Principal Bans Kindergarten Song Because "He" Could be Construed to Mean "God"

The kindergarten classes of Terrytown Louisiana Elementary School scheduled a year-end ceremony at a local public park, where each class was to perform a piece of entertainment. For Tammy Honore, her class were to sing the song "Can't Give Up Now" by Mary Mary. Principal Mary Ellen Heating considered the song inappropriate and banned it from the ceremony, because the word "he" might cause people to think "God." The lyric in question reads "I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me."

Liberty Counsel was brought in to write a legal opinion for Principal Honore. According to the opinion paper, "It appears that the principal has chosen to single out this song for viewpoint censorship solely because of the principal's perception that the song is religious. Allowing other secular songs, plays, skits or presentations, while censoring this song for its alleged religious viewpoint, is unconstitutional, viewpoint-based discrimination."

Tammy Honore's kindergarten class sang, "Can't Give Up Now. "

Kindergarten Class Permitted To Sing Song That Principal Deemed To Be Religious