Principal on leave after banning Christmas decorations, including candy canes and reindeer

A Nebraska elementary school principal has been placed on administrative leave following public backlash over the school's holiday policies. Those since-revised rules banned Christmas-related items – including candy canes, reindeer and the traditional Christmas colors red and green – in the name of cultural sensitivity.

The principal of Manchester Elementary School – located near Omaha, Nebraska – sent her staff a memo on holiday symbols that does not reflect the Elkhorn Public Schools District's policies, according to a district statement sent to USA TODAY Friday.

Principal Jennifer Sinclair has been placed on administrative leave as of Thursday, the statement says.

The statement comes after religious freedom advocacy group Liberty Counsel published a memo attributed to Manchester Elementary School. The memo outlines specific steps educators were expected to take during the holiday season to remain "inclusive and culturally sensitive."

The memo, also published by the Omaha World-Herald, cites confusion among the staff about the school's holiday policies and reluctantly lays out a list of items that were and were not permitted during the holiday season.

The lists said winter-themed symbols such as sledding, gingerbread people and snowmen were allowed. But symbols associated with Christmas were not, as to avoid promoting a religious holiday.

The memo at times includes explanations for why certain items were disallowed:

Elf on the Shelf  – that's Christmas-related
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

The memo is signed "the (Unintentional) Grinch who stole Christmas (from Manchester)."

It explains the policies: "I come from a place that Christmas and the like are not allowed in schools ... over the years in my educational career, this has evolved into the expectation for all educators."

The memo's explanation of the candy cane's religious roots is commonly accepted but likely inaccurate, Smithsonian Magazine reports. The religious symbolism referenced was likely popularized after forms of candy canes were already common holiday treats, the publication says.

The memo is a part of an ongoing investigation and would not be released by the district at this time, Kara Perchal, communications coordinator for Elkhorn Public Schools District, told USA TODAY on Friday.

The district's policies say that learning activities must have a secular purpose and avoid "excessive governmental entanglement with religion." Activities and programs must neither advance nor inhibit religion, the policies say.

The Liberty Counsel says it petitioned the school district to change the elementary school's policies in a letter dated Nov. 30. That letter cites concerns about the memo.

"The First Amendment simply does not require elimination of all Christmas symbols – religious and secular – in a misguided attempt to be 'inclusive' by eliminating all traditional elements of a federally– and state-recognized holiday. The effort to comprehensively eliminate Christmas symbols is Orwellian," the letter says.

During the holidays, many public schools struggle to maintain the separation of church and state while acknowledging holiday customs with religious connections.

Last year, one Indiana public charter school made headlines for its decision to downplay Christmas and other religious holidays.

"It doesn't matter how you celebrate Christmas in school," Leslie Draper, the head of Inspire Academy, said. "Inevitably, it's not going to align with somebody's viewpoint."

Another Indiana school ran into legal trouble in 2015 when its longstanding nativity tradition drew a lawsuit.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/12/07/nebraska-principal-leave-after-banning-christmas-decorations/2235496002/

Well again the world of PC being complete idiots

I am an athiest but would not stop religious Christian celebrations

Those who did this were dicks

Again a glowing example of the problems found on the left

Here is the acceptable and non-acceptable things listed by the Principle

Acceptable practices:

Gifts to students
Students making gift for a loved one
Snowmen, snow women, snow people, snowflakes
Gingerbread people
Holidays Around the World – purposeful presentation of information to teach
about different cultures
Sledding
Hot chocolate
Polar Bears
Penguins
Scarves, boots, earmuffs, and hats
Yetis
Olaf – Frozen

Not acceptable:

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

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/candy-can-ban-school/

Unbelievble and it shows how exclusive the school is being and not inclusive

Just look at the PC things that ar acceptable, which of course includes snowflakes....

And Yetis??????

WTF?

Since when were Santa, elves, reindeer, and Christmas trees anything to do with religion?

Thor wrote:

The lists said winter-themed symbols such as sledding, gingerbread people and snowmen were allowed. But symbols associated with Christmas were not, as to avoid promoting a religious holiday.

snowmen? wtf?

not only are snowmen a symbol of toxic masculinity but clearly represent white supremacy as well

BAN THEM, KICK THEM OVER, DESTROY THEM WHEREVER YOU SEE THEM

gelico wrote:

Thor wrote:

The lists said winter-themed symbols such as sledding, gingerbread people and snowmen were allowed. But symbols associated with Christmas were not, as to avoid promoting a religious holiday.

snowmen?  wtf?  

not only are snowmen a symbol of toxic masculinity but clearly represent white supremacy  as well

BAN THEM, KICK THEM OVER, DESTROY THEM WHEREVER YOU SEE THEM

Once again, here we see the increasingly-delusional and paranoid Dodge trying to blame his imaginary bogeyman "the left" for yet another example of some equally-delusional and ignorant, overly p/c twat (in this case, a primary school principal in some redneck US state..) coming forth with some ill-thought-out authoritarian missives..

