00:00Tonight, fired over a Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus song.
00:03A Wisconsin teacher says she was fired after speaking out about the school district's decision,
00:08barring her first graders from singing Rainbowland.
00:10That's the song written by Parton and Cyrus.
00:12Here's part of it. Take a listen.
00:50Kind of a catchy tune.
00:52After being told her class couldn't perform the song,
00:54teacher Melissa Temple tweeted, quote,
00:56My first graders were so excited to sing Rainbowland for our spring concert.
01:00But it has been vetoed by our administration.
01:02When will it end?
01:03Out front now, Melissa Temple.
01:04She's the teacher who lost her job.
01:06Melissa, it's good to have you with us tonight.
01:08I just want to share some more of the lyrics from the song Rainbowland
01:10for people who may not be familiar with it.
01:13The song also goes on to say,
01:14Wouldn't it be nice to live in paradise where we're free to be exactly who we are?
01:18Let's all dig down deep inside, brush the judgment and fear aside.
01:23So the district, as I understand it, banned the song because it violated the controversial issues policy.
01:29Were you told specifically what the controversial issue or issues were in this song?
01:37Not until Wednesday at my hearing the day before yesterday.
01:40And so what's the controversial issue?
01:45The statement that was made at the hearing was that it was because Miley Cyrus is not appropriate for first
01:51graders.
01:52Because if they Googled her, they might find something inappropriate.
01:55So to be clear, she was not performing.
01:57She was enjoining your first graders to perform.
02:00But because she's tied to the song and as first graders, they might do a Google search.
02:05That's what's controversial.
02:09The board was not about any particular song that may or may not have been selected for a concert.
02:14But the process by which an employee goes about expressing their concerns in a productive manner in accordance with board
02:20policy.
02:20Basically saying, you were fired here because you didn't go to your manager.
02:23And because in that tweet that you posted, you mentioned, quote, my students.
02:27Do you have any regrets about that tweet?
02:31No, absolutely not.
02:34I tweeted because I knew that people would be interested to hear about how this controversial content policy was being
02:40implemented.
02:41And how far I had gone.
02:43And I knew that people would be really interested in talking about it.
02:46And I really wanted to open up that public discussion.
02:48And that's why I tweeted it.
02:50And I think that is what happened.
02:52So I achieved that goal.
02:54You've definitely achieved that goal.
02:55What was the feedback before I let you go?
02:57What was the feedback from the parents in your class?
02:59Did they want their kids to sing this song?
03:02They were.
03:03We hadn't even gotten to that point.
03:05And after I left, I only received positive messages.
03:07I had heard from no parents that wanted me to be gone.
03:11It was really, really bad.
03:13All right.
03:13Well, Melissa Temple, we know this isn't done.
03:15We know you're not done fighting.
03:16So we're going to continue to follow this and see where it leads.
03:18Appreciate you joining us tonight.
03:21Thank you so much.
03:22Out front next, our own Jake Tapper has a new book.
03:25And he's got some very big names featuring it on their summer reading list.
03:29Jake is here next to fill us in.
03:30Take care.
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