The organization, Liberty Counsel got wind of the principal’s memo and sent a demand letter to the superintendent of Elkhorn Public Schools asking the district to lift the Christmas ban.
Principal Bans Candy Canes for Being ‘J-Shaped' for Jesus, Citing Red Means Blood of Christ and White Means His Resurrection
OMAHA, Neb. — The principal of Manchester Elementary in Elkhorn is on administrative leave after sending a directive to staff to ban certain religious Christmas decorations in the classrooms.
District spokesperson Kara Perchal said Jennifer Sinclair is a new principal and did not consult with administrators about school policy concerning the handling of religious holiday themes.
The list of “not acceptable” practices include:
- Santas or Christmas items (clipart) on worksheets
- Christmas trees in classrooms
- Elf on the Shelf – that’s Christmas-related
- Singing Christmas Carols
- Playing Christmas music
- Sending a Scholastic book that is a Christmas book – that’s Christmas-related
- Making a Christmas ornament as a gift – This assumes that the family has a Christmas tree which assumes they celebrate Christmas. I challenge the thought of, ‘Well they can just hang it somewhere else.’
- Candy Cane – that’s Christmas-related. Historically, the shape is a ‘J’ for Jesus. The red is for the blood of Christ, and the white is a symbol of his resurrection. This would also include different colored candy canes.
- Red/Green items – traditional Christmas colors
- Reindeer
- Christmas videos/movies and/or characters from Christmas movies” (emphasis added)
Look, I’ll be the first to tell you that it’s hard to work in a school district these days. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t with literally every single decision you make. Parents want nothing more than to catch you wronging their child, and everyone that breathes should get an A (if your school even gives out grades anymore). But as much as it feels like teachers and principals are always walking on eggshells, this lady is an absolute moron. Banning candy canes?? First of all, this isn’t some diverse, inner city school in the Bronx. This is Nebraska, where Santa Claus drives a tractor instead of a sleigh.
Second of all, regardless of religious beliefs, candy canes are absolutely delicious. That should trump all areas of being offensive or controversial. It’s 2018, and the flavor of cane has expanded well beyond your grandfather’s peppermint. Folks, we’re running a cane drive right now to raise money for the less fortunate families of the community, and the flavors are absolutely insane.
While the flavor options are clearly appetizing, I get it. The J shaped cane is simply too controversial to allow in schools.
The route this principal wanted to take is that she was going to cover all of her bases. She didn’t want to offend anyone, and she didn’t want to end up on the internet. But if we’re banning candy canes because they look like a J, then I have a couple more suggestions to make regarding what should no longer be allowed in schools. I mean, just looking at my desk alone I am appalled how much it screams Jesus. Is this really a tape dispenser, a pair of scissors, and an apple that a student brought me for being a great teacher? Or is this symbolic of Noah’s Ark, the crucifixion cross, and the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden? Look closely.
And also, since this did take place in Nebraska, can we please do something about the Cornhuskers head coach Scott FROST? If Nebraska truly wants to separate church and state, they will immediately place Scott Frost on administrative leave until he changes his last name to something less suggestive of the winter season and Jesus Christ.
Now that I think more about it, this lady may have actually been on to something. This society is basically turning into a walking church. Fortunately, there was some tolerance shown here as well. Here is the list of acceptable items to bring to school, provided by the principal.
The principal’s “acceptable” list included:
- Gifts to students
- Snowmen, snow women, snow people
- Snowflakes
- Gingerbread people
- Holidays Around the World
- Sledding
- Hot chocolate
- Polar Bears
- Penguins
- Scarves, boots, earmuffs, and hats
- “Yetis” and “Olaf” (the snowman from the movie Frozen.)
Yeah, I get why they are allowing snowflakes; their school is full of them. And I’m all about gender inclusion, but I can’t help but find it funny when people go out of their way to make these types of changes. No more snowmen folks, we build snowpeople in this town. And we eat gingerbread people. But I won’t get too far into that discussion, Thank God gosh they can wear scarves, boots, earmuffs, and hats though! Thank you for being so kind, Mrs. Principal!
