Posted on 12/26/2001 2:21:58 AM PST by Caleb1411
A husband and wife have resigned from their jobs at Canandaigua Primary School in a dispute over the language of Christmas.
The resignations of Sandy Simmons, a nine-year employee who worked as a cafeteria monitor, and her husband, Francis, a three-year employee working his last shift today in the school kitchen, stem from a memo to school staff written earlier this month by principal Cheryl Eng-Link.
In the memo, Eng-Link wrote that some non-Christian parents had complained of the use of the word Christmas in school correspondence, and she urged teachers and others to avoid the word, including in references to Christmas trees, which Eng-Link said should be called "evergreen trees."
Eng-Link directed school employees to use "more secular language" when referring to the season.
"We just decided that we couldn't accept the district's policy about this," Sandy Simmons said yesterday.
"My husband and I are very simple, quiet people and we don't want to cause anybody any problems. But when the school district has a policy of telling people what they can and can't say ... It frightens me."
A Canandaigua City School District spokesman yesterday reiterated the district's support of Eng-Link's directive.
Andy Thomas said that the district hasn't banned school employees using the word Christmas, but teachers and others are being urged to use "more neutral language" when talking about the subject with children who may come from non-Christian homes.
"It's unfortunate that this whole issue has created feelings of misunderstanding in the community," said Thomas, adding that the district has received numerous letters, e-mails and phone calls stemming from news reports about Eng-Link's memo.
Thomas said that wishing Merry Christmas to children from Christian homes "is appropriate and has not been banned."
"But in cases where the faith of the child isn't known, we want to try to make sure that we create an environment where a student isn't made to feel isolated or uncomfortablebecause of his or her faith."
Thomas said that district officials have accepted the resignations of Francis and Sandy Simmons.
"We're sorry it has come to this, but they feel obviously that it's important to live by beliefs that they strongly hold," he said. "We believe that our policy is a fair and reasonable one, but Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have made an honorable decision because they can't abide by that policy."
Sandy Simmons said the decision to resign "was especially hard for me, because I love my kids."
She said both she and her husband made the decision after she spoke out against the policy at last week's school board meeting and then was asked by district officials to meet with them.
"They told me they didn't think I understood what was being told to me, but I know what I was told about not wishing kids Merry Christmas," she said. "They talk so much in the school about character education, and that's a good thing. But telling Christians not to say Merry Christmas or even Christmas tree -- that's not accepting people for who and what they are. It's not fair to the children."
Nor is it legal.
Here's the ACLJ's Holiday School Letter, telling our self-appointed guardians of culture what they can't proscribe in their PC pogroms.
Canandaigua City School District, whose web page-proclaimed mission ". . .is to maximize the educational success and the character development of all students to prepare them to become contributing, productive citizens."
IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept.11,we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However,the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.
I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. Our population is almost entirely comprised of descendants of immigrants. However,there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.
This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.
This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles,trials,and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH,not Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian,or any other language.
Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!
"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian,right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.
If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change,and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle.
Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But, once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
Actually, our population is ENTIRELY comprised of descendants of immigrants. Some immigrated 10,000 years ago, and some later, but ALL immigrated here from somewhere else.
Actually there are immigrants in this country that are not descendants from any era. Many have been in the US for only hours, others perhaps for years. Did you graduate form a public school?
DITTO!!!!!!
I find it rather peculiar, but when you live in Ireland with a 90% Catholic population, I guess I would.
What I can't understand is why people are so pedantic about words. Christmas is just a *word*. Using that word in front of children will not hurt, influence or offend them.
The meaning of Christmas and what it stands for is instilled in the home, I believe. Those who are non-Christian obviously won't be celebrating it in those terms, so I can't understand the big deal. I really can't. Some people are just so pedantic over small stuff that it makes my head spin.
However, when people start telling Christians not to say "Merry Christmas" or to refer to "Christmas trees", they are asking for trouble--and abandoning common courtesy.
And when government starts doing this, it blatently violates freedom of speech and Constitutionally recognized God-given inalienable rights--and I intend to ignore any such intrusion and say what I damn well please.
If the 10% minority in your country started screaming "hate crime" and "racist" every time things did not go their way, I think you would understand.
That's a daily fact of life here. And, it is perpetuated by the liberals for purposes of government funding and votes.
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