Band shirts hit wrong note with parents

T-shirts worn by the Smith-Cotton High School band have evolved into controversy among parents.

The shirts, which were designed to promote the band’s fall program, are light gray and feature an image of a monkey progressing through stages and eventually emerging as a man. Each figure holds a brass instrument. Several instruments decorate the background and the words “Smith-Cotton High School Tiger Pride Marching Band” and “Brass Evolutions 2009” are emblazoned above and below the image.

Assistant Band Director Brian Kloppenburg said the shirts were designed by him, Band Director Jordan Summers and Main Street Logo. Kloppenburg said the shirts were intended to portray how brass instruments have evolved in music from the 1960s to modern day. Summers said they chose the evolution of man because it was “recognizable.” The playlist of songs the band is slated to perform revolve around the theme “Brass Evolutions.”

The band debuted the T-shirts when it marched in the Missouri State Fair parade. Summers said he was surprised when he received a direct complaint after the parade.

While the shirts don’t directly violate the district’s dress code, Assistant Superintendent Brad Pollitt said complaints by parents made him take action.

“I made the decision to have the band members turn the shirts in after several concerned parents brought the shirts to my attention,” Pollitt said.

Pollitt said the district is required by law to remain neutral where religion is concerned.

“If the shirts had said ‘Brass Resurrections’ and had a picture of Jesus on the cross, we would have done the same thing,” he said.

Band parent Sherry Melby, who is a teacher in the district, stands behind Pollitt’s decision. Melby said she associated the image on the T-shirt with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

“I was disappointed with the image on the shirt.” Melby said. “I don’t think evolution should be associated with our school.”

Full Sedalia Democrat Article

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Bag of Randomness

  • WifeGeeding and I went to the “good” Braum’s for a little dessert on Friday night.  An old man limping with a cane walked in nice and slow, sat in the booth in front of us, laid out two dollars, and sat back comfortably.  In a few minutes a manager and a female coworker came by with some ice cream and a cup of water, both of them greeted the man by calling him Harold, and then they carried on some small talk with him.  Apparently he’s been doing this a while.  And I think this proves that even in a large metropolitan city, sometimes you can go to a place where everyone knows your name.
  • IKEA hasn’t changed much since 1965
  • For fans of the television show The Office, here are some spoiler pictures.
  • I noticed in Barry’s blog that some flag poles were not set to half-staff in our area.  That thought entered my mine as I drove around Saturday by several businesses that still had their flags at full-staff.  WifeGeeding thinks it wasn’t intentional, I hope she’s right, but this Star Telegram article makes me think differently.
  • The Ted Kennedy graveside service was quite poignant.  Cardinal Emeritus Theodore McCarrick’s words were very touching, and I was very moved as he read the senator’s letter to the pope, and the Vatican’s response.  I thought those letters would never be revealed.  Kennedy’s letter was almost like a letter to God, and to hear it read right before he is put into the earth just makes it all the more moving.
  • Imagine just how hard and emotional it would be to write a letter to God (or even the pope) as you know you are living your last days asking for grace and admitting your faults.
  • I’m fascinated with Catholic tradition and ritual.  I wish I had a Catholic priest or expert with me during the funeral to answer all my questions.  For instance, during the begging of the funeral the coffin was draped in an American flag and was brought halfway down the church aisle.  The honor guard removed the flag (I wonder where the flag was placed during the ceremony?  And I don’t think it was folded into a triangle.) and then the Kennedy family placed a white cloth that covered the entire coffin.  I’ve seen the white cloth on the coffin before, but sometimes there’s a different color stripe on the cloth.  Then there was other ritual things performed using instruments I’m unfamiliar with.  It’ all just quite fascinating, and makes for one classy service.
  • The 49’ers should have never changed jersey’s.  What they wore on Saturday night is what they look best in.
  • I turned 34 yesterday.  WifeGeeding got me one of the following:
    • A manicure/pedicure gift certificate.
    • A traditional straight razor shave gift certificate.
    • A gift certificate for a massage.
    • A 1080P HD projector.
    • A Bob’s Steak and Chophouse gift certificate.
  • She also got me a Baskin Robbin’s ice cream cake.  Mmmmmm.
  • I was lucky enough to have lunch with a couple of my good friends and my wife on my birthday.
  • I usually have a hard time enjoying my birthday.
  • An old roommate from college called and talked to me on my birthday.  It was a long conversation, and I loved every minute of it.  I can’t tell you how much a simple phone call meant to me.
  • Speaking of phone calls, my family from Vietnam even called to wish me a happy birthday.
  • When both of your parents are dead, your birthdays are just ‘different.’
  • Grace
Posted in Personal | 2 Comments

West Texas field reads: ‘Say no to Obama!’

LUBBOCK — A former art teacher used his West Texas field to carve out a protest about the Obama administration’s proposed overhaul of the health care system.

Sam Bates recently plowed some weeds and left behind the message “Say no to Obama!” that’s best viewed from the air.

Bates said he had some “free time” and wanted to offer his unhappiness with what’s been going on in Washington.

“This is a sign of frustration,” Bates told KCBD-TV on Monday.

“You know, it’s not so much Obama, but just some of the things he’s done recently with the health bill he’s trying to pass through, and it’s just as much Republican and Democrats fault in the House and the Senate that won’t stand up to some of the things. That’s basically what’s frustrated me,” Bates said.

The Obama administration has been pushing its proposal to reshape the $2.5 trillion health system.

Bates said he dug out his message for the benefit of pilots flying in and out of Lubbock.

“I thought, maybe some pilots flying from here to Dallas would get a good chuckle,” he said.

Bates said his friend who is a crop duster helped him put aerial photos of the field on the Internet.

The sign in the lake bed will disappear when the season changes.

“Once winter hits it will kill these weeds, and who knows, maybe next year I’ll have something else,” said Bates.

Houston Chronicle

Posted in Political, Texas | 3 Comments