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.”
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Ordering the removal of Christmas decorations does not sound “inclusive and supportive” to me.
Because Christians don’t retaliate by beheading you.
“committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students and employees.”🤢🤮 Indeed!
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.
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.
Congress should stay in session during Christmas.
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!
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.
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.
Just goes to show you: communism is not only repressive, but it’s also boring AF.
Gee I really do miss the Mafia who used to run the state
And you could get decent gabagool...
You create inclusive th by excluding Christians?
I’d bet money that no Allah Fubar screaming, goat humping sand Uyghur is EVER told anything by these LibTaints.
...behind a school bus down a logging road at high speed, or as fast as can practically be attained.
Citizens, dump your school officials as they are anti-Christ! Bus drivers, do not obey this unlawful order.
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.
Wagner Marseille is an Obama troglodyte. He is also a homosexual.
I simply cannot understand why the people pulling this crap haven’t had the living snot kicked out of them by angry parents.
L
“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
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.
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