Portland Public Schools End Rap Music Ban on School Buses

PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS officials are re-considering a district-wide ban on playing rap music on buses in the midst of charges of racism from outraged parents, OREGONLIVE.COM reports. PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS Sr. Dir./Transportation TERI BRADY sent a directive to bus drivers in MARCH forbidding "religious, rap music, or talk show programs."

Parent COLLEEN RYAN-ONKEN recently obtained a copy of the memo, which included a list of acceptable stations, broken down into three genres -- pop, country and jazz. She circulated to other parents, who voiced their complaints to the school district, which responded with the following statement:

"We regret the way this was communicated. Our intent is to limit student exposure to religious teachings, profanity and violent lyrics," said PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS spokeswoman COURTNEY WESTLING. "The transportation department will be revising its guidance to bus drivers shortly to be more inclusive of different genres of music."

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