Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Bismarck schools won't use music video

Bismarck schools won't use music video

Mar 18, 2005 - 23:17:33 CST

By KAYLA COGDILL, Bismarck Tribune

Local elementary schools will not show a music video featuring more than 100 popular children's characters promoting diversity and tolerance.

The We Are Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization, along with Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop and DIC Entertainment, to name a few, created a children's music video. The video was shipped to more than 60,000 public elementary schools to elevate awareness about life choices concerning same-sex marriages.

Rick Buresh, Bismarck's assistant elementary superintendent, said the video will not be shown in schools because the material was sent to the schools unsolicited. The current school policy requires an "exhaustive review process" before adding new material to a curriculum.

The video was accompanied by a teachers' manual to incorporate teaching materials about tolerance and life choices. FedEx shipped the packages to more than 15,000 public school districts free of charge.

Parents from Centennial Elementary in Bismarck brought information about the video to a PTO meeting Tuesday to discuss their concerns about showing it to the children.

Centennial Principal Rolland Messmer said all unsolicited material must be cleared through the public schools' central office and deemed appropriate before it can be added to the curriculum.

"It (the video) covered sensitive areas about life choices about marital partners," Messmer said. "The central office would have to make a decision first and then the schools can act on it if they want to."

When dealing with issues concerning marital partners and life choices, Buresh said, schools allow the bulk of the matters to be handled by families because they are family and religious issues.

The video was aired on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon on March 11 as a public service announcement. The video will continue to air on PBS throughout March and April.

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Comments

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Local Rube wrote on Jun 18, 2007 2:37 PM:

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Earl Nisbet wrote on Jul 13, 2006 8:24 PM:

" Dear Ms. Grantier: I was impressed with your fine article, but it left me wondering about "your Don Falconer." I am an architect who designed a house for Mr. and Mrs. Donald Falconer in Soquel, California. Don had a history here in the Santa Cruz area, and worked as Vice President for the local County Bank. I wrote a book which contains some drawings and photos of the "Falconer House," and since I have been trying to locate my old client, your article was shared with me. Do you think your Don and my Don falconer could be the same person? I will follow with a message to see part of my book containing the Falconer House, but the chapter you will see does not list the aforementioned house. Best - Earl Nisbet. "http://www.atlasbooks.com/marktplc/01609.htm" "

Earl Nisbet wrote on Jul 13, 2006 8:12 PM:

" I am an architect who designed a house for MR. Don Falconer and his wife Eunice in Soquel, California. Could the aforementioned Don Falconer be one and the same? I just finished a book called Taliesin Reflections that has drawings and photos of the house I designe in Soquel for the Falconers. To see part of the book click on :"http:www.atlasbooks.com/marktplc/01609.htm" Thank you, Earl Nisbet.California. "

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