High School Band T-Shirt Pulled Back After Evolution Theme Draws Complaints

In Sedalia, Missouri, T-shirts promoting the Smith-Cotton High School band's fall program have been pulled back by school officials after complaints from some parents. Yesterday's Springfield (MO) News-Leader reports that the T-shirts feature an image of a monkey progressing through various stages of evolution to eventually become a human being. Each figure holds a brass musical instrument that also evolves, illustrating the band's theme "Brass Evolutions." Assistant Superintendent Brad Pollitt explained the recall by saying that the school district is required to remain neutral on matters of religion. "If the shirts had said 'Brass Resurrections' and had a picture of Jesus on the cross, we would have done the same thing," he said. Other parents were angry that the shirts had been removed. A report by the Sedalia Democrat includes a photo of the offending shirt.