Batons Stilled After 'Girl Kissing' Song Flap
A Texas high school reprimanded baton twirlers for their racy choice of music.
Oct. 2, 2008 — -- Three Texas high school students are being disciplined after performing a baton routine to the popular Katy Perry song "I Kissed a Girl" during a pep rally last week.
Jordan Downey, 17, is one of three baton twirlers who said their choice in music resulted in the Van Independent School District in Van, Texas, suspending her and her teammates from performing.
"The school is way over-reacting," said Jordan, who will now have to sit on the sidelines during two football games and a pep rally as punishment.
"I honestly don't understand the big hype about the song," she said.
Lyrics to the chart-topping song describe the singer's propensity to kiss other girls -- and hope that "her boyfriend don't mind it" -- while drinking.
"I kissed a girl and I liked it," sings Perry. "The taste of her cherry Chapstick, I kissed a girl just to try it."
The song was played in front of 500 students during a morning pep rally for a Sept. 27 football game.
According to Jordan, several of the students were singing along as they performed while the faculty members and parents who were watching remained mostly quiet.
Jordan admits that her twirl coach asked the girls not to use the song with their routine but said that she never thought they'd get in a lot of trouble.
"I just thought we'd have to run laps," said Jordan, referring to a punishment that is commonly used by the school.
But while Jordan and her mother are upset about the school's reaction, Suzie McWilliams, the spokeswoman for the school board, told ABCNews.com that "the matter is closed."
"The girls were told to choose another song that would be more appropriate for a pep rally," said McWilliams.
But when pressed on what standards the school applies to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate songs for the pep rallies, McWilliams declined to specify.
"What the girls got in trouble for was deliberately disobeying what their [coach] asked them to do, which was to choose a more appropriate song," she said, adding that she has had no complaints from parents about the school's reaction.
Related Stories
ABC News Live