TRAVERSE CITY -- UPDATE 6:00 p.m. - TCAPS Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jane Mohr is speaking out about a Cherry Knoll Elementary School teacher to take the word "gay" out of Deck the Halls.
She says, "We are so very sorry this happened. The teacher made a poor decision and it should have never happened."
Mohr would not say whether the teacher would be punished, but the school's principal told 7&4 News Monday that he was not planning to discipline her.
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A traditional Christmas carol is at the center of controversy at a TCAPS elementary school.
The music teacher at Cherry Knoll removed the word "gay" from the song Deck the Halls because the children kept giggling. Instead students were taught to sing "don we now our bright apparel". 7&4 News talked with the school's principal Chris Parker Monday. He says is disappointed in the music teacher's decision to change the lyrics to the song, and the students are back to singing the original version.
Parker added that this is a teachable moment for both the music teacher and students. 1st and 2nd graders will be performing several songs at their Christmas concert on December 20th.
On our Facebook page Jeremy wrote " Can one word in a 150 year old classic Christmas carol really offend someone?". Lora added "Really? Are you serious! Just leave the lyrics alone.
Do you think the teacher did the right thing by changing the lyrics? Tell us "Your Point of View" by voting in the poll below and leaving your comments.
