Jan 3, 2012
A Virginia school district is defending a song allegedly written and performed by a group of third graders about the Occupy Wall Street movement that conservative bloggers are calling a form of indoctrination.
The song, “Part of the 99,” was performed by children at Woodbrook Elementary School in Albemarle County, Virginia.
A spokesman for the school system said as far as they were concerned there isn’t a controversy and called criticism of the program unfortunate.
“We really don’t censor the topics that students come up with,” school spokesman Phil Giaramita told Fox News & Commentary. “This is the first time we’ve had the lyrics of one of these songs criticized.”
The controversy surrounding the song was first reported by the Weasel Zippers website.
“They’re actually claiming third-grade children wrote these lyrics and chose the topic as well,” Weasel Zippers wrote. “Because what eight-year-old child isn’t obsessed with class warfare?”
Giaramita said the song was part of a program sponsored by Kid Pan Alley. The boys and girls worked with a facilitator to come up with a theme and lyrics for a song. The songs are not allowed to promote any political or personal agenda.
“This was written four months ago,” he said. “And I think this particular issue of the Occupy movement was being looked at in a different way than it is today.”
But some critics are wondering how a group of eight-year-old children could write the following lyrics:
Some people have it all
But they still don’t think they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied
Yes — they’re the 1 percent
I used to be one of the 1 percent
I worked all the time
Never saw my family
Couldn’t make life rhyme
Then the bubble burst
It really, really hurt
I lost my money
Lost my pride
Lost my home
Now I’m part of the 99
Some people have it all
But they still don’t think they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied
Yes — they’re the 1 percent
I used to be sad, now I’m satisfied
’Cause I really have enough
Though I lost my yacht and plane
Didn’t need that extra stuff
Could have been much worse
You don’t need to be first
’Cause I’ve got my friends
Here by my side
Don’t need it all
I’m so happy to be part of the 99
Giaramita said he has no doubts that eight-year-old children could write such lyrics and denied that teachers might have influenced their song choice.
“Students aren’t told what to write by either school officials or by the people associated with Kid Pan Alley,” he said. “I’ve talked with teachers and they tell me you’d be amazed at how creative a lot of children are these days – even younger than that.”
“I’ve spoken with the Kid Pan Alley people, the principal and they all say the same thing – kids aren’t told what to write and you would be surprised or amazed at how creative and how thoughtful children even at that age are,” he said.
However, Kid Pan Alley issued a statement to NewsPlex.com expressing concern about the song.
“Last November, when the Kid Pan Alley Board of Directors was made aware of the song in question, we took swift action to clarify our guidelines for lyrical content,” the statement read.
Other Posts
- Do Crosses at Catholic University Violate “Human Rights” of Muslims? (3043)
- Obama Leaves God Out of Thanksgiving Address (2327)
- Air Force Removes ‘God’ From Logo (2320)
- School Removes “God” From Lee Greenwood Song (2308)
- Anti-Bullying Speaker Curses Christian Teens (2055)
- Church-Burning Video Used to Promote Atheist Event at Ft. Bragg (1580)
- Christian Teens Say Gay Activist Made Girls Cry (1535)
I'm quite sure that the very same Conservative bloggers that refer to this as a "form of indoctrination" are supportive of prayer in the classroom and "…one Nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance…is this not considered indoctrination as well? I'm fairly certain those 3rd graders didn't write the "Our Father," the "Hail Mary," or even The Pledge of Allegiance! LOL!
if you're against indoctrination of children then no one should b introduced into religion until they are 18 years old, and of sound mind. If not, then those opinion against indoctrination are hypocratic at least. i'm surprised some of you morons can even spell indoctrination. and just because your mutant children can't stop playing with their boogers, don't think no child could have written this. there are smarter children then your inbred descendents.
Wow that's really controversial! Song summed up = Some people are not satisfied with lots of material goods, I used to be one of them, now I am not, now I am satisfied with what I got. Wow that's a real shocker! a real communist manifesto that! most of you commenting on this are idiots! Feeling a little threatened lately? Usually insecure people get angry and threatened by every little thing – does that describe any of you "outraged" by this benign song, who cares who wrote it.. I suppose "This land is your land" by Woody Guthrie is real threatening too. As for those of you who want religion in public schools – Oh really? Which ones? Which do we exclude? Bhuddism, Mormonism, Hindu, Scientology, Sufi, Jewish, Muslim, How about Christian Pentacostalism – speaking in tongues in the classroom sound good to you?
Of course in some countries they require religion in School – like Iran. Can you guess how many and which? That sure sounds like a country I want to emulate.
I don't think that conservatives necessarily want religions in school per say. You make a point with asking which religion do you exclude. They should either teach them all or none of them. as a conservative Christian parent, I don't expect public schools to indoctrinate kids the other way (with Christianity) but I do expect them to leave "Under God" in the PLedge of Allegiance because that is part of American history (maybe it wasn't in there originally but it had been for generations) and I do expect them to not oppress kid's free will to express their religion whatever it may be because we appease too many people today. and the difference is that with the PLedge of Allegiance or the national anthem or whatever may offend some poeple can be avoided. Were the kids given the chance to not participate in this ridiculous song activity? you are only acknowledging some of the lyrics of this song. of course it's fine to say that someone doesn't need material things to be happy, they are making it "the 99%" vs. "the 1%" which makes it not just offensive and political but also doesn't line up with the values of many religions.
