A middle school teacher in Alexander County has been suspended after playing a video that supports same-sex marriage.
The popular rap song named "Same Love" was shown to eighth-graders at West Alexander Middle School.
Channel 9 found out some parents and school board members believe the teacher went too far by showing it to students.
Some of the parents believe the punishment didn't go far enough against the social studies teacher.
One parent who has a student in his class still isn't sure about the reasons for showing it.
The video released by Seattle rap artist Macklemore shows the life of a gay man, including images of him kissing and getting married.
"I don't want this kind of thing indoctrinated on my child, just my Christianity beliefs." said parent Adrienne Chapman. "This goes against it and the way you try to raise your child."
Another mother, who did not want to be identified, said she didn't know about the video until she started going over her daughter's homework that night.
"Questioning the eighth-grade class as far as, what were your thoughts about being gay and being a lesbian. I didn't find that ordinary for a social studies teacher to be doing," she said.
The school district declined to name the teacher or tell Chanel 9 the length of the suspension stating that it is a personnel issue.
According to the artist, the song was written to support a referendum in Washington State to legalize same-sex marriage.
Emma Vernon, who has a granddaughter at the school, believes any movie or music video should be approved by the district before it is shown.
"Everybody should have their own rights, but I don't think a middle school is the place to promote it," Vernon said.
The school district would not say when the suspension started, but parents told Channel 9 it was last Friday.
One parent told Channel 9 some of the students did leave the class before the video was shown.
The popular rap song named "Same Love" was shown to eighth-graders at West Alexander Middle School.
Channel 9 found out some parents and school board members believe the teacher went too far by showing it to students.
Some of the parents believe the punishment didn't go far enough against the social studies teacher.
One parent who has a student in his class still isn't sure about the reasons for showing it.
The video released by Seattle rap artist Macklemore shows the life of a gay man, including images of him kissing and getting married.
"I don't want this kind of thing indoctrinated on my child, just my Christianity beliefs." said parent Adrienne Chapman. "This goes against it and the way you try to raise your child."
Another mother, who did not want to be identified, said she didn't know about the video until she started going over her daughter's homework that night.
"Questioning the eighth-grade class as far as, what were your thoughts about being gay and being a lesbian. I didn't find that ordinary for a social studies teacher to be doing," she said.
The school district declined to name the teacher or tell Chanel 9 the length of the suspension stating that it is a personnel issue.
According to the artist, the song was written to support a referendum in Washington State to legalize same-sex marriage.
Emma Vernon, who has a granddaughter at the school, believes any movie or music video should be approved by the district before it is shown.
"Everybody should have their own rights, but I don't think a middle school is the place to promote it," Vernon said.
The school district would not say when the suspension started, but parents told Channel 9 it was last Friday.
One parent told Channel 9 some of the students did leave the class before the video was shown.
WSOC
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