As if people in some farflung corner of Nebraska are even aware of Dodge's snowflake fantasies..

I wonder if Dodge wiil ever realise that all of his imagined first-world problems aren't the sign of some evil "left wing" conspiracies to undermine his beloved capitalist society and bring down civilisation as he knows it ?

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:


Once again,  here we see the increasingly-delusional and paranoid Dodge trying to blame his imaginary bogeyman "the left" for yet another example of some equally-delusional and ignorant, overly p/c twat (in this case, a primary school principal in some redneck US state..) coming forth with some ill-thought-out authoritarian missives..

As if people in some farflung corner of Nebraska are even aware of Dodge's snowflake fantasies..

I wonder if Dodge wiil ever realise that all of his imagined first-world problems aren't the sign of some evil "left wing" conspiracies to undermine his beloved capitalist society and bring down civilisation as he knows it  ?

Talk about wolf being completely triggered all the time

Its priceless

Only the left would cream up something so PC

Are you now claiming the right, in the US, which is fundementally Christian, would do this?



How is Nebraska a redneck state, by the way?



Again wetwipe showing his hate of the southern white working class of the US and they are not even a southern state

Oh what a day this is

First Andy, now wetwipe

We should change this to Triggerville

Wolfie, Dodgy is off his meds again.
He will blow a fuse, have YET another meltdown, st or. off in a huff and delete his account. YET AGAIN.
Only to return with another name later.

It will be the daddy of all meltdowns.

Andy wrote:Wolfie, Dodgy is off his meds again.
He will blow a fuse, have YET another meltdown, st or. off in a huff and delete his account. YET AGAIN.
Only to return with another name later.

It will be the daddy of all meltdowns.

Triggered number two ha ha ha



Happy days

Looks like this head teacher was making it very clear that these were orders from above... And that she was not very happy about it...!


The exact same sort of thing has been seen happening throughout the UK too...


Who exactly is it that is responsible for giving these orders?

Thor wrote:

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:


Once again,  here we see the increasingly-delusional and paranoid Dodge trying to blame his imaginary bogeyman "the left" for yet another example of some equally-delusional and ignorant, overly p/c twat (in this case, a primary school principal in some redneck US state..) coming forth with some ill-thought-out authoritarian missives..

As if people in some farflung corner of Nebraska are even aware of Dodge's snowflake fantasies..

I wonder if Dodge wiil ever realise that all of his imagined first-world problems aren't the sign of some evil "left wing" conspiracies to undermine his beloved capitalist society and bring down civilisation as he knows it  ?

Talk about wolf being completely triggered all the time

Its priceless

Only the left would cream up something so PC

Are you now claiming the right, in the US, which is fundementally Christian, would do this?



How is Nebraska a redneck state, by the way?



Again wetwipe showing his hate of the southern white working class of the US and they are not even a southern state

Oh what a day this is

First Andy, now wetwipe

We should change this to Triggerville

Cream up?

Wet wipes?

Is this post age rated, didge?

Sorry, couldn't be helped

Eilzel wrote:

Thor wrote:



Talk about wolf being completely triggered all the time

Its priceless

Only the left would cream up something so PC

Are you now claiming the right, in the US, which is fundementally Christian, would do this?



How is Nebraska a redneck state, by the way?



Again wetwipe showing his hate of the southern white working class of the US and they are not even a southern state

Oh what a day this is

First Andy, now wetwipe

We should change this to Triggerville

Cream up?

Wet wipes?

Is this post age rated, didge?

Sorry, couldn't be helped

I thought that is the only language you brainless lefties understand mate

Baby talk

Thor wrote:

Eilzel wrote:

Thor wrote:



Talk about wolf being completely triggered all the time

Its priceless

Only the left would cream up something so PC

Are you now claiming the right, in the US, which is fundementally Christian, would do this?



How is Nebraska a redneck state, by the way?



Again wetwipe showing his hate of the southern white working class of the US and they are not even a southern state

Oh what a day this is

First Andy, now wetwipe

We should change this to Triggerville

Cream up?

Wet wipes?

Is this post age rated, didge?

Sorry, couldn't be helped

I thought that is the only language you brainless lefties understand mate

Baby talk

I thought you were talking about something else

JK anyway.

Eilzel wrote:

Thor wrote:


I thought that is the only language you brainless lefties understand mate

Baby talk

I thought you were talking about something else

JK anyway.

Dodgie was talking about something else there..

Letting the world know just what kind of images he fantasises over  !!!

Thor wrote:

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:


Once again,  here we see the increasingly-delusional and paranoid Dodge trying to blame his imaginary bogeyman "the left" for yet another example of some equally-delusional and ignorant, overly p/c twat (in this case, a primary school principal in some redneck US state..) coming forth with some ill-thought-out authoritarian missives..

