Santa’s Naughty List: Howell High School
Dec. 14, 2006
What exactly does 33% of a song sound like?
Howell rule limits choirs' sacred tunes
District'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.