A Wisconsin teacher who expressed dismay after her school district banned her first graders from singing Rainbowland was fired Wednesday.
Melissa Tempel tweeted in March that the administration had vetoed the choice for Rainbowland, a duet by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton, which the officials deemed controversial under school policy,
My first graders were so excited to sing Rainbowland for our spring concert but it has been vetoed by our administration.
When will it end?”
According to NBC affiliate WTMJ, the Waukesha School District Board of Education voted Wednesday to terminate Tempel.
After the vote Wednesday, Tempel’s attorney said that they were disappointed with the decision but that they have what is necessary for a First Amendment lawsuit.
Tempel told reporters she wouldn’t have done anything differently even had she known the outcome and thanked people for their support and kind messages.
And I really just want to say ‘hi’ to my students, because I haven’t been able to talk to them since March, and I really miss you guys.”
Rainbowland includes the lyrics,
’Cause I know if we try,
we could really make a difference in this world…
Living in a Rainbowland …
Where we’re free to be exactly who we are
Let’s all dig down deep inside
Brush the judgment and fear aside.”
Tempel’s social media post prompted emails and phone calls to the district.
Superintendent James Sebert asked for an investigation. Sebert said he got “hundreds” of phone messages, as well as emails, after the post, some of them of a threatening nature.
Tempel had been placed on administrative leave.
Sebert said at Wednesday’s meeting that he felt the way Tempel disagreed with the decision
was in direct violation of multiple board policies.”
The school board fired this teacher for wanting to include Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus's "Rainbowland" in a school concert. FIRED HER. These people have lost their minds.https://t.co/tEv70DM9ko
— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) July 13, 2023
(Photo, YouTube; via NBC News)
