comprehensive statement detailing the events surrounding the unauthorized video of a second-grade class singing a song in praise of President Barack Obama.
Manno said he will present a more detailed report to the Board of Education at Wednesday's work session meeting so that members can discuss any modifications to be made to the district's curriculum or policies.
He congratulated township police for doing "an outstanding job of maintaining safety and security" during the rally, which concluded after about 45 minutes without incident.
"I walked around the building this morning. The atmosphere was calm and positive," Manno said in an interview. "I don't think the students really had a sense of what was happening. It was business as usual at the school. The staff were instructed to move on with their lessons and not spend a lot of time addressing it. We have to remember, these children are 4 to 7 years old."
Despite using a bullhorn, the protesters across the street could not be heard inside the building, Manno said.
In response to the national furor surrounding the video, Manno said immediate actions have been taken, including reminding district staff of the existing policies regarding the privacy of student images.
"It is strictly prohibited by police to capture student images and publish those images without the permission of parents," he said. "I've also asked the staff to be extra vigilant regarding the supervision of visitors."
Manno said he has asked teachers to be more attentive when designing activities.
"I've asked the staff to increase their efforts to carefully design classroom activities so as not to give the impression of promoting a political perspective or position," he said. "The Board of Education and the administration, in collaboration with board counsel, will evaluate our policies and procedures to see if there's any bolstering of policies or any revisions we need to make in order to operate more effectively. Those things will happen. We've done some things immediately to address the issues."
According to Manno, the video was shot during a visit by author Charisse Carney-Nunes during Women's History Month in March. The author's sister made the video, which found its way to the Internet.
The song was performed, along with seven other skits, during two assemblies in February celebrating Black History Month. The video was shot during an impromptu performance of the song for Carney-Nunes' visit. She is the author of "I Am Barack Obama," a children's book.
"This was a song that was created by a classroom teacher to recognize and congratulate the first African-American president of the United States during Black History Month," Manno said. "The teacher had no intent whatsoever to promote a political position and was simply engaging her children in an activity to recognize Black History Month."
The lyrics to all the songs in the presentation were provided to parents ahead of time via backpack mail, a folder each student possesses that is used to send news and announcements home, according to Manno.
During Monday's rally many protesters called for Young principal Denise King to be reassigned and for a public apology from the district.
Manno said he and King met with parents of the students in the video on Sept. 30, some of whom confirmed that the lyrics had been sent home before the song's presentation.
"Both Dr. King and I expressed that we are deeply disturbed that the video of their children was taken without permission and posted, and we both apologized to those parents for that happening," Manno said. "Dr. King did nothing wrong and has my complete support. I have fully explained every aspect of this issue and incident in my report. If there is an apology to be had, it is to the parents of the children who were in that video who were recorded without parental permission and in violation of the board policy."
The school board work session is an open public meeting and will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Hopkins building cafeteria at the high school complex off Fountain Woods Road.
By: DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - Following Monday's protest outside the B. Bernice Young Elementary School, Superintendent Christopher Manno released a comprehensive statement detailing the events surrounding the unauthorized video of a second-grade class singing a song in praise of President Barack Obama.
Manno said he will present a more detailed report to the Board of Education at Wednesday's work session meeting so that members can discuss any modifications to be made to the district's curriculum or policies.
He congratulated township police for doing "an outstanding job of maintaining safety and security" during the rally, which concluded after about 45 minutes without incident.
"I walked around the building this morning. The atmosphere was calm and positive," Manno said in an interview. "I don't think the students really had a sense of what was happening. It was business as usual at the school. The staff were instructed to move on with their lessons and not spend a lot of time addressing it. We have to remember, these children are 4 to 7 years old."
Despite using a bullhorn, the protesters across the street could not be heard inside the building, Manno said.
In response to the national furor surrounding the video, Manno said immediate actions have been taken, including reminding district staff of the existing policies regarding the privacy of student images.
"It is strictly prohibited by police to capture student images and publish those images without the permission of parents," he said. "I've also asked the staff to be extra vigilant regarding the supervision of visitors."
Manno said he has asked teachers to be more attentive when designing activities.
"I've asked the staff to increase their efforts to carefully design classroom activities so as not to give the impression of promoting a political perspective or position," he said. "The Board of Education and the administration, in collaboration with board counsel, will evaluate our policies and procedures to see if there's any bolstering of policies or any revisions we need to make in order to operate more effectively. Those things will happen. We've done some things immediately to address the issues."
According to Manno, the video was shot during a visit by author Charisse Carney-Nunes during Women's History Month in March. The author's sister made the video, which found its way to the Internet.
