HARLEM, N.Y. -- A New York principal sparked fury among parents, students and teachers after banning a patriotic song from being sung at graduation.
Kingergartners at Cohen School in Coney Island will not be allowed to sing "God Bless the USA" at their end-of-year ceremony because the principal has decided it is inappropriate.
Greta Hawkins is the principal of PS 90, the Edna Cohen School in Coney Island. According to parents of the Kindergarten class, Hawkins has banned the students from singing "God Bless the USA" at their graduation.
The thing is, the little kids have been rehearsing the patriotic tune for weeks now, and were disappointed and confused at the principal's decision.
The lyrics, she says, could "offend other cultures" and "are too grown up for five-year-olds".
Hawkins is a Jehova's Witness, and she has tried to stamp down on the school's patriotic rituals a few years ago when she tried to end the pledge of allegiance and singing "America the Beautiful".
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