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Pa. school district asks bus drivers to 'remove' Christmas decor for 'inclusivity,' sparking outrage
WHP ^ | 19 December A.D. 2023 | Jason Walker

Posted on 12/19/2023 8:16:12 PM PST by lightman

PHILADELPHIA (CITC) — A Pennsylvania school district is walking back a message to bus drivers instructing them to remove all Christmas decorations from their buses.

A memo initially sent to drivers at Wallingford-Swarthmore School District demanded they remove any decorations associated with the holiday, citing a need for "inclusivity" and a district policy concerning religious holidays.

“If you have decorated your bus with anything specific to the Christmas Holiday or any other decorations relating to a specific religion, please remove them immediately,” a copy of the memo obtained by Crisis in the Classroom (CITC) reads. “In addition, employees are instructed not to wear clothing related to Christmas or any other religious holiday.”

The directive drew widespread outrage online, leading community members to confront the school district over the policy.

“In response to community concerns I have received about religious neutrality, I reminded the Supervisor of Transportation to remind you to find a balance of the District’s attempts to be inclusive of a diverse range of holiday traditions,” Wallingford-Swarthmore Superintendent Wagner Marseille wrote in a letter obtained by CITC. “To the extent that this reminder led to the communication that decorations and songs typically associated with the Christmas holiday were not permitted, this was not the intent, and efforts have been made internally to clarify this point to avoid any confusion moving forward.”

In another communication, Marseille explained to district parents that the message had caused unintended confusion.

“I did not intend -- in any way -- for drivers to feel they needed to turn off the holiday music, take down all the decorations or not wear any holiday clothing,” the superintendent said. “I want to be abundantly clear that we are not in any way trying to remove all signs of Christmas from our school buses or our schools."

Commenters on the school district’s Facebook page expressed outrage nonetheless.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS you Christian hating libs,” one jeered.

“Attn bus drivers: ‘Please don’t forget to cover your bus in pride flags and wear you pride clothing in June!’” another said.

Wallingford-Swarthmore is not the only school district to attempt to place restrictions on holidays recently. The South Orange and Maplewood School District in New Jersey came under fire in October for banning Halloween costumes and activities to "instill greater equity."

An elementary school principal in the district cited differing religious beliefs, saying allowing Halloween activities may push some families to "make decisions that may be counter to their belief system."

A spokesperson for Wallingford-Swarthmore told CITC Tuesday the district is “committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students and employees.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: New Jersey; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: arth; blackracistsmatter; firstamendment; montgomerycounty; naacpsuperintendent; suetheschool; swarthmore; wagnermarseille; waronchristmas
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To: lightman; 6amgelsmama; 100American; AAABEST; aberaussie; AbolishCSEU; AccountantMom; Aggie Mama; ...

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL

This ping list is for the other articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. This can occasionally be a fairly high volume list. Articles pinged to the Another Reason to Homeschool List will be given the keyword of ARTH. (If I remember. If I forget, please feel free to add it yourself)

The main Homeschool Ping List handles the homeschool-specific articles. I hold both the Homeschool Ping List and the Another Reason to Homeschool Ping list. Please freepmail me to let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from either list, or both.

Ordering the removal of Christmas decorations does not sound “inclusive and supportive” to me.

21 posted on 12/19/2023 10:05:03 PM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

Because Christians don’t retaliate by beheading you.


22 posted on 12/19/2023 10:06:36 PM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: Allegra
I swear that nauseating phrase is used by every school in the country...
“committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students and employees.”
🤢🤮 Indeed!
23 posted on 12/19/2023 10:26:47 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (“Occupy your mind with good thoughts or your enemy will fill them with bad ones.” ~ Thomas More)
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To: lightman

From the Soup Nazi via these school administrator eunuchs to the public, “No Christmas decorations for you. As for you/ we Jews, No Star of David, only Hamas flags allowed.”

Pennsylvania/New Jersey - the new home of Hamas East fascists.

Gee I really do miss the Mafia who used to run the state,
aided by their MARXIST liberal crooks in Penn. At least they were American patriots.


24 posted on 12/19/2023 10:31:06 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper (Figures a)
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To: lightman

From the Soup Nazi via these school administrator eunuchs to the public, “No Christmas decorations for you. As for you/ we Jews, No Star of David, only Hamas flags allowed).”

