People just can't enjoy the season ...

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gsabc · #1 Post by **gsabc** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:29 am

An elementary school principal's decision to cancel a class field trip to see a Christmas play in downtown Boston has sparked controversy in one Boston-area town.

Principal Evander French Jr. canceled his school's seventh-grade's field trip to see "Miracle on 34th Street" after some parents complained that the play focused too much on Santa Claus, the Boston Herald reported.

French, the principal of the McCall Middle School, decided against letting the students attend the Dec. 19 performance at the Stoneham Theater, saying some parents complained that it didn't tie into the school's curriculum and parents could take their children to see the play on their own.

The Herald reported that many parents are not happy, even though they were reimbursed for the $20 ticket, saying if other parents didn't want their children to attend the play they didn't have to go.

The principal said he received an e-mail last week saying the play's Santa theme was "objectionable" to some in the school community.
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If you object, don't send your kids! It's a friggin' play, not an evangelical meeting!

As far as "it didn't tie into the school's curriculum" goes, how much curriculum do you think is happening just before Christmas, excuse me, Winter vacation, anyway? Or on the half-days, counted as full days toward the mandatory 180 days of schooling in MA? Or in the 2-3 weeks before summer vacation? You wanna object to something, object to that!

Some of the families probably could manage the $20 for their kid, but not the $100 or so entailed in taking the entire family. So thanks to the objectors, no one gets to go.

Otto Censor · #2 Post by **Otto Censor** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:37 am

I object to such a secular production! It's The Little Drummer Boy, or nothing!

Oral B Roberts · #3 Post by **Oral B Roberts** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:43 am

It is about time the God fearing people of this great land have stood up and decided that those who worship at the altar of St. Nicholas are wrong adn should be punished as heathens! If any of you Santa people out there who try to wish me a Happy Holidays don't send me some hefty tax deductible checks, I am going to have to add you all to God's naughty list....

Appa23 · #4 Post by **Appa23** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:03 pm

Interestingly, the PC police did not stop my daughter's kindergarten class from reading a story about Dia de los Muertos a couple weeks ago.

So, religious observances are ok in a public school as long as they are tied to a minority group.

I am wondering if the class also will celebrate Lunar New Year.

mrkelley23 · #5 Post by **mrkelley23** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:36 pm

Once again, two sets of eyes, two interpretations.

When I read it, I read it as religious Christians saying that the play focused too much on Santa Claus.

Looking at it again, though, I think you're probably right. More grist for the Fox mill.

I do not think reading a story in an elementary classroom quite compares with a field trip costing at least $20, though.

As far as Day of the Dead, do you call Halloween a religious observance? If so, which religion do you think it's observing?

As a science teacher who has had his opportunities to do true "field work" in the original sense of the word severely curtailed recently, this type of "field trip" bugs me.

earendel · #6 Post by **earendel** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:45 pm

This brings to my mind the whole "Santa" controversy in the first place - growing up I knew some good Southern Baptist children who didn't believe in Santa because their parents discouraged it. Why? Partly because Santa derives from a Roman Catholic saint and Baptists didn't believe in saints. But more because they were afraid that belief in Santa, once it was lost, might affect the child's belief in Jesus, who, after all, is very similar in terms of our understanding. Both are bearded. Both are never seen but are said to exist. Both give good gifts to children. And so it goes. For the same reason those parents discouraged belief in the tooth fairy.

wintergreen48 · #7 Post by **wintergreen48** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:55 pm

earendel wrote:This brings to my mind the whole "Santa" controversy in the first place - growing up I knew some good Southern Baptist children who didn't believe in Santa because their parents discouraged it. Why? Partly because Santa derives from a Roman Catholic saint and Baptists didn't believe in saints. But more because they were afraid that belief in Santa, once it was lost, might affect the child's belief in Jesus, who, after all, is very similar in terms of our understanding. Both are bearded. Both are never seen but are said to exist. Both give good gifts to children. And so it goes. For the same reason those parents discouraged belief in the tooth fairy.

Church Lady on Saturday Night Live pointed out that 'Santa' is an anagram for 'Satan.'

Being Catholic, though, I like saints-- can't get enough of them.

But those Baptists shouldn't really have a problem with saints: a 'saint' is just someone who is in heaven, and even though Baptists generally don't think that there are likely to be any Catholics there, they probably think that SOMEone has made it.

Just not St. Nicholas, I guess.

VAdame · #8 Post by **VAdame** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:16 pm

Church Lady on Saturday Night Live pointed out that 'Santa' is an anagram for 'Satan.'

Ah, that explains this:
http://www.gocomics.com/eek/2007/10/18/

Appa23 · #9 Post by **Appa23** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:29 pm

mrkelley23 wrote: As far as Day of the Dead, do you call Halloween a religious observance? If so, which religion do you think it's observing?

