Teen sues district after "Ave Maria" silenced

Seattle Times ^ | Saturday, July 1, 2006 | David Bowermaster

[DogBarkTree]

For years, seniors in the wind ensemble at Henry M. Jackson High School have selected a favorite piece of music to play during commencement.

For last month's ceremonies, the 17 students chose an instrumental version of "Ave Maria," which they had performed at a school concert in December 2004.

But their choice was vetoed by Dr. Carol Whitehead, superintendent of the Everett School District. Instead, the ensemble played a selection by British composer Gustav Holst.

Now Kathryn Nurre, an 18-year-old who played alto saxophone in the ensemble before graduating, is suing Whitehead, claiming the decision violated her First Amendment right to freedom of speech. She believes "Ave Maria" was nixed by Whitehead because she felt the song was too religious for a school-sanctioned event.

[Hacksaw]

Atheism is a hard core religion. And it's believers are just as bad as those of Islam in trying to impose it on everyone.

Careful... they are going to be here soon asking such stupid questions as "What if she wanted to play a Muslim prayer chant? HUH? HUH?"

[widowithfoursons]

NOnonono. Eastasia has always been at war with Oceana. Don't you watch the newsreels?

[MinuteGal]

The school is being sued for not allowing the religious melody to be played.

The school would be sued if they allowed the religious melody to be played.

The lawyers have all bases covered, haven't they!

I'm raising my dog to be a lawyer to guarantee the pooch a well-paying, secure career.

Leni

[sobieski]

Now we need to label classical music so the title doesn't offend the atheists; like Nave Maria or something like that

[sobieski]

I don't think there is such a thing as a 'religious melody'; it's just a melody. The bigots didn't like the title

[Condor51]

Freaking brainwashed Jesus freaks are everywhere!
Don't these mind numbed cultists understand that only the Internationale (midi) shall be played at school State events!

Arise ye starvelings [or workers] from your slumbers
Arise ye criminals of want
For reason in revolt now thunders
and at last ends the age of cant.
Now away with all your superstitions
Servile masses arise, arise!
We'll change forthwith [or henceforth] the old conditions
And spurn the dust to win the prize.

CHORUS:
Then come comrades rally
And the last fight let us face
The Internationale
Unites the human race. (repeat).

We peasants, artisans and others,
Enrolled amongst the sons of toil
Let's ... etc, etc, etc...

And what's up with this "parent" stuff? And where's her two mommies or her lesbian girlfriend. And no mention of the State Social Worker? What the heck is going on here. She's sick.

/s

[daku]

America is at war with atheism, islamofacsists are merely their footsoldiers

[tiki]

What is really funny is that, as an instrumental, unless you were well versed in classical music, the non-religious would never have recognized the music.

[sitetest]

Dear nuconvert,

Thanks for the ping (or the pong??)! ;-)

Classical Music Ping List ping!

If you want on or off this list, please let me know via FR e-mail.

Thanks!


sitetest

[MinuteGal]

The first documented version of the melody of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" ("America", "God Save the King/Queen", etal) dates from 1761 in the American colonies.

It was the melody for the Christian hymn known as "Whitefield's Tune". It was published in a collection of sacred songs and was printed by William Bradford.

I guess one of our loveliest patriotic songs can't be presented ever again at this school as the melody is historically connected in many ways with religion.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to un-believe.

Leni

[PallMal]

There are also several complete masses composed by classical composers.

How about banning Handel's "Messiah"? Or how about those many (if not most) pieces by Bach that were dedicated to "Gotte"?

[Rock N Jones]

How about banning Handel's "Messiah"?

Don't forget to ban all pictures of paintings in the Sistine Chapel!

[TommyDale]

They banned an instrumental version of the song?

[ARridgerunner]

Ping.

America.

[ViLaLuz]

The school is imposing the secular humanist religion on the students.

[Last Dakotan]

You know the "tolerant" leftists are busy working on the concept of re-education camps.

Currently referred to as "Sensitivity Training".

[vox_freedom]

Has the local Catholic bishop taken up this issue publicly? He should. So should other Christian leaders.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

There are also several complete masses composed by classical composers.

How about banning Handel's "Messiah"? Or how about those many (if not most) pieces by Bach that were dedicated to "Gotte"?

---

Done. When was the last time you saw "Messiah" performed at one of our temples of the civic religion (a.k.a. public schools)?

One more reason to push the "separation between church and state" to its logical conclusion: "separation of state and school". http://www.sepschool.org/

http://www.intellectualconservative.com/article3172.html

And,in the meantime,
http://www.exodusmandate.com/
http://getthekidsout.org/blog/blog_a.php?p=64&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

[MineralMan]

Well, now...that's just silly. I can see no possible reason to prohibit the band (I refuse to use the term "wind ensemble" for a high school band) from playing that piece.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

I am certainly not catholic, but loudly applaud this action. This stupidity has got to stop. Now.