I don't think that conservatives necessarily want religions in school per say. You make a point with asking which religion do you exclude. They should either teach them all or none of them. as a conservative Christian parent, I don't expect public schools to indoctrinate kids the other way (with Christianity) but I do expect them to leave "Under God" in the PLedge of Allegiance because that is part of American history (maybe it wasn't in there originally but it had been for generations) and I do expect them to not oppress kid's free will to express their religion whatever it may be because we appease too many people today. and the difference is that with the PLedge of Allegiance or the national anthem or whatever may offend some poeple can be avoided. Were the kids given the chance to not participate in this ridiculous song activity? you are only acknowledging some of the lyrics of this song. of course it's fine to say that someone doesn't need material things to be happy, they are making it "the 99%" vs. "the 1%" which makes it not just offensive and political but also doesn't line up with the values of many religions.
Christie Dugas Campos, Bill Gross who runs the largest bond fund in the world ($16 Trillion) Recently tweeted: “Class Warfare By The 99%? Of Course, They’re Fighting Back After 30 Years Of Being Shot At” If you dont think class warfare is in full swing you are late to the party. Its been a one sided war for 30 years and the middle class is just now waking up to it. The war isn't really between the 1% and the 99% its between the .001% and 99.99% You see the really fat cats control the mega wealth and recruit the top 10% of dummies to do there dirty work, politics etc. Do you think any of the .001% kids GO to public schools? As for kids talking about God in public schools, they do it all the time, the administration merely tries to downplay endorsements or things that could create religious strife in the close quarters of school, kindof like the old rule of good guests do not bring up religion or politics, because its known to cause hard and even violent feelings. Can you imagine if a Muslim kid war a t-shirt that said "all infidels will burn in hell" -? That might upset the classroom environment.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/10/bill-gross-class-warfare-by-the-99-of-course-they%E2%80%99re-fighting-back-after-30-years-of-being-shot-at.html
Kids can be manipulated but they can't be made to fake what they feel and what they think. It looks like these kids have probably lived through what is being described in the song and have formed a valid opinion, right or wrong, It also looks like their perspective has been formed at home, from observing and probably family discussions about their present life and it's meaning. I'm always amazed at the observations my nine year old makes about her life and the world around her… kids are definitely more aware these days and every bit as smart. What this song says to me is that we really need to be careful what we say or do in front of our kids and know that it will impact or influence their view of us as parents and citizens of the world. We may think they are not paying attention and processing current events that affect our lives, but as my kids pediatrician once told me " whatever amount of words you think this baby knows is only 10% percent of what is stored and waiting for the right moment to come out"… my kid asked God during her bedtime prayer, just before Christmas, " and last please help the economy get better so people can go back to how their life use to be, and have a chat with Santa to see if he can bring me an iPad!"… didn't see that coming.
Yes, gods forbid that the 99 Percent should indoctrinate their own children. Oy vey.
These comments are so depressing. Why aren't Tea Party folks on board with OWS? Do you all really think this is a left/right thing? That's what the media sells us?
These comments are so depressing. Why aren't Tea Party folks on board with OWS? Do you all really think this is a left/right thing? That's what the media sells us?
What an 8-year old would write….
I’m the kid who stands on the sidelines, and makes fun of the star of the game.
I’m the kid who gets a C on the test, and still believes that the teacher’s to blame.
I’m the kid who does not go to practice, and still believes that I should get the ball.
I’m the kid who does not do my chores, but wants allowance doing nothing at all.
I’m the kid who will knock down your block pile, knock down Legos and your castle of sand.
I’m the kid who will hardly try at anything, and still expects to have a trophy in hand.
I’m the kid who will, as I get older, begin to destroy others’ property when it gets dark.
I’m the kid who will, as an adult, yell and hold up signs and sleep in a park.
What an 8-year old would write….
I’m the kid who stands on the sidelines, and makes fun of the star of the game.
I’m the kid who gets a C on the test, and still believes that the teacher’s to blame.
I’m the kid who does not go to practice, and still believes that I should get the ball.
I’m the kid who does not do my chores, but wants allowance doing nothing at all.
I’m the kid who will knock down your block pile, knock down Legos and your castle of sand.
I’m the kid who will hardly try at anything, and still expects to have a trophy in hand.
I’m the kid who will, as I get older, begin to destroy others’ property when it gets dark.
I’m the kid who will, as an adult, yell and hold up signs and sleep in a park.
I like your poem… much more than the "lyrics" noted in this news article
Retarded
if you're against indoctrination of children then no one should b introduced into religion until they are 18 years old, and of sound mind. If not, then those opinion against indoctrination are hypocratic at least. I'm surprised some of you morons can even spell indoctrination. and just because your mutant children can't stop playing with their boogers, don't think no child could have written this. there are smarter children then your inbred descendents.