Gay apparel or bright apparel?

A music teacher there decided to change the lyrics to "deck the halls" because one particular word had the students giggling. The teacher gave the students a music sheet of music with the changed verse: "don we now our bright apparel", instead of "don we now our gay apparel.

After hearing about the change, the school's principal talked to the teacher. He says he hoped the teacher used the situation as a teachable moment. The word gay in the carol means happy or joyful.

Principal Chris Parker said, "We have an anti-bullying and discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and so going forward the teacher will be addressing this is how we're supposed to be reacting, this is the way to be respectful about this."

Some parents say they think the music teacher's decision to change the lyrics is inappropriate, and now they're taking the time to explain to their children that gay is not a bad word.