Australian School Drops 'Gay' From Classic Song
A school principal in Melbourne says he meant no offense when he asked his students to stop using the word "gay" when singing a classic children's song. The principal says he just wanted students to stop laughing when singing "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree."
STEVE INSKEEP, host:
Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep.
An Australian school principal tried to change the lyrics of a famous song. The one about a kookaburra bird in an old gum tree. The last line says gay your life must be. Gay carried different meanings when the song was written. Principal Gary Martin is annoyed that kids erupt in laughter when singing. So he changed the line to fun your life must be, but encountered protests. Now he says he should've kept the old lyric and tried to explain it.
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