Church school bans Lennon classic

The school said it was "not appropriate" to sing the song
A church school in Devon has withdrawn John Lennon's Imagine from an end-of-term show after teachers ruled that its lyrics were anti-religious. Pupils at St Leonards Primary in Exeter, Devon, had spent weeks rehearsing the song. But it was taken out of the running order after the head teacher and governors decided it was anti-Christian and unsuitable for the school.

The lyrics include: "Imagine there's no heaven... and no religion too."

Head teacher Geoff Williams said a teacher approached him because she did not think the song was appropriate. He said: "The teacher came to talk to me about it because she was concerned and I supported her. "As a church school we decided it was not appropriate to sing it."

The school has close links with the nearby St Leonards Church whose rector, the Rev David Harris, is also a school governor. He said: "The song expresses longing for a different world and for eternal happiness but it says you can have this without religion."

The annual song festival at the school was held last week on the theme of Songs for a Green Earth and Imagine was replaced by The Building Song.

Steve Bailey, who manages the Beatles Shop in Liverpool, said: "I am not surprised this song is still controversial. "I do not know if the song is suitable for children from a church school. "It does have an optimistic message which is crucial in its own way."



Well, whatever...I'm not sure the headline reflects what the text describes. It seems to me that they (teachers, and govenors) decided not to use a particular song for legitimate reasons in the context of the event.

Banned, withdrawn, not appropriate, [not] suitable...might have the same effect for the sake of the event, but I bet it's not actually banned and that there will be continuing discussion between and among staff and students about the song. Nothing here truly suggests that the students are to be kept ignorant of the song (really, as if!), just that it didn't suit the event.

Again, big deal, it wouldn't have made the news except that someone thinks it's an issue. If it hadn't been suggested originally, nobody would be suggesting that it should be. Someone who apparently didn't get the meaning of the song to start with, allowed it to be rehearsed for the event by primary students...that's the daft part. There are lots of better songs for such a time, maybe starting with the Iona Community's various song books.

As for the reasoning, all the subsequent good intent of the lyric will be eclipsed by the first line "imagine there's no heaven". Few, if any, Christians would accept this command at a Christian event. Imagine what parents (if they were invited) watching the event might think, especially if they're less open minded than, say, the good folk of County Mudcat. This isn't new, or news, neither is it a scandal.

Peace, (with or without religion, organized or otherwise), Mooh.