Backstreet Boys concert attendance gets students suspended

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Mar 08, 2000 Source: Associated Press Texas Wire News Submitted By: Gary B SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A private Christian school has suspended four students for attending a Backstreet Boys concert. Sunnybrook Christian Academy issued the suspensions late last week because the students broke a school rule barring ``involvement with inappropriate music,'' school administrator Trudie Perez said Tuesday. The Backstreet Boys, a popular teen-age band, played to a packed crowd at the Alamodome last Wednesday night. Once school officials confirmed some students had attended, they gave them one-day suspensions. Two students completed their suspensions and were back in school Friday. Another will complete hers upon returning from an out-of-town trip with her family. A fourth student, high school senior Jason Trejo, and his family are complaining about the school's policy. Trejo was enrolled in the school more than two years ago by a former stepfather he was living with, Perez said. Trejo's mother, with whom he now lives, complained about the music policy and refused to sign a statement saying she agrees with it and other school rules, Perez said, adding that his mother has filled out papers to withdraw him from the private school. ``I pointed out, he has to abide by our rules if he's going to be here,'' the administrator said. ``We did not expel him. He was withdrawn.'' John Bernal, Jason Trejo's stepfather, said the boy's mother refuses to sign a statement agreeing with the school policy. The family maintains the policy on inappropriate music says nothing about concerts. The Christian school forbids ``involvement'' with music groups such as the Backstreet Boys because of some song lyrics, Perez said. ``They have some good music, but some of the music, I have been told, has certain sexual references,'' Perez said. She cited the band's song lyrics, ``Are you sexual?'' and ``I want to touch your body all night.'' ``That's not the message that we want to convey to our young people,'' Perez said. ``We send the message of sexual abstinence.'' The school has 315 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Trejo, who is scheduled to graduate in three months, may have to finish the year at a public school, his family said. Comment on this item. Next Item: Charting BSB's Success Prev Item: Backstreet at Junos