As if people in some farflung corner of Nebraska are even aware of Dodge's snowflake fantasies..

I wonder if Dodge wiil ever realise that all of his imagined first-world problems aren't the sign of some evil "left wing" conspiracies to undermine his beloved capitalist society and bring down civilisation as he knows it  ?

..................

........ the right, in the US, which is fundementally Christian, would do this?



How is Nebraska a redneck state, by the way?



.................
.................

Just keep on showing us how far you have your head parked up your arse, Dodge...

Nebraska politics :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party_strength_in_Nebraska

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

Thor wrote:


..................

........    the right, in the US, which is fundementally Christian, would do this?



How is Nebraska a redneck state, by the way?



.................
.................

Just keep on showing us how far you have your head parked up your arse,  Dodge...

Nebraska politics :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party_strength_in_Nebraska

So where they had previously Democrats, that now they have Republican makes them a Redneck state?

One moment



So basically the site allows prejudiced against the white working class in the US, by defining them this way if they vote Republican?

Wow, and you wonder why now the left is being called out for being just as prejudiced aas they claim the right to be

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Senators_from_Nebraska

You see Wolf, what I am rightly doing is exposing the left who happen to be very hateful

Best you learn some american history and there is no connection with Nebraska and the derogative term redneck

Thor wrote:

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:


Once again,  here we see the increasingly-delusional and paranoid Dodge trying to blame his imaginary bogeyman "the left" for yet another example of some equally-delusional and ignorant, overly p/c twat (in this case, a primary school principal in some redneck US state..) coming forth with some ill-thought-out authoritarian missives..

As if people in some farflung corner of Nebraska are even aware of Dodge's snowflake fantasies..

I wonder if Dodge wiil ever realise that all of his imagined first-world problems aren't the sign of some evil "left wing" conspiracies to undermine his beloved capitalist society and bring down civilisation as he knows it  ?

Talk about wolf being completely triggered all the time

Its priceless

Only the left would cream up something so PC

Are you now claiming the right, in the US, which is fundementally Christian, would do this?



How is Nebraska a redneck state, by the way?



Again wetwipe showing his hate of the southern white working class of the US and they are not even a southern state

Oh what a day this is

First Andy, now wetwipe

We should change this to Triggerville

You complained about people calling Wolfboy "wetwipe" not long ago.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thor wrote:



Talk about wolf being completely triggered all the time

Its priceless

Only the left would cream up something so PC

Are you now claiming the right, in the US, which is fundementally Christian, would do this?



How is Nebraska a redneck state, by the way?



Again wetwipe showing his hate of the southern white working class of the US and they are not even a southern state

Oh what a day this is

First Andy, now wetwipe

We should change this to Triggerville

You complained about people calling Wolfboy "wetwipe" not long ago.

And now I have changed my mind

Didge wrote:So where they had previously Democrats, that now they have Republican makes them a Redneck state?

I think you are confusing the west-of-Mississippi midwest with the south. Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma have always been strongly Republican. Also included are Colorado, the Dakotas, Montana. Hell, Dick Cheney came from Wyoming.

They were Republican even before the southern strategy of 1964 turned the south Republican.

Original Quill wrote:

Didge wrote:So where they had previously Democrats, that now they have Republican makes them a Redneck state?

I think you are confusing the west-of-Mississippi midwest with the south.  Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma have always been strongly Republican.  Also included are Colorado, the Dakotas, Montana.  Hell, Dick Cheney came from Wyoming.

They were Republican even before the southern strategy of 1964 turned the south Republican.

I suggest you look at my link

Nebraska is not even in the south and again I already proved the southern strategy was a myth to Ben

And again, since when was Nebraskans cast as rednecks?

I don't know why Dodger keeps on referring to "Southerners" in his rants on here...

I never mentioned Southerners or the South in my comments..

Nebraska is in the 'Mid-West' of the USA.

And Dodgie keeps on claiming some kind of victory for his abject stupidity  ?

Didge wrote:I suggest you look at my link

Who cares about your link.  I know better than any lesser reporter at USA Today.  Mighta taken my class.

Didge wrote:Nebraska is not even in the south and again I already proved the southern strategy was a myth to Ben

No doubt, you proved that the Civil War never happened, too.  Didge, you know how given you are to alt.right craziness.

Didge wrote:And again, since when was Nebraskans cast as rednecks?

Here are your words:

Didge wrote:...that now they have Republican makes them a Redneck state?

'Redneck', as with 'cracker', is a name for southerners.  Remember, Scots and Irish peopled the south, working as roustabouts, field hands and slave drivers.  They were the original rednecks:

Wiki wrote:Redneck is a derogatory term chiefly but not exclusively applied to white Americans perceived to be crass and unsophisticated, closely associated with rural whites of the Southern United States. Its usage is similar in meaning to cracker (especially regarding Georgia, Texas, and Florida), hillbilly (especially regarding Appalachia and the Ozarks), and white trash (but without the last term's suggestions of immorality).

