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School right to restrict offensive music

February 08, 2012|By Rhonda Dragomir | Journal Columnist

I can already hear the howls of protest. “Censorship!” some will shout. “Freedom of speech!” will become the battle cry of others. “What’s next? Book burning?”

Efforts by school officials to weed out music at school events that includes profanity, sexual innuendo, and inappropriate messages is sure to whip up a frenzy. We live in a society that values liberty, and any attempt to rein in what some will characterize as protected speech is sure to be controversial.

No one can deny that musicians are free to produce whatever music they choose, and people are free to buy it if they want to. That is not the issue in this situation. Students can listen to anything they want on their iPods and car stereos, and all school officials may do is sigh and roll their eyes. After all, this is a free country.

The crux of the issue now before officials is this: What is their responsibility in the context of school-sponsored events? There is an extra layer of obligation upon them. The implied message is that whatever music is played has been sanctioned by the school. The songs appear to have tacit endorsement. The disturbing message of some music makes that problematic.

If you don’t believe me, imagine that the school dance team choreographed a routine to the Horst-Wessel-Lied while waving Nazi flags. I think most of us would have a problem, and rightly so. Nothing is inherently wrong with the music — it’s the message behind it that is upsetting.

I have the same problem with music that glorifies promiscuous sex, drug use, racism or violence. Schools are in the business of education. Just as it matters what textbooks are chosen, what fiction will be read and discussed, and what media may be projected in the classroom, it matters what is heard by students after hours in the gymnasium or on the football field.

There is a trend in modern culture that is worth resisting. That trend is to push acceptable conduct just to the point where it crosses into something illegal or immoral; in other words, “Be as bad as you can be.” But rather than allowing students to get by with as much as they can, why can we not encourage them to make the best choices they can?

The optimum tactic in this situation would be to enlighten and enable students to decide for themselves that some music is better off not being heard at a public event, and why. Oh, I know that sometimes I’m a Pollyanna, but I don’t want to underestimate the courage and ability of our young people to make better choices on their own rather than being handed by adults a list of banned music. I think they can, given the right guidance.

No one imagines that a new school policy will keep all students from slumming around on their own in music that is vulgar, profane and toxic. There’s too much cultural pressure from peers, Hollywood and the entertainment moguls to hope for that.

But if this new policy will help a few kids to consider the messages embedded in their music, and their impact on attitudes and ideas, it’s worth the trouble. I salute Owens Saylor for bravely trying to steer the ship of music into better waters. He needs those who agree with him to make their opinions known to the school board, because I’m certain that those who disagree won’t be silent. I know he’s making waves, but it is for a good reason.

I just hope his boat doesn’t get turned over in the process.

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