One Michigan school opted for the superficial and the politically correct when officials there updated the “Hall of Heroes,” replacing true historical figures for current Hollywood and (liberal Democrat) political figures.

Ypsilanti’s South Arbor Charter Academy middle and elementary schools have replaced American flag designer and seamstress Betsy Ross, noted scientist Albert Einstein, famous U.S. astronauts, Gandhi and Mother Teresa with images of Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling, TV talk personality and actress Oprah Winfrey, African American poet and author Maya Angelou, Walt Disney and — wait for it — President Obama.

“This is no longer a hall of heroes,” complained parent Craig Bergman, in an interview with FOX News‘ Todd Starnes. “Now we have a hall of celebrities.”

Bergman said he was worried that kids attending the school are going to be given a warped and very politically one-sided view of what constitutes a real hero. He’s not alone, according to a report by The Blaze.

“My biggest concern is my kid seeing these murals for the next four years — thinking they represent what a hero is,” said parent Todd Holliday, the news outlet reported. “They might be successful business people but they aren’t really heroes.”

Why now?

Bergman added that the school’s new mural essentially misconstrues the perception and concept of what actually constitutes a hero.

“The mere fact that you have talent doesn’t mean you are a hero,” he said. “I want someone who made a life investment — perhaps they even sacrificed their life — so that our society and so our world could be a better place.”

Obama replaced the fallen astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia, which broke up on reentry back into the Earth’s atmosphere Feb. 1, 2003, after 22 years of service. All seven crew members perished. But why?

Jennifer Hoff, a spokesperson for the school, said the changes were made as part of an intentional shift from “historical heroes” to “modern-day heroes.”

“Heroes Hall has been a part of the school’s fabric for years,” she told FOX News. “In fact, the old mural had been on the wall for at least 11 years. As with all things over time, it was showing its age from the activities of being an active school and needed some repair.”

So why not simply retouch it? Why paint over, say, Mother Teresa’s entire face instead? And who made the decision to change the hall?

Bergman told FOX News the school principle appointed a “blue-ribbon panel” of four staff members to choose who the new heroes ought to be.

He’s virtuous and has integrity and courage

“There was no parental involvement,” Bergman said. “The principal of the school hand-picked and self-appointed (the group). Once they gave her their final decisions, she solely approved the list.”

Previously, it was very well-balanced and respected a lot of different thoughts,” Bergman said. “Instead, it’s become more of a political issue. There’s definitely a certain genre of pictures here.”

Hoff defended the decision to change the hall — as you might expert her to do — saying it is a “tangible way for students to see that despite circumstances in life, you can achieve great things through hard work, dedication, and the moral focus virtues.”

When pressed to define “moral focus virtues,” Hoff said the school was trying to portray a culture built on virtues that hold up “wisdom, respect, gratitude, self-control, perseverance, courage, encouragement, compassion and integrity.” All the new heroes embody those qualities, she insisted — even a president who has lied repeatedly about his legislative and policy initiatives.

“Our goal all along is to encourage our students to believe in themselves, work hard and be brave enough to dream,” she said, referring to the decision to include Obama in the hall.

Sources:

http://www.foxnews.com
http://www.washingtontimes.com
http://www.theblaze.com