Principal Kicks Nativity Scene Out Of School

NBC10.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

Principal Kicks Nativity Scene Out Of School Parents Want To Speak With School Officials

POSTED: 7:30 PM EST December 17, 2003 UPDATED: 8:39 PM EST December 17, 2003

A controversy over holiday decorations at a school in Montgomery County continues over the removal of a nativity scene where other holiday displays were allowed to remain.

There's a Christmas tree in the lobby of Horsham's Dorothea Simmons Elementary School, along with a Menorah and items representing Kwanzaa.

Around the corner, a holiday display is complete just in time for the school's first holiday concert in 12 years.

But there's a problem, because the decorations originally included a nativity scene.

A committee of parents showed it to the principal. She asked them to remove the nativity scene.

"I thought that it went over the top and overboard," said Principal Karen Davis. "I thought it was especially inappropriate for a public school."

Some parents don't agree, especially since the principal didn't change the Kwanzaa or Hanukkah sections.

"I don't see why it had to be taken down, if you are an atheist or whatever you are," said Carol Stevens. "It's a part of life, a part of history."

Davis said Kwanzaa isn't a religious holiday and the Menorah is much of a cultural symbol as it is a religious symbol.

"Judaism is not just a religion, it's a culture, also," Davis said. "I felt that the nativity scene was definitely promoting Christianity."

Dawn Reynolds's son attends the school and she agrees with the decision.

"It shouldn't necessarily be in the school if you don't go to a Catholic school," Reynolds said.

Officials said the school's superintendent will be meeting with parents to discuss their concerns and talk about what is the best way to represent all the different traditions during the holiday season.

[rudy45]

Dorothea Simmons Elementary School
215-956-2929
Karen Davis, principal
kdavis@hatboro-horsham.org

[plain talk]

Schools display decorations regularly for halloween, thanksgiving etc. Are you suggesting there should be no decorations in schools? Strange.

[Skooz]

Schools decorate for holidays and seasons all the time. Walk in any school in the fall and you'll see displays of autumn leaves falling from colorful trees. In winter you bulletin boards with snowmen and falling snow flakes.

Schools decorate. If a school wishes to decorate to celebrate a national holiday, it's no big deal.

I'm sure they have posters of Martin Luther King up for MLK Day.

[Notrevo]

What an IDIOT! I wonder how such a dumbs**t got promoted to principal. They oughtta lock the doors on that school until new staff is hired. Better yet, close it permamently, and issue vouchers.

If this happened in the school my kids attend, there would be a storm of hellfire rained on the BOA, this likes of which they have never seen.

I cannot begin to express how ANGRY this makes me.

The parents MUST stand up and have her removed.

[Xenalyte]

When I was in school a thousand years ago, we had learning-type decorations on the walls . . . the first-grade classroom had capital and lower-case letters, cool posters, that sort of thing. It's entirely possible to decorate in such a way as to stimulate learning, which - let me say it again - is WHY WE HAVE SCHOOLS.

[Skooz]

Actually, I wasn't really addressing my post to you specifically. I was answering the silly quote from the article: "Officials said the school's superintendent will be meeting with parents to discuss their concerns and talk about what is the best way to represent all the different traditions during the holiday season."

This kind of superficial, artificial, imposed, made-up multiculturalism is a pet peeve of mine. This fruitcake actually wants others to think that we have all these "different traditions during the holiday season," one of which is the "holiday" which must remain nameless.

Of course, the ONLY "tradition" is Christmas the holiday which must remain nameless. But, we aren't allowed to think that. We must be programmed to circumvent the holiday which occurs on December 25 with other "holidays" which occur on December 25, (even if there aren't) any via Newthink.

It's scary that people this brainwashed are in charge of teaching children.

[guardian_of_liberty]

Everyone should call Karen Davis and complain. Call several times. Make life miserable for her and maybe she will rethink her PC position.

[DustyMoment]

Good point. Look at the lesson the kids learned from this.

[plain talk]

I was in school a thousand years ago as well in real good small schools in rural Texas. We always had decorations for various holidays including Christmas nativity scenes. As do most schools. Sounds like a bunch of brainless atheist parents with nothing better to do apparently than whine about a Christian manger scene.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - SECULARIZATION OF AMERICA ALERT

[DustyMoment]

Thanks for posting Ms. Davis' email address. I just sent her the following email:

Dear Ms. Davis,

I read with interest your action to remove a nativity scene from a series of seasonal displays the students put together due to the complaints of a few parents. To be sure, we don't want future generations of Americans to have any appreciation of the very reason we have a celebration at this time of the year.

But, you were absolutely right to remove the nativity scene. It is preferable that the kids learn and understand the principles of Kwanzaa, an American created "holiday" masquerading as something from Africa that is founded on the principles of socialism.

And, heaven forbid that the Menorah, which exclusively symbolizes the Jewish celebration of Channukah, be removed for its religious symbolism; which, by the way, is how the Jews see it.

Yes, indeed, were the future of America to ever learn and comprehend the true meaning of "diversity", they would know that there is plenty of room in our culture to appreciate and understand the principles of Christmas and the nativity, just as they can appreciate and understand the socialist principles of Kwanzaa and the religious principles of Channukah. However, thanks to you and your indoctrination by the Politically Correct left whose noted intolerance for Christianity, religion and the nuclear family, the students in your school will be denied the true meaning, spirit and symbolism behind the "holiday" season. You see, Ms. Davis, it began about 2,000 years ago with the birth of an infant in Bethlehem. This lone infant, in his short life here on earth, has had a greater impact on human-kind than Hannibal, Confucius, Nero, Shakespeare, Picasso, Mohammad, Hitler, Mao Ze Dong, Disney, JFK; in fact, he has had a more profound effect on the world than all of the greatest names of history that you can list. Thank God, your students will be spared knowing anything about Jesus Christ and why we celebrate Christmas!!!

You see, Ms. Davis, it's NOT about a fat man in a red suit and a bunch of reindeer pulling a sleigh loaded with gifts. It's about a tiny baby in a manger in Bethlehem and the wise men who honored the birth of this child with gifts.

But, you just run a school. The students aren't supposed to learn anything there.

[gcruse]

It's been too long ago, but I don't remember any Christmas decorations in grade school. Maybe there were some. In any case, a christmas tree would have taken care of it. A nativity scene is overtly religious and would never have made the cut.

[Sub-Driver]

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RansomOttawa]

"Judaism is not just a religion, it's a culture, also," Davis said. "I felt that the nativity scene was definitely promoting Christianity."

Unstated premise: unlike Judaism, Islam, or pretty much any other religion in the world, Christianity has no distinctive identity. Rather, it is nothing but a set of intellectual premises that Christians are supposed to keep locked up inside their brains, and not allow to affect how they live their lives.

Hand me the barf bag, I can feel it coming up fast.

[Texas_Jarhead]

FYI: There is a poll included in the article.

[Kuksool]

In the future, the principal will probably consider a "Holiday Tree" to be promoting Christianity and banish them from the schools.

[Bob J]

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[Kuksool]

{Judaism is not just a religion, it's a culture, also," Davis said}

Chances are in the next few years, the school will probably display Islamic symbols during the Ramadan season.

[cmotormac44]

nothing to worry about---all of this and the people that do it are merely speeding up the inevitable---my Bible tells me what is coming and "every knee shall bend to Him"---come soon Lord Jesus and cleanse the filth of this world---Happy Holidays to all thinking freepers

[LucyJo]

Davis said. "I felt that the nativity scene was definitely promoting Christianity."

It's gonna come as a real shock to Ms. Davis if she ever stops to think why this year is numbered 2003 A.D.