In the story, they showed how you set up a religious altar/shrine to deceased family members, with religious candles et al.

I imagine that one could say that Halloween involves worship at the altar of Hersheys, Mars, and their ilk.

Admittedly, we are much more "laid back" on these type of issues in Red State Nebraska, as compared to Blue State Massachusetts.

It is funny that this same school has no issues with students seeing "A Christmas Carol", all because they read an abridged version in class.

MarleysGh0st · #10 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:33 pm

Appa23 wrote: It is funny that this same school has no issues with students seeing "A Christmas Carol", all because they read an abridged version in class.

And why should there be an issue with that?

Harrumph!

AnnieCamaro · #11 Post by **AnnieCamaro** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:33 pm

Saints have been very, very good to me.

Appa23 · #12 Post by **Appa23** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:53 pm

mrkelley23 wrote:Once again, two sets of eyes, two interpretations.

When I read it, I read it as religious Christians saying that the play focused too much on Santa Claus.

Looking at it again, though, I think you're probably right. More grist for the Fox mill.

Certainly, unless someone has "outed" the complaining parent(s), it might have been Christian outrage over the emphasis on Santa with reference to Christmas.

I wonder if they could get tickets to a lcoal production of "Fiddler on the Roof" instead?

Bob Juch · #13 Post by **Bob Juch** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:54 pm

AnnieCamaro wrote:Sou iu koto de.

You speak Japanese too?

I think that's "It's not me."

AnnieCamaro · #14 Post by **AnnieCamaro** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:01 pm

Bob Juch wrote:
AnnieCamaro wrote:Sou iu koto de.
You speak Japanese too?

I think that's "It's not me."

I am learning Japanese, among other languages of the world.

"Sou iu koto de" means "so to speak" or "in a manner of speaking." I adopted that phrase when Mr. Ed Confessor objected to "I'm just saying'...." I am a get-along kind of girl.

Appa23 · #15 Post by **Appa23** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:02 pm

If you have not seen the original memo:

Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 12:10 AM
Subject: 7th Grade Field Trip Cancellation Notice

Dear 7th Grade Parents and Guardians,

Recently, I was asked why the entire 7th Grade is planning to participate in a field trip on December 19 to see a live performance of Miracle on 34th Street at the Stoneham Theatre when the basic theme is objectionable to some members of our McCall Middle School 7th Grade community. After conferring with the 7th Grade Team Leaders and my administrative colleagues across the school system, I have decided to cancel this field trip. While I believe there are valid reasons for participating in such a trip, the objectionable nature of the content overrides these concerns.

The 7th Graders have been notified about this decision in homerooms this morning. Any money students have paid to date has been returned to them by their homeroom teachersIf you have any questions or comments about this decision, please contact me at 781-xxx-xxxx.

Sincerely yours, Evander French, Jr., Principal.

I can see "The Vagina Monologues" being objectionable, but "Miracle on 34th Street"?

Bob Juch · #16 Post by **Bob Juch** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:13 pm

AnnieCamaro wrote:
Bob Juch wrote:
AnnieCamaro wrote:Sou iu koto de.
You speak Japanese too?

I think that's "It's not me."
I am learning Japanese, among other languages of the world.

"Sou iu koto de" means "so to speak" or "in a manner of speaking." I adopted that phrase when Mr. Ed Confessor objected to "I'm just saying'...." I am a get-along kind of girl.

I think we're both wrong. I found that "sou iu koto desu" means "that's the way it is".

AnnieCamaro · #17 Post by **AnnieCamaro** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:25 pm

Bob Juch wrote:
AnnieCamaro wrote:
Bob Juch wrote: You speak Japanese too?

I think that's "It's not me."
I am learning Japanese, among other languages of the world.

"Sou iu koto de" means "so to speak" or "in a manner of speaking." I adopted that phrase when Mr. Ed Confessor objected to "I'm just saying'...." I am a get-along kind of girl.
I think we're both wrong. I found that "sou iu koto desu" means "that's the way it is".

Maybe. That's not so very different in what it tries to convey. My translation came from a Japanese person. I do think Japanese is among the languages that sometimes need to be translated for "what it means generally," rather that "what each word says literally."

T_Bone0806 · #18 Post by **T_Bone0806** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:51 pm

Sheesh.

I am once again reminded of how happy I am to have grown up in the era that I did.

Well, "grown up" may not be quite accurate a term for it.

MarleysGh0st · #19 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:07 pm

Appa23 wrote:Recently, I was asked why the entire 7th Grade is planning to participate in a field trip on December 19 to see a live performance of Miracle on 34th Street at the Stoneham Theatre when the basic theme is objectionable to some members of our McCall Middle School 7th Grade community.

The only objectionable thing I can think of is that Miracle on 34th Street is too juvenile for 7th Graders.