State representative criticizes Columbia Public Schools over music video use in class
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Missouri state representative called use of a music video in a Hickman High School advanced placement course "inappropriate" Monday and called on the superintendent to resign over it.
State Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) said parents complained to him about a U.S. studies course using the video for "This is America" by Childish Gambino in class. Basye said the video features "gun violence, murder, inappropriate use of firearms and drug use." Basye said superintendent Brian Yearwood and CPS had not done enough to address concerns he's heard from parents.
"Given the fact that Dr. Yearwood is either unaware of the subject matter being taught in his schools, or is blatantly lying, it’s clear he’s not fit to carry on as superintendent," Basye said. "Immediate change is needed to improve the educational environment so that it is appropriate for young people.”
The video by Childish Gambino, the musical stage name of Donald Glover, came out in 2018. The video depicts Glover shoot multiple people. Video director Hiro Murai told The New York Times that it was made with a "world-weariness" and as a reaction "to what's happening in the world."
An email from Hickman principal Tony Gragnani to Basye said students in the AP U.S. Studies class had the option to review one of four items to "analyze the author's perspective." That included Gambino's video, along with Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Sing," Langston Hughes's "Let America Be America Again," and Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land." Gragnani said students were not forced to pick an option, and the analysis was only for discussion and not a grade.
"The teacher did have a warning by the linked video indicating the video did contain violence," Gragnani said. "While this is consistent with similar messages we have used for other material containing gun violence (i.e. written text like "The Things They Carried" and "The Crucible"), I did inform the teacher a more descriptive warning is needed."
Basye said he felt Gragnani downplayed concerns over the use of the video in class.
CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said Basye did not reach out to the district before sending his news release on the video. She said Basye has not yet tried to contact to Yearwood to meet since he started in July.
"In Columbia Public Schools we value trust, integrity, transparency, collaboration, empathy and grace," Baumstark said. "As such, we will choose the path of empathy and grace with regard to Representative Basye’s announcement. We believe in kindness toward others and our top priority is our scholars. We will remain focused on doing our best every day to support our scholars and their future success."
