After the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District decided to drop a song from its elementary school’s holiday program, an evening performance — one that would have included an audience of non-students — was canceled. The school district won’t say why.
Vitalii Petrushenko/Getty Images/iStockphoto
FONDA — Parents were enraged when Fonda-Fultonville Central Schools abruptly canceled one of next week’s elementary school winter concerts.
Schools Superintendent Richard DeMallie refused to say why the Dec. 16 concert has been canceled, saying he wanted to explain but that it was “truly a matter I cannot disclose.”
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Some speculated the problem was a song celebrating the birth of Jesus, a tune that was taught to the students in preparation for the concert.
The song, “Oh, What a Special Night,” features successive choruses of barn animal sounds — sheep baaing, cows mooing, donkeys braying — each capped by “Thank you, God, for Baby Jesus.”
DeMallie confirmed that the song was removed from the concert program recently and that the decision was made one week before the evening concert was canceled.
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The elementary school principal notified him about the song. They discussed it and asked the district’s legal department. They were advised to “omit” the song from the program, so it was removed, DeMallie said.
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But “that’s not the reason for the cancellation of the concert,” he added. “It’s easy enough to sing five songs rather than six at a night concert.”
Later, he said, he decided to cancel the planned evening concert but proceed with a performance during the school day and record it for parents and others to view.
DeMallie said no safety issue prompted the cancellation and that the music department staff were all still at work in the district’s schools.
He said he wished he could explain further. “Unfortunately, it’s a matter that cannot be disclosed,” DeMallie said.
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A statement was posted on the district’s website that stated in part, “It is important to note the cancellation is not related to song selection or school safety issues as some in the community have alleged.” That statement appeared to have been removed on Friday.
DeMallie spent part of Friday returning calls from parents who were irate that they could not watch their children sing the songs they’d been practicing for weeks.
“I’m from here, I’m a graduate of here, my children go here,” he said. “I understand the ramifications of the decision.”
One parent described his 8-year-old daughter coming home in tears because her parents wouldn’t get to watch her perform. He knew about the “Jesus song” — he’d heard his kids singing the animal sounds. Although he isn’t religious, he said he thought the song was funny.
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The controversy was picked up by Anthony Constantino, the colorful CEO of Amsterdam-based company Sticker Mule and a newly announced candidate for the 21st Congressional District. He issued a statement denouncing the district’s decision as “an illegal violation of the First Amendment” — all violations of the First Amendment are illegal — “and parents can bring legal action against the school if they want.”
“My lawyers,” Costantino said, “will be happy to help the parents if interested!”