No Santa at This Public School in Brooklyn

One of the best parts about December when I was growing up was the classroom parties. All season long we would learn about different holidays and how people celebrate all over the world. I still have coloring pages filled with Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas themes colored, poorly, in and signed by yours truly.

We even went as far as to having traditional holiday foods for each holiday. I'll never forget my first Potato Latke. Right before winter break began, all the kids would gather in the hallways and sing Christmas Carols when Santa would surprise everyone with candy canes and sing along with us.

Well, that wont be happening at PS 169 in Brooklyn, New York. The New York Post is reporting that new Principal Eujin Jaela Kim has banned Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Pledge of Allegiance. Mimi Ferrer, President of the PTA, told the Post that members of the PS 169 community "definitely can’t say Christmas, nothing with Christmas on it, nothing with Santa.” The Thanksgiving parties have been renamed Harvest Festivals and Christmas parties have been changed to Winter Celebrations. The Post is also reporting that Principal Kim has put a stop to the Pledge of Allegiance and that teachers can recite the Pledge "at their discretion."

While the reason given behind the banning of Santa, Christmas and Thanksgiving is for the PS 169 community to "be sensitive of the diversity" throughout the school because not all children celebrate Christmas. Which, yes, is understandable but like I stated before, not too long ago I was in elementary school learning about all different holidays and traditions throughout the world.  It can't be that hard to do now, if anything I believe it would be easier.

How do you feel about PS 169 banning Santa and other holiday season traditions?