Elementary school principal put on leave after banning Santa, candy cane decorations

[left-of-center2012]

Jennifer Sinclair, the principal of Manchester Elementary School in Elkhorn, Nebraska, recently sent out a memo to parents stating that she comes from a place where Christmas decor was not permitted in schools, according to WOWT. She did not specify where she was from.

In an effort to be more inclusive and culturally sensitive to all students, Sinclair said she wanted Manchester Elementary teachers to follow suit and nix all holiday garb from their classrooms. Sinclair's list of banned items included images of Santa, Christmas trees, reindeer toys, red and green patterned items, the playing of Christmas music and even Elf on the Shelf.

The principal's ban also gave candy canes the ax. "Historically, the shape is a 'J' for Jesus," she wrote in her memo. 'The red is for the blood of Christ, and the white is a symbol of his resurrection. This would also include different colored candy canes."

After the school faced severe backlash over the memo, Kara Perchal, a spokeswoman for Elkhorn Public Schools District, addressed the issue, stating that Sinclair is a new principal and did not consult with administrators about policy concerning religious holiday themes.

"The memo does not reflect the policy of Elkhorn Public Schools regarding holiday symbols in the school," Perchal wrote in a statement obtained by KETV. "The District has since clarified expectations and provided further direction to staff in alignment with District policy. This issue was limited to Manchester Elementary School and did not arise at any other schools within the District."

"As of this morning, Principal Sinclair has been placed on administrative leave," Perchal added. "Due to the fact that this is an ongoing personnel issue, the District cannot comment further."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/elementary-school-principal-put-leave-151944258.html

Principal Dr. Jen Sinclair

[Crunchy Frog]

1. I think that she's a fundie, and did it with the full intention of triggering a RW backlash.

And she's been wildly successful in achieving her aims.

[Mariana]

5. She might not feel so successful

when that backlash lands on her and her family. This kind of thing has often led to death threats from Christians. Now that this story is national news, she and her family may be in real danger. I hope they stay safe, whether or not she's a right wing fundie shit-stirrer.

[oberliner]

9. She has three young children

[oberliner]

8. Why do you think this?

[Crunchy Frog]

10. I know RW shit stirrers when I see them. n/t

[oberliner]

15. But what are you basing that on?

You think this person would risk her job and her livelihood and put her children in the path of potential harassment just to cause a stir?

[Polybius]

13. Doubtful that she would risk her career for this

Let's see her FB posts.

[lapfog_1]

2. historically almost all the traditions of Christmas are Pagan

either from pre-Christian Roman celebrating the "birth of the Sun" (Dec 23rd) or Germanic pagan including the figure of Santa Claus (traveling shamans that used a sleigh in the mid winter to visit homestead after homestead, often in snow so deep that parking the sleigh on the roof and entering the home via the "chimney". Red and white came from the mushrooms they used to consume to "go flying" and commune with the spirits. They would bring news and essential trade goods with them and when they arrived, it was often a cause for a celebration.

Christians were always good at moving the dates of their religion to appropriate the pagan celebrations like Christmas and the fertility rites of spring ( Easter - eggs and bunnies, etc).

[Blue Owl]

3. Is it just me, or...

is anyone else getting a 'runaway bride' vibe from her?

[Mariana]

6. I'm getting a "fundie Fox News watching shit stirrer" vibe.

Said vibe felt stronger after I read the entire memo. Here's a link to it:

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/omaha.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/c1/1c179b6f-9909-5281-9ad5-50e58c821956/5c097f95f2e6b.pdf.pdf

[TheBlackAdder]

11. The eyes! It's the fucking eyes! Ahh!

[Quixote1818]

4. If she could not see this was going to backfire on an epic level, she probably should not

be in that position.

[skylucy]

7. After reading the principal's memo (from your link), I feel like something is not right

with this lady. She questions use of the colors green and red? What a control freak.

[TheBlackAdder]

12. Crayons banned: Red, White & Black-Santa's outfit; Green-trees; Silver & Gold, Purple-Orthodox

.

The only colors that the kids can use are Brown, Orange & Yellow.



.

[WillowTree]

14. When I worked in a fabric and craft store, people would come in with lists.......

…….sent home from school with their kids of things that were needed for class holiday decorations and parties. It was not unusual for these lists to stipulate that items could be red or green, but not both and those colors should be kept to a minimum. It was kind of bizarre.