New York State School District bans popular Christmas song

Christmas Day has passed, as we look forward to New Years holidays now, but the holiday season is still here and maybe Christmas music is still playing.

However, a New York State school district decided to take significant action to ban a popular holiday song from its program.

The Brighton Central School District, which is located just outside of Rochester in County Monroe, prohibits the use of “Jingle Bells” from its program, by WIVB.

The Brighton Central School District has in fact sent a letter to the parents and family members of the students, explaining why they will not be using “Jingle Bells” in their schools or using it for their curriculum.

“It might sound silly to some, but the fact that ‘Jingle Bells’ was first performed in minstrel shows where white actors performed in blackface is important when it comes to knowing what we’re using. as material in school. “

School superintendent Kevin McGowan’s reasoning is that the song was first performed where white actors performed in blackface.

McGowan went on to say:

“Choosing songs other than ‘Jingle Bells’ was not a major political initiative, a ‘ban’ on the song or a significant change in the repertoire of a concert performed in response to a complaint. or “cancel culture at its best” as some have suggested. No one said you shouldn’t sing “Jingle Bells” or ever suggested that to your kids. “

McGowan also said that the song (“Jingle Bells”) is closely associated with a religious holiday that not everyone celebrates, and probably wasn’t a song they wanted on the show in the first place.

The “Jingle Bells” letter and ban story took off on social media and became a national story outside of Rochester, NY.