Firework

The third graders at this one school will be singing this song for a school performance -- maybe it is better than not having any opportunity to sing, but does it reinforce the notion that mass culture is the only culture? Does it promote celebrity adulation and the narcissism that Uhmerican celeb pseudoculture promotes? As for the song itself, is it too tied to a wrong understanding of self-esteem, despite "good intentions" of the songwriter?

Having no real culture in common, what can the students in a "diverse" area of California use except the mass entertainment which they all consume? I'd rather have students learn some traditional music, but then we'd have to settle the question of ethnic identity, unless we embrace some sort of multiculturalism as a guiding principle with respect to the selection of traditional music in schools as well.