Portland Public Schools officials are rethinking a district ban on rap music on buses after allegations of racism.
The district had banished hip-hop from its buses, deeming the genre “inappropriate.”
Teri Brady, senior director of transportation at Portland Public Schools, sent a directive to bus drivers in March forbidding “religious, rap music, or talk show programs.” The memo included a list of acceptable stations, broken down into three genres: pop, country and jazz.
Parent Colleen Ryan-Onken obtained a copy and it circulated in August among outraged parents, prompting the district to walk back the directive in statements released Wednesday.
Ryan-Onken, who is white, said the memo “kind of fell into my lap.” And when she read it, she was livid.
“We regret the way this was communicated. Our intent is to limit student exposure to religious teachings, profanity and violent lyrics,” said Portland Public Schools spokeswoman Courtney Westling. “The transportation department will be revising its guidance to bus drivers shortly to be more inclusive of different genres of music.” – READ MORE
