CONEY ISLAND — PS 90 Principal Greta Hawkins was first under attack for pulling Lee Greenwood's patriotic ballad "God Bless the USA" from the lineup of her Kindergarten graduation ceremony. Now Hawkins has announced that she won't allow the Justin Bieber's pop tune "Baby" to be heard or sung either.
New York City Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott and Mayor Bloomberg are supporting her.
Walcott stressed that the city has been pushing for more principal empowerment and that he stood behind the decision to bar the patriotic ballad.
"This principal felt it was appropriate to not have that song [the patriotic one] as a part of a moving up exercise, a ceremony for kindergarten students," Walcott said. "And she made that decision and I support her in making that decision.
"Now as far as Justin Bieber. You know I understand some of the issues that people raised. It's my understanding that that song also will not be part of the moving up ceremony as well. And so the principal has made that decision."
Bloomberg insisted the administration hadn't played any role in that decision. "The principal has decided that she's not going to sing that song," he said. "It's the principal's decision. And we support the principals."
