Thanksgiving costumes banned at school

KABC-TV (Los Angeles) ^ | 25 November 2008 | Rob McMillan

[COBOL2Java]

CLAREMONT, Calif. (KABC) -- There is a costume controversy in Claremont. The school board changed a decades-long tradition of students dressing up to celebrate Thanksgiving, and some parents are outraged.

The tradition involves kindergarten students at Mountain View and Condit elementary schools. The kids usually dress up in costumes. Each school takes turns dressing up as pilgrims and Indians, and then join together for a Thanksgiving feast.

This year, however, there is a big change. The school board decided to continue holding the feast, but they are not allowing the students to dress up. The board is concerned the Indian costumes may have negative connotations.

"Out of respect for the native American heritage, we have made the decision to ask the children not to dress up," said Devon Freitas, assistant superintendent for human services, Claremont Unified School District.

That decision has infuriated many parents. Some of them have ignored the school board and dressed their kids up anyway. "I think it's ridiculous. It's a longstanding tradition and the kids really enjoy it, so we're going overboard," said parent Kimberly Rogers.

Just after 9 a.m. Tuesday, the students took their annual walk for the annual Thanksgiving feast, many of them still wearing costumes as a form of protest.

However, at the end of a nearly mile-long march from Mountain View to Condit, there was another protest. This time, it was from a Native American group.

"What's offensive is there are harmful stereotypes that represent a harmful legacy of history that has been denied to indigenous people in this country. The true history of Thanksgiving is one of a massacre," said Klee Benally, who opposes the costumes.

[xcamel]

only about the 12th post of this one...

[COBOL2Java]

Did a search, came up with nothing. Links?

[Just another Joe]

OH, so they can dress up in sheets with towels on their heads and it's good but they can't dress up as an American Indian because it's bad.

Got it. Just another form of hypocrisy.

[Red Badger]

Well, then, let’s play Cowboys and Muslims instead!...............

[WildcatClan]

ǝɔɐld dn pǝʍǝɹɔs ɐ ǝɯoɔǝq sɐɥ plɹoʍ ǝɥʇ

[EGPWS]

The school board changed a decades-long tradition of students dressing up to celebrate Thanksgiving, and some parents are outraged.

Simple solution for that one is to make use of the freedom available and just home school or put the kids through private school and take the take the voucher credits. Problem solved.....

Oh, wait a minute.

[xcamel]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138389/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138214/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2137889/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2137752/posts

(sources vary, but same story)

[Vigilanteman]

The board is concerned the Indian costumes may have negative connotations.

Dumbasses. Even back when I was a schoolboy in the 1960's, some of us were proud of our native American heritage and looked forward to dressing up. I don't think the problem is possible "negative connotations" so much as it is making Americans actually feel united for a day rather than divided into their assigned groups with big government as the arbitrator of who gets what.

[subterfuge]

When the wishes of ONE command us all to act in a way please to that particular one’s wishes, it is called TYRANNY.

And why no mention of the muslim woman who started this?

[Deb]

Actually, the kids who were assigned to be the Indians protested because of the required head-lice infestation and being dragged to school on a litter.

[Domandred]

Out of respect for the native American heritage, we have made the decision to ignore they even existed for the first Thanksgiving dinner.

Fixed it for them.

[nonsporting]

Freedom cannot coexist with so-called liberal "tolerance."

Where we must tolerate (bend to) everyone's slightest offense.

[EGPWS]

"What's offensive is there are harmful stereotypes that represent a harmful legacy of history that has been denied to indigenous people in this country. The true history of Thanksgiving is one of a massacre," said Klee Benally, who opposes the costumes.

We should follow the teachings of "Landreau" and live as drones so we won't offend anyone until "Festival". ; )

[Charles Bronson Forever]

we go through this every year. silly liberals

[Vaquero]

and just for $h!ts and giggles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsCEtIz8_Ao

[dianed]

Parents in CALIFORNIA outraged at political correctness???!!!
Maybe there is hope for America after all.

[EggsAckley]

This is just plain silly. 15 minutes of fame and all that........

The really disturbing thing (to me) is that there is an elementary school there called “Condit.”

Ewwwwwww............there’s a name I never wanted to hear again.

[EGPWS]

we go through this every year. silly liberals

The silliness sure can be a swift kick in the arse of personal freedom at times and VERY annoying too boot however.

ARGH!!

[FrankR]

Would someone please start a petition to declare California as a "non-recognized state of America"?

Those who sign pledge to not engage in any form of financial or social transactions with anyone from that state, as it shows no signs of being a member and supporter of the laws and traditions of the United States of America.

I don't care how nice the weather is, or how much money you can make out there, I would pull up stakes and move my family back to the USA if I lived there.

This ploy to block kids from celebrating Thanksgivings traditions are just that...an attempt to brainwash kids and de-Americanize them. It has nothing to do with offending the indians...after 200 years, this is the first we've heard of it.