The idea of effectively banning rap from elementary schools is “very archaic,” he says. “What's next [the NSW government’s] I'm going to do? Do you buy our CDs to pass them over?”
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This week's controversy, which arose from an anonymous parent who shared his concerns about the song being played in place of the school bell on a radio show, has resulted in the song being removed from the playlist of Ramsgate Public School, South Sydney.
At the time, a spokesman for the education department told this newspaper that the school's leadership had been “advised about making appropriate decisions” going forward.
When asked about the song being played and discussed in the classroom, a spokesman for the education minister clarified that “the minister's comments were directly and solely related to the use of the song as elementary school bell, not about whether the song should be studied as a text.”
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), which is responsible for the curriculum in NSW, said it does not endorse resources developed by external organizations or individuals, but added that “it is a matter of schools and teachers sourcing and selecting available materials externally to support their teaching and learning programmes.
When the rapper shared a statement about the controversy on his Instagram, several teachers responded with supportive comments.
“I taught the song to my ATAR 11 English class a couple of years ago as an interpretive text,” wrote one. “We saw the documentary [Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky] as a supporting text and I would certainly recommend them together as a unit of work. So powerful… such an impressive and important song.”
Rapper Birdz and Butchulla singer Fred Leone perform at the 2022 National Indigenous Music Awards.Credit: Mitch Fresta
“I show it[ed] the video to my 7th and 8th graders,” wrote another. “Hundreds of students in my classes have been educated by your work.”
Butchulla singer Fred Leone, who sings in lingo on the song, says a lot of that context has been lost in the reporting of this recent incident. Bird isn't rapping about his desire to kill “any white devil wanna test my will,” he clarifies. It is told from the perspective of a warrior facing the European invasion.
“I understand why some parents might be upset about it,” she says. “But if the only thing that bothers them is that they have to have an uncomfortable conversation with their son about the reality of the founding of this country, I don't see that as a bad thing.”
“I feel that way now [the song’s] been censored, in a way, it seems like a repeat of what happened with the referendum. Does this country really not want to listen to Aboriginal people? Absolutely not?”
Bird says he thinks Australia can be “very selective about which history they choose to celebrate or which history they choose to ignore”, but the work different schools and teachers have done using his song shows we are also making “a lot of progress”. .
'Young people are very committed and so willing to do it. They want to learn more.': BirdzCredit: Chris Hopkins
At the end of a busy week, Bird says, “It's a shame that little things like this get attention, but I think these moments are also opportunities to learn more and educate others.”
Does this include elementary school children?
“I see it through my son's experience at school and other young people with whom I engage. Young people are so committed and so willing to do it. They want to learn more.
“Kids this age experience racism, so it's not too early to learn about it.”
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