Pennsylvania/New Jersey - the new home of Hamas East fascists.

Gee I really do miss the Mafia who used to run the state,
aided by their MARXIST liberal crooks in Penn. At least they were American patriots.


25 posted on 12/19/2023 10:31:21 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper (Figures a)
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To: ConservaTexan

Congress should stay in session during Christmas.


26 posted on 12/19/2023 10:34:46 PM PST by jmacusa (Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots.)
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To: ConservaTexan

C’mon man. Get with it.
The Obamanites can celebrate Ramadan it the White House, with a all Muslim caste. That’s pretty inclusive or we can go to Boston, to have an un-white Christmas party with the forward looking Mayor Wu!


27 posted on 12/20/2023 12:00:19 AM PST by himno hero (had'nff )
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To: lightman

How’s the weather up that way? Kinda chilly down here - only made it to 62 today in San Antonio >:-) I told this to my BIL up in Mercer County, he was none too pleased to hear it. Thank God I moved out of that cesspool - 53 years of towing the line, doing my part to try and improve the electorate, I AM DONE.


28 posted on 12/20/2023 12:54:46 AM PST by Spacetrucker (George Washington didn't use his freedom of speech to defeat the British - HE SHOT THEM .. WITH GUNS)
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To: lightman

inclusive of a diverse range of holiday traditions,

Yeah...I keep hearing them blather on about that like some mealy mouthed incantation thats supposed to shut everyone up.
WHAT different traditions?

You mean like those who observe nothing get to dictate to everyone else?

Grinchazz bass turds.


29 posted on 12/20/2023 2:31:12 AM PST by Adder (End fascism...defeat all Democrats.)
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To: lightman

Just goes to show you: communism is not only repressive, but it’s also boring AF.


30 posted on 12/20/2023 3:01:12 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (FBI out of Florida!)
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper

Gee I really do miss the Mafia who used to run the state

And you could get decent gabagool...


31 posted on 12/20/2023 3:50:09 AM PST by Adder (End fascism...defeat all Democrats.)
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To: SkyDancer

You create inclusive th by excluding Christians?


32 posted on 12/20/2023 3:52:12 AM PST by Ronald77
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To: lightman

I’d bet money that no Allah Fubar screaming, goat humping sand Uyghur is EVER told anything by these LibTaints.


33 posted on 12/20/2023 3:55:52 AM PST by Feckless (The US Gubbmint / This Tagline CENSORED by FR \ IrOnic, ain't it?)
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To: Noumenon

...behind a school bus down a logging road at high speed, or as fast as can practically be attained.


34 posted on 12/20/2023 4:08:30 AM PST by .44 Special (Taimid Buacharch)
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To: lightman

Citizens, dump your school officials as they are anti-Christ! Bus drivers, do not obey this unlawful order.


35 posted on 12/20/2023 4:24:09 AM PST by Wdempsey (Democrats and slinkys.. Both useless but fun to push down stairs.v v ely)
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To: lightman

I would think if they are to not call attention to Christmas as a particular holiday, then that that decision should be the same for every holiday that comes along. IMHO.


36 posted on 12/20/2023 5:35:00 AM PST by oldtech
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To: lightman

Wagner Marseille is an Obama troglodyte. He is also a homosexual.


37 posted on 12/20/2023 6:02:41 AM PST by Flavious_Maximus (Tony Fauci will be put on death row and die of COVID!)
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To: lightman

I simply cannot understand why the people pulling this crap haven’t had the living snot kicked out of them by angry parents.

L


38 posted on 12/20/2023 6:05:42 AM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: Noumenon

“Wagner Marseille needs to be dragged by the heels behind a school bus.”

Along with the entire School Board. They stood still for this garbage.

L


39 posted on 12/20/2023 6:07:01 AM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: lightman
Festivus for the rest of us!

Totally ridiculous "order" and even more ridiculous "explaining" -- yeah, they absolutely meant to exclude Christians and those who choose to celebrate Christmas (not "the Holidays"), no doubt about that. Bet they wouldn't have a problem with a "Kwanzaa" sweater or some Wiccan pentagrams & crystal doo-dads.

40 posted on 12/20/2023 6:20:10 AM PST by twyn1 (“An evil man will burn his own country to the ground to rule over the ashes”)
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