The song was performed, along with seven other skits, during two assemblies in February celebrating Black History Month. The video was shot during an impromptu performance of the song for Carney-Nunes' visit. She is the author of "I Am Barack Obama," a children's book.
"This was a song that was created by a classroom teacher to recognize and congratulate the first African-American president of the United States during Black History Month," Manno said. "The teacher had no intent whatsoever to promote a political position and was simply engaging her children in an activity to recognize Black History Month."
The lyrics to all the songs in the presentation were provided to parents ahead of time via backpack mail, a folder each student possesses that is used to send news and announcements home, according to Manno.
During Monday's rally many protesters called for Young principal Denise King to be reassigned and for a public apology from the district.
Manno said he and King met with parents of the students in the video on Sept. 30, some of whom confirmed that the lyrics had been sent home before the song's presentation.
"Both Dr. King and I expressed that we are deeply disturbed that the video of their children was taken without permission and posted, and we both apologized to those parents for that happening," Manno said. "Dr. King did nothing wrong and has my complete support. I have fully explained every aspect of this issue and incident in my report. If there is an apology to be had, it is to the parents of the children who were in that video who were recorded without parental permission and in violation of the board policy."
The school board work session is an open public meeting and will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Hopkins building cafeteria at the high school complex off Fountain Woods Road.
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14 years 6 months ago #7
by lioneltrainguy
Replied by lioneltrainguy on topic Video stirs controversy
Video discussed in Burl. Twp.
By: DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - It has been less than a month since the school district garnered national attention.
On Wednesday night, for the first time since a video featuring second-graders singing about President Barack Obama went viral, the school board and superintendent spoke directly to parents and residents, who later got a chance to speak their minds.
The performance on the video, which was filmed in violation of district policy in March and later showed up on the Internet, became fodder for cable TV talk and news shows last month.
The first topic at Wednesday's meeting, which was attended by about 100 people as well as TV cameras, was Superintendent Christopher Manno's detailed report on the events leading up to and surrounding the song's performance and resulting video.
"On March 23, 2009, an author, Charisse Carney-Nunes, visited the (B. Bernice) Young School as part of the school's Women's History Month recognition," Manno said. "Parents received prior notice of the author visit and assemblies and were invited to attend an evening event. After the first assembly on March 23, the class that performed the Black History Month skit about President Obama at the February assembly provided a special impromptu performance for the author, since one of the author's books was about Barack Obama."
When the children performed the song for the author in the school's gymnasium, Manno said the classroom teacher, the students, another staff member, and the author's sister and daughter were present.
"Our initial investigation concluded that one of the author's guests video-recorded the song without knowledge or permission of staff members," Manno said. "To confirm this I had a conversation with the author's representative. The author would not speak with me directly."
According to the representative, Carney-Nunes' sister took the video, which was posted on the author's Web site, and confirmed that permission was not given by any school staff member to record the event or put it on the Web, Manno said.
The video was copied from the author's site, altered, and placed on YouTube by a third party, he said.
Township police, administrators and the school board attorney have worked to have the videos removed from YouTube, and the video-sharing site agreed that the posts were in violation of its policies and initially agreed to remove them, Manno said.
But, he noted, "YouTube's responsiveness to our requests has since ceased. We have involved board counsel in attempting to have the remaining videos removed."
Manno also addressed what he called "the most controversial accusation regarding the event."
"Some have portrayed this event as some sort of attempt to indoctrinate students to a particular ideology. Indoctrination is a systematic attempt to impart a doctrine or ideology," he said. "Let me be perfectly clear on this: There was nothing systematic or indoctrinating about this innocent classroom activity. After investigation of this event, we found that no form of indoctrination took place and there was no intent for indoctrination."
Manno commended Principal Denise King for her courage and leadership during recent events before shaking her hand, which prompted a standing ovation from most of the audience.
He said administrators will work with the school board to provide explicit direction and guidelines "so that classroom activities do not give the appearance of promoting any one political perspective over another."
About two dozen people spoke at the meeting. Most congratulated the board and school staff for the way they handled the event and said they just wanted to move on. Many parents were more concerned that the video was taken and distributed without permission.
"I have two boys who are in the school here. I'd like to thank Dr. Manno and Dr. King for the wonderful job you all have been doing educating my children," Andrea Moore said. "I feel like I owe you an apology for this terrible distraction."
Others were not satisfied with an apology from Manno and King to the parents of the children in the video and said politics should be kept out of the classroom.
