Were you suggesting that high school students have never studied the Civil War? What are they learning in school then, nothing at all, or only what the teachers believe they should learn?
If these teenagers’ brains are not fully developed, as you suggested, why are they being issued a driver’s license to drive a vehicle?
Many of these high school students have jobs, pay for their own clothing, and gas for their car, or maybe even help support their family.
Why are some of these teenagers allowed to vote in elections that will have an effect on our communities, economy, judicial system, Congress, and even the Presidency? Why are they allowed to sign up for the military? You said their brains are not developed enough to vote on a school fight song, but yet look at what they are allowed to do, and capable of doing. “What were we thinking”?
While change is sometimes necessary and sometimes good, it should be done for the right reason. Statues are removed, mascots are changed, and a school fight song is changed, all in the interest of being politically correct. What does being politically correct mean … that it offends no one person. Everything offends someone. So we learn to compromise. So many problems in society, communities, and government, yet we choose to focus on a school fight song.
If anyone is going to be offended, I think every parent should be offended by the comments that you have printed. The students should feel offended as well. Maybe they are not as worldly as you or the school administrators, but I’m sure they can stand up for their beliefs, and are capable of making a decision about a “fight song”, just as the classes of 1969-1972 were capable.
I think the Hays High School students deserve a chance to decide on their own fight song. This is one opportunity to teach them to be responsible and patriotic citizens. Aren’t these skills that these young folks should be learning? Listening to both sides talking about the issues, and making informed decisions for when they will be voting in a presidential election, or any election?
Please do not underestimate these students.
Judy Marshall