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Bangor teacher says she was ordered to remove Christmas tree from classroom
bangordailynews.com ^ | December 21, 2015 | judy harrison

Posted on 12/25/2015 5:17:26 PM PST by lowbridge

A long-time math teacher at Bangor High School said on her Facebook page that she was ordered by the principal on Friday to remove a small Christmas tree from her classroom.

Catherine Gordon said in a post timestamped Dec. 18 at 9:17 p.m. that the "tree had no religious symbols on it whatsoever. No crosses or angels, just pink Hello Kitties and my students really enjoyed it and it cheered me up during the day."

Gordon said in the post that she has been decorating her classroom for the holidays for 30 years.

Bangor School Superintendent Betsy Webb issued the following statement Monday in response to media requests for an explanation of why Gordon was told to remove the tree from her classroom:

"In alignment with national and state standards, the Bangor School Department educates students about culture, traditions and holidays through curriculum ties in English language arts, music, art, social studies and world languages," Webb said. "Our focus is educating students to become global citizens with the necessary 21st century skills for college and career readiness for their future success.

"Maintaining consistency with this approach has not been an issue for the Bangor School Department, as faculty and staff are committed to what is in the best interest of students and working towards our mission of academic excellence for all," Webb said.

-snip

"When I first started teaching, we had parties the last day of school before vacation and the kids would bring in cookies and we played holiday music — none of that is allowed now," she said. "I feel that this is definitely a turning point in our society - when everything offends everyone all the time - it just sucks the joy out of everything."

(Excerpt) Read more at bangordailynews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Maine
KEYWORDS: christmas; maine
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What war on Christmas?
1 posted on 12/25/2015 5:17:26 PM PST by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

We though lieberals loved little green trees? Soooo confusing-——tyrant censoring buncha grinches. We wish them Ramadan fasting pains.


2 posted on 12/25/2015 5:21:35 PM PST by tflabo
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To: lowbridge

I’m assuming that a “long-time math teacher” probably has tenure. I suggest that she tell the Principal to get stuffed.


3 posted on 12/25/2015 5:23:35 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (I don't know what Claire Wolfe is thinking but I know what I am thinking.)
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To: lowbridge

Paging Jay Sekulow...


4 posted on 12/25/2015 5:32:14 PM PST by tflabo
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To: lowbridge

Name the principal.

Publish the phone number and address.

Make his/her/its life hell.

It is way past time we use slimy liberal tactics.

Really.


5 posted on 12/25/2015 5:33:41 PM PST by Da Coyote
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To: lowbridge

We don’t want to “offend” the foreign freeloaders to whom every day in America is Christmas.


6 posted on 12/25/2015 5:35:43 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (The biggest liars in the liberal media have started referring to themselves as fact checkers. Sad.)
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To: lowbridge

School says teacher’s Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay in classroom after all

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/61260350-story

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A Maine high school has reversed its decision to prevent a math teacher from keeping a pink Hello Kitty Christmas tree in her classroom.

Bangor High School officials had said Catherine Gordon had to remove the tree. The superintendent said the tree needed an educational component.

But WABI-TV (http://bit.ly/1NK6DwM) reports principal Paul Butler said Tuesday that the school is now satisfied the tree highlights the “universal nature of holiday celebration.” He says the tree is appropriate for a school setting.

**************************

FB posts from the teacher and her Congressman are at the link.

They must have gotten enough negative feedback to make the change.


7 posted on 12/25/2015 5:36:36 PM PST by digger48
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To: lowbridge

In alignment with national and state standards.. HaHaHaHa

and this move will somehow help make them global citizens?


8 posted on 12/25/2015 5:39:58 PM PST by NormsRevenge (SEMPER FI!! - Monthly Donors Rock!!)
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To: lowbridge

Educating the first generation of American globalist metrosexual wimps.


9 posted on 12/25/2015 5:44:44 PM PST by bigbob ("Victorious warriors win first and then go to war" Sun Tzu.)
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To: lowbridge

When I read Superintendent Betty’s response as to why the teacher was ordered to remove her xmas tree, all I see is white noise, static and Bureaucratic mottos, signifying nothing in particular.
Charlie Brown’s teacher going “Wa-Wa-Wa!”


10 posted on 12/25/2015 5:47:05 PM PST by lee martell
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To: digger48

It should never have gotten to this point that coast to coast shaming was needed in order to do the right thing.
Fine. They will exact their ‘revenge’ on this teacher in the next performance evaluation. Their words will be as sharpened as Ginsu Knives.


11 posted on 12/25/2015 5:50:12 PM PST by lee martell
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To: lowbridge

A manger would be religious, a Christmas tree is NOT religious. I’m sure that school is full of Earth-worshiping symbols anyway.


12 posted on 12/25/2015 5:52:42 PM PST by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
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To: lowbridge

I guess you can’t be a Global Citizen if you have seen a Hello Kitty Tree. I wonder what other rules there are?


13 posted on 12/25/2015 6:00:30 PM PST by DBrow
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To: ElkGroveDan

Should have hung LGBT rainbow colored lapels on the tree along with water-filled multi-colored condoms. Then the teacher would have celebrated the diversi— errr perversity.
What a sack of shame some people truly are.. thinking they are wise they became fools.


14 posted on 12/25/2015 6:00:51 PM PST by tflabo
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To: FlingWingFlyer

We don’t want to “offend” the foreign freeloaders to whom every day in America is Christmas.


Best FR Christmas Post


15 posted on 12/25/2015 6:05:33 PM PST by samtheman (Only Trump can beat the Saudi-funded Fraud Machine in the general election.)
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To: lowbridge

Betsy Webb blathering the one world government crapola - probably an Obunghole toady.


16 posted on 12/25/2015 6:10:00 PM PST by beethovenfan (Islam is a cancer on civilization.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

We don’t want to “offend” the foreign freeloaders to whom every day in America is Christmas.


Best FR Christmas Post


17 posted on 12/25/2015 6:11:05 PM PST by samtheman (Only Trump can beat the Saudi-funded Fraud Machine in the general election.)
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To: lowbridge; All
Update from the teacher's Facebook page:

The tree is back up! My students were as happy as I was. When I walked into first period, they all gave a loud round of applause and throughout the day cards and little gifts appeared on my desk and in my mailbox from students and parents alike. I was touched and greatly appreciated the support. The administration was in a difficult position and I applaud Paul Butler for his willingness to revisit the issue after a wonderful conversation yesterday. I'm glad that it has opened a meaningful dialogue in my school community, as well as, around the state and nation. I have to add, I'm honestly glad vacation has begun! Lol 😃

18 posted on 12/25/2015 6:17:47 PM PST by Timber Rattler ("To hold a pen is to be at war." --Voltaire)
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To: lowbridge
"Our focus is educating students to become global citizens

Well that's your problem right there you fascist superintendent whore! This is supposed to be America, land of the free, not the land of the global citizen. We are supposed to be instilling the values of life liberty and the American way into our children, not liberal mediocrity and disdain for all things even remotely connected to Christianity.

19 posted on 12/25/2015 6:22:14 PM PST by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: lowbridge

Just wondering how many posters of Che Guevara decorate various classrooms in that district....


20 posted on 12/25/2015 6:26:02 PM PST by rottndog ('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
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