REUTERS

A Coney Island principal refused to let students sing “God Bless the USA” at a school ceremony — but Justin Bieber’s “Baby” was suitable.

A controversial Coney Island principal has pulled the plug on patriotism.

Her refusal to let students sing “God Bless the USA” at their graduation has sparked fireworks at a school filled with proud immigrants.

Greta Hawkins, principal of PS 90, the Edna Cohen School, won’t allow kindergartners to belt out the beloved Lee Greenwood ballad, also known as “Proud to be an American,” at their moving-up ceremony.

Five classes spent months learning the patriotic song, which skyrocketed in popularity after the 9/11 attacks and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

It was to be the rousing finale of their musical show at the June 20 commencement. The kids, dressed up for their big day, would wave tiny American flags — which, as the lyrics proclaim, “still stand for freedom.”

But Hawkins marched in on a recent rehearsal and ordered a CD playing the anthem to be shut off, staffers said.

She told the teachers to drop the song from the program.

“We don’t want to offend other cultures,” they quoted her as explaining.

The curt edict stunned both staff and parents.

“A lot of people fought to move to America to live freely, so that song should be sung with a whole lot of pride,” said mom Luz Lozada, whose son, Daniel, is in kindergarten.

The song has been sung at previous school events. Last year’s fifth-graders, including another Lozada child, performed it at graduation.

“Everybody applauded and whistled,” the mom said. “They gave it a standing ovation.”

Parents — many immigrants from Pakistan, Mexico and Ecuador — “love it,” Lozada said.

A teacher agreed: “It makes them a little goosebumpy and teary-eyed. I’ve never come across anyone who felt it insulted their culture.”

Department of Education spokeswoman Jessica Scaperotti gave The Post an explanation staffers said they never heard — that Hawkins found the lyrics “too grown up” for 5-year-olds.

The song starts: “If tomorrow all the things were gone, I’d worked for all my life. And I had to start again, with just my children and my wife, I’d thank my lucky stars, to be livin’ here today.”

Scaperotti said the department supports the principal’s decision. “The lyrics are not age-appropriate,” she said.

But Justin Bieber’s flirty song about teen romance, “Baby,” was deemed a fine selection for the show. Hawkins had no problem with 5-year-olds singing lines such as, “Are we an item? Girl, quit playing.”

The other songs: “We’re All Together Again,” popular at Scout campfires; “The World is a Rainbow,” which celebrates diversity; “Shake Your Sillies Out” by Raffi; and “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from “Toy Story.”

Scaperotti noted PS 90 kids recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing “America the Beautiful” each morning. Insiders say Hawkins tried to end that tradition a couple years ago but staff objected.

The principal, a Jehovah’s Witness, does not recite the pledge because her religion forbids followers to salute any nation’s flag. Staffers gripe she doesn’t stand in respect during the school-wide ritual.

The song uproar comes amid tensions. Hawkins has been called a tyrant and bully by some staffers.

The DOE reprimanded her in 2010 after teachers complained she called the school “racist” and declared: “I’m black. Your previous principal was white and Jewish. More of us are coming.”

Scaperotti said Hawkins is being targeted by the teachers union and has received hate mail, which is under investigation by the NYPD.

Coney Island, NY – Principal: PS 90 Is Only Used to White, Jewish Principals

Published on: September 1, 2010 11:06 AM

http://www.vosizneias.com/63413/2010/09/01/coney-island-ny-principal-ps-90-is-only-used-to-white-jewish-principals/

Coney Island, NY – A principal is under investigation for allegedly calling her school “a racist building” because so few teachers are minorities, the Daily News has learned.

Principal Greta Hawkins of Public School 90 made several remarks about “white, Jewish” staffers, according to teachers.

Hawkins is a graduate of Mayor Bloomberg’s elite Leadership Academy, which trains new principals.

“We’re fearing for our jobs because we’re not black,” said a teacher who wouldn’t give her name because she fears retribution.

Hawkins, who is black, took the helm of the 80% minority school on W. 12th St. last September.

The school’s three previous principals were white and Jewish. Only three of the school’s 50 teachers are African-American or Hispanic.

Hawkins addressed the issue of race at a June 10 meeting in the school auditorium, and many of her staff didn’t like what she said.

“This is a racist building,” Hawkins said at the meeting, according to teachers who took notes.

“You’re all used to white, Jewish principals who only hired whites. The school culture is going to change.”

Hawkins then vowed to hire more black teachers, according to teachers who were at the meeting.

“Many more [black teachers] are coming, but I will hire one white person,” Hawkins said, according to the teachers.

“People’s mouths dropped open,” said one teacher. “Everyone looked shocked at what they just heard.”

Staffers said racial tensions at the school are minimal, and Hawkins never mentioned the issue of race in any previous meetings.

“Race doesn’t matter here,” said another teacher who wouldn’t give her name. “That’s the baffling thing about it.”

A dozen teachers and two paraprofessionals who were at the meeting filed complaints with the Department of Education’s Office of Equal Opportunity in June.

Department of Education spokesperson Margie Feinberg said an investigation is ongoing.

“I can tell you that race is not a factor in any DOE personnel decisions,” she said.

“It’s against the law, against our regulations, and against our policies.”

Hawkins declined comment.