"If we're going to take prayer out of school, why should it be replaced with politics?" asked Gina Pronchick, whose child appeared in the video. "Let's just stick to the basics, teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Please don't push politics on my 7-year-old."
Tracy Floyd, a parent of two children, did not believe the song was political.
"I do not feel that you are imposing politics," she said. "Electing the first African-American president is not politics. It's history, and history is one of the subjects taught in the Burlington Township School District."
Andrea Simolonski, whose daughter was in the video, said she was bothered most by comparisons made of her daughter and classmates to Hitler Youth and asked the board to explore a vetting process for visitors to the school.
Board member Susan Eichmann said action would be taken to bolster district policies.
"This board has no intention of just letting this go," Eichmann said.
Since the meeting was a work session, the board could not take action of any kind. It will next convene for its regular meeting on Oct. 21.
By: DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - It has been less than a month since the school district garnered national attention.
On Wednesday night, for the first time since a video featuring second-graders singing about President Barack Obama went viral, the school board and superintendent spoke directly to parents and residents, who later got a chance to speak their minds.
The performance on the video, which was filmed in violation of district policy in March and later showed up on the Internet, became fodder for cable TV talk and news shows last month.
The first topic at Wednesday's meeting, which was attended by about 100 people as well as TV cameras, was Superintendent Christopher Manno's detailed report on the events leading up to and surrounding the song's performance and resulting video.
"On March 23, 2009, an author, Charisse Carney-Nunes, visited the (B. Bernice) Young School as part of the school's Women's History Month recognition," Manno said. "Parents received prior notice of the author visit and assemblies and were invited to attend an evening event. After the first assembly on March 23, the class that performed the Black History Month skit about President Obama at the February assembly provided a special impromptu performance for the author, since one of the author's books was about Barack Obama."
When the children performed the song for the author in the school's gymnasium, Manno said the classroom teacher, the students, another staff member, and the author's sister and daughter were present.
"Our initial investigation concluded that one of the author's guests video-recorded the song without knowledge or permission of staff members," Manno said. "To confirm this I had a conversation with the author's representative. The author would not speak with me directly."
According to the representative, Carney-Nunes' sister took the video, which was posted on the author's Web site, and confirmed that permission was not given by any school staff member to record the event or put it on the Web, Manno said.
The video was copied from the author's site, altered, and placed on YouTube by a third party, he said.
Township police, administrators and the school board attorney have worked to have the videos removed from YouTube, and the video-sharing site agreed that the posts were in violation of its policies and initially agreed to remove them, Manno said.
But, he noted, "YouTube's responsiveness to our requests has since ceased. We have involved board counsel in attempting to have the remaining videos removed."
Manno also addressed what he called "the most controversial accusation regarding the event."
"Some have portrayed this event as some sort of attempt to indoctrinate students to a particular ideology. Indoctrination is a systematic attempt to impart a doctrine or ideology," he said. "Let me be perfectly clear on this: There was nothing systematic or indoctrinating about this innocent classroom activity. After investigation of this event, we found that no form of indoctrination took place and there was no intent for indoctrination."
Manno commended Principal Denise King for her courage and leadership during recent events before shaking her hand, which prompted a standing ovation from most of the audience.
He said administrators will work with the school board to provide explicit direction and guidelines "so that classroom activities do not give the appearance of promoting any one political perspective over another."
About two dozen people spoke at the meeting. Most congratulated the board and school staff for the way they handled the event and said they just wanted to move on. Many parents were more concerned that the video was taken and distributed without permission.
"I have two boys who are in the school here. I'd like to thank Dr. Manno and Dr. King for the wonderful job you all have been doing educating my children," Andrea Moore said. "I feel like I owe you an apology for this terrible distraction."
Others were not satisfied with an apology from Manno and King to the parents of the children in the video and said politics should be kept out of the classroom.
"If we're going to take prayer out of school, why should it be replaced with politics?" asked Gina Pronchick, whose child appeared in the video. "Let's just stick to the basics, teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Please don't push politics on my 7-year-old."
Tracy Floyd, a parent of two children, did not believe the song was political.
"I do not feel that you are imposing politics," she said. "Electing the first African-American president is not politics. It's history, and history is one of the subjects taught in the Burlington Township School District."
Andrea Simolonski, whose daughter was in the video, said she was bothered most by comparisons made of her daughter and classmates to Hitler Youth and asked the board to explore a vetting process for visitors to the school.
Board member Susan Eichmann said action would be taken to bolster district policies.
"This board has no intention of just letting this go," Eichmann said.
Since the meeting was a work session, the board could not take action of any kind. It will next convene for its regular meeting on Oct. 21.
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