What exactly does 33% of a song sound like?

Howell rule limits choirs' sacred tunes

I can't tell you how many Christmas I got coalDistrict's 10-year-old policy stirs debate before the high school's annual holiday concert.

The "Hallelujah Chorus" from "The Messiah," "Glory, Glory" and "Weep O Mine Eyes" are among the repertoire of musical selections to be sung by the nearly 300 members of Howell High School choirs at 7 tonight and Thursday.

But, for every religious song performed by the nine choral groups, 3.33 others have to be secular yuletide offerings as required under a school district's policy.

"We're falling within the guidelines. I comply with (the rules) although I don't agree. I just find the whole thing disturbing that we're not able to do all the literature I'd like to do," said Rod Bushey, choral director at Howell High.