Minn public elem school does away with all holidays and other days

[jericho]

The reason the principal did away with all celebrations was the diverse groups in the school and not wanting to hurt their culture.

 

Uh what about our culture, our kids culture. Should the immigrants be the ones integrating into our culture and not doing away with ours.

 

Public school kisses Valentine's Day goodbye | Fox News

[jericho]

The title should say school and not schools.

[jericho]

The Baby Jesus, Tom Turkey and Cupid are about to be given the heave-ho at a Minnesota elementary school to be more inclusive of their ethnically diverse student population.

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Bruce Vento Elementary School, in St. Paul, has decided to stop celebrating Valentine’s Day along with other “dominant holidays” including Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

Click here to get Todd’s American Dispatch – a must-read for conservatives.

 

“My personal feeling is we need to find a way to honor and engage in holidays that are inclusive of our student population,” Principal Scott Masini wrote in a letter to parents.

 

The Star-Tribune reports the letter was surfaced on a private Facebook page titled, “Supporting St. Paul Students and Teachers.”

 

“I have come to the difficult decision to discontinue the celebration of the dominant holidays until we can come to a better understanding of how the dominant view will suppress someone else’s view,” the principal noted.

 

 

The Star-Tribune reports Masini made the decision to can the holidays in consultation with his staff.

 

“One of the concerns that I have,” he wrote, “…is whether or not this practice is encroaching on the educational opportunities of others and threatening the culture of tolerance and respect for all.”

 

The holiday hullabaloo has generated plenty of outrage across the Twin Cities. Get a load of some of the local headlines:

 

· St. Paul school kisses Valentine’s Day, other ‘dominant holidays,’ goodbye

 

· St. Paul School Mulls Dropping Holiday Celebrations

 

· Valentine’s Day ban touches off wider debate on school celebrations

 

· PC Grinch Breaks Cupid’s Heart (okay that was my headline, but still…)

 

Even the folks at Minnesota Public Radio got riled up – and they’re not exactly a bastion of conservative thought.

 

“A St. Paul school is putting a stake in the very heart of Valentine’s Day,” Bob Collins wrote.

 

The principal told me via email that it was “truly not a story” – and then referred me to the district for further clarification.

 

Saint Paul Public Schools released a statement to the Star-Tribune that certainly seemed to defend the principal’s ban on heart-shaped candies.

 

“Because Saint Paul Public Schools is a diverse district that is filled with families from around the world we strive to respect all cultures and all students,” they wrote. “We recognize that not every student celebrates or participates in some or all holidays. We have a board policy that discourages programs and festivities that celebrate observances unless they are required by law.”

 

It sounds to me like the St. Paul area is infected with a case of ethnic sensitivity – a diagnosis confirmed by the district spokesperson.

 

She explained to me that their schools include many, many cultures – students from around the world – including a very large Somali population.

 

That’s all well and good, but the children live in America now. They are presumably Americans. As such they and their families should be acclimating to the American way of life.

 

They no longer live in Somalia. They live in the United States. And in the United States we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

Of course, there could be another reason behind the holiday ban.

 

Perhaps no one wanted to be Principal Masini’s Valentine. Or maybe Santa Claus left a lump of coal in his Christmas stocking? Or maybe, just maybe, he got the short end of the wishbone?

[Clyde]

I get it. If you have a diverse student body you either celebrate none or all. The school just simply said "let's avoid whackos calling us for celebrating some holiday that our Mexican/Muslim/Canadian/etc students celebrate."

[jericho]

I get it. If you have a diverse student body you either celebrate none or all. The school just simply said "let's avoid whackos calling us for celebrating some holiday that our Mexican/Muslim/Canadian/etc students celebrate."

 

I get what you are saying but it's our culture, not theirs to ruin.

If they want to live here either celebrate or don't, but don't try to get rid of age old holidays from our kids.

[TAC]

Valentine's Day is NOT a holiday. Except in Hallmarks mind.

[gchs_uk9]

I get what you are saying but it's our culture, not theirs to ruin.

 

If anybody is going to ruin our culture it should be us Americans, right?!

[Sportsaholic Mamaw]

Quote:"That’s all well and good, but the children live in America now. They are presumably Americans. As such they and their families should be acclimating to the American way of life. They no longer live in Somalia. They live in the United States. And in the United States we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving and Christmas."

 

If I had a child in this school, today would have been their last day. What does it say of their tolerance of our holidays? Our ancestors came to these shores learned to speak English and assimilated and became citizens. Why would they discontinue Thanksgiving? Give thanks for all we have and appreciate the bounty of this land, what is so harmful or intimidating or demeaning about that? Why should we destroy and dilute everything that has been celebrated for 250 years to make our country an acceptable carbon copy so the rest of the world "approves" of us, what does that take away from future generations? We are giving up the very things that are woven into our lives that make each of us Americans. The answer for this will be that parents will decide to build private schools that reflect their beliefs and teach their children the values they feel are important. The opportunity to learn tolerance and respect for each of our individual beliefs will be lost. And that's a sad isolating road to start down. The America I grew up in and love will be lost.

[jericho]

I'm no longer tolerant for the sake of not hurting others feelings or dissing their culture over mine.

You don't like it go back or shut the heck up.

[sportsfan41]

I get it. If you have a diverse student body you either celebrate none or all. The school just simply said "let's avoid whackos calling us for celebrating some holiday that our Mexican/Muslim/Canadian/etc students celebrate."

 

While I "get it" too, isn't that sad. I'm sure a lot of folks have fond memories of grade school from celebrating holidays.

 

Growing up I was taught that the US was a melting pot. Any more it's like you can have a melting pot in your home but we don't want to offend anyone with it at school. Leave you're culture and pride at home.

 

I'm not saying this as someone that is upset about "my holiday is being cut out". I'm saying this as someone that was taught to recognize and embrace holidays I'd never knew existed.

 

Folks are so concerned about being PC and not offending anyone that they're taking away a part of what's made this country great. I bet the school will have an LGBT advocacy group though, because it doesn't discriminate.....

 

Insert palm to face.

[75center]

I get what you are saying but it's our culture, not theirs to ruin.

If they want to live here either celebrate or don't, but don't try to get rid of age old holidays from our kids.

 

From what I gather it's the administration, not the immigrants, calling for the change.

[capt278]

PC running wild in our country.

[tdyballgame]

So is the School saying that the majority of their students do not celebrate or take part in these Holidays outside of school?

[UKMustangFan]

I have no issue with it. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I get it. The eliminated all holidays. It's not like they picked and chose which to keep and which to do away with.

[UKMustangFan]

I'm no longer tolerant for the sake of not hurting others feelings or dissing their culture over mine.

You don't like it go back or shut the heck up.

 

If you don't like things here, why don't you go back? Your ancestors were immigrants at one point too.