Oregon Principal Steve Powell Bans Skit About Obama
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:39 am
Check out the Prinicipal's "defense" for banning the skit...
Boy banned from wearing Obama mask in skit
by Michelle Roberts, The Oregonian
Friday March 13, 2009, 9:20 PM
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/ind ... alent.html
"You do not have the choice to refrain from providing reasons for censoring content in a public school. You are a public servant. You work for the taxpayers, and this matter pertains to educational content, not confidential or personnel matters. If you choose to censor otherwise public content, then you will be required to provide a reason. I'm very dissappointed in you, Mr. Powell.
So, until such time as you feel inclined to begin acting like an adult and carry out your responsibilities as Principal, you will have detention. That detention will begin immediately after school today when you will be required to stay after school and respond to the numerous press and board requests for your reasoning.
That will be all, Mr. Powell. Let's just hope you learn something from this incident."
Boy banned from wearing Obama mask in skit
by Michelle Roberts, The Oregonian
Friday March 13, 2009, 9:20 PM
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/ind ... alent.html
Ahem...have a seat Mr. Powell. Yes...right there. Sit up straight and listen. It's Administrator Tman's turn to talk.A mask similar to one President Barack Obama himself wore in a "Saturday Night Live" skit prompted a Portland school principal to ban a boy from performing while wearing it at his elementary school talent show after deciding the rubber likeness of the 44th president was "inappropriate and potentially offensive."
Dru Lechert-Kelly, 11, a fifth-grader at Llewellyn Elementary School in Southeast Portland, decided to dress up like his role model and dance to a popular YouTube song that features an Obama look-alike dancing to a parody called "I Can Do Whatever I Like."
Dru performed the skit in front of teachers and students during a rehearsal for Llewellyn's annual talent show Thursday. He wore a navy blue suit, white shirt, red tie, black shoes and an Obama mask purchased at a costume shop. The choreographed routine ended with Dru on the floor in the splits.
"He practiced for weeks," said Scott Lechert, 50, an instructional designer, who along with his partner, Paul Kelly, 55, a physical therapist, adopted Dru from a Romanian orphanage in 1999 at age 1 1/2. Both dads helped Dru design his stage props -- a desk with a large presidential seal stuck to the front with duct tape. And both coached their son to "have lots of bop" and "use your shoulders" during his routine.
After Thursday's performance, the "crowd went wild," Dru said. But so did some of the adults in the audience.
"I talked to the parents who are coordinating the talent show, and they feel it's inappropriate and potentially offensive," Llewellyn Principal Steve Powell said.
When asked what was offensive about Dru's skit, Powell refused to discuss it.
"I won't say why it's inappropriate," he said. "I'm not saying anything to The Oregonian. Why? Because I don't want to."
Powell said he hadn't seen Dru's performance but has watched the parody on YouTube.
"You do not have the choice to refrain from providing reasons for censoring content in a public school. You are a public servant. You work for the taxpayers, and this matter pertains to educational content, not confidential or personnel matters. If you choose to censor otherwise public content, then you will be required to provide a reason. I'm very dissappointed in you, Mr. Powell.
So, until such time as you feel inclined to begin acting like an adult and carry out your responsibilities as Principal, you will have detention. That detention will begin immediately after school today when you will be required to stay after school and respond to the numerous press and board requests for your reasoning.
That will be all, Mr. Powell. Let's just hope you learn something from this incident."