The people of the rural plains states have always been Republicans, but never southerners.

Original Quill wrote:

Didge wrote:I suggest you look at my link

Who cares about your link.  I know better than any lesser reporter at USA Today.  Mighta taken my class.

Didge wrote:Do you, is that why again you got it wrong

No doubt, you proved that the Civil War never happened, too.  Didge, you know how given you are to alt.right craziness.

Didge wrote:Oh the civil wat happened and they were on the side of the Union, where again Nebraska is not a southern state. That is simple geography that can explain your error here and history

Here are your words:

Didge wrote:..You mean my question, which again was not answered

'Redneck', as with 'cracker', is a name for southerners.  Remember, Scots and Irish peopled the south, working as roustabouts, field hands and slave drivers.  The people of the rural plains states have always been Republicans, but never southerners.They were the original rednecks:

..Utter gibberish and now you are showing your anti-irish sentiment

You just make up crap as you go along

Nothing to do with the Irish and again as seen they were very much Democrats

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redneck

So again how can Nebraska been a redneck state, when even you claim they come from the Southern states?

Which means you must disagreee with Wolf....

Actually the name derives from Gerogia, but hey, it seems you want another lesson in history

So to claim they have always been Republicans is again a lie as they have for many years actually been Democrats

It has nothing to do with Republicans and it was Wolf that accused the people of the state of being rednecks

Based on no reason other than it being a Republican state at present

That is as bad as dumb as your ability to understand both politics and history

Not only that he put this down to a redneck doing this PC, which is also about as dumb as it gets

You see its very easy to expose the lies yet again

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

I don't know why Dodger keeps on referring to "Southerners" in his rants on here...

I never mentioned Southerners or the South in my comments..

Nebraska is in the 'Mid-West' of the USA.

And Dodgie keeps on claiming some kind of victory for his abject stupidity  ?

You called them rednecks

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:
  

Once again,  here we see the increasingly-delusional and paranoid Dodge trying to blame his imaginary bogeyman "the left" for yet another example of some equally-delusional and ignorant, overly p/c twat (in this case, a primary school principal in some redneck US state..) coming forth with some ill-thought-out authoritarian missives..

But then as seen the left make it acceptable to racist towards white people, as seen above, as the term is derogatory, but whites dont count on the victimology tree  based on intersectionality mumbo jumbo by the left

Nobody is claiming victory, just exposing the left again

https://www.roadsnacks.net/these-are-the-10-most-redneck-states-in-america/

The dumbest part about your argument is your denial this was designed as very PC and where does Political correctness come from?

Take your time

You see this is what is wrong with the left

They continually cannot take criticism and are now like a fundementalist religion

Didge wrote:So again how can Nebraska been a redneck state, when even you claim they come from the Southern states?

You called it a redneck state.  I was refuting you.

You are not a thinker, didge. You don't reason things through.

There are other Republicans in the US besides southerners. You make connections about the US than are at best incorrect, and at worse, inane. You've got to begin to understand multivariate analysis as applied to politics. There are many variables that contribute to the Republican vote. Same with Democrats.

I would think that you would have already discovered this about your own country. Maybe you have difficulty in transposing this to the US. Maybe it's a ratiocination too far.

And yes, sad to say, the Irish and Scots were the bad boys in the story of American slavery. I am a Scot, and I understand you are Irish. Well, we've got to live with our wayward uncles. It's one of the reasons why many Scotch/Irish colloquialisms found their way into southern language. 'Y'all' ought to understand that, eh?

Original Quill wrote:

Didge wrote:So again how can Nebraska been a redneck state, when even you claim they come from the Southern states?

You called it a redneck state.  I was refuting you.

Then you refuted Wolf, not me

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:
  

Once again,  here we see the increasingly-delusional and paranoid Dodge trying to blame his imaginary bogeyman "the left" for yet another example of some equally-delusional and ignorant, overly p/c twat (in this case, a primary school principal in some redneck US state..) coming forth with some ill-thought-out authoritarian missives..

In fact I posed a question how wolf thought it was a redneck state

So again Quill needs to go to specsavers

Though funny how you just argued against Wolf

Didge wrote:Then you refuted Wolf, not me

Nah...it was you.  I've already quoted you on the relevant passage...twice.

You deal in such a facile world that you reckon you can get away with such lies.  Trump does the same thing.  

Do you guys lie to really convince us?  Or, is it just to salve your own conscience?  

Original Quill wrote:

Didge wrote:Then you refuted Wolf, not me

Nah...it was you.  I've already quoted you on the relevant passage...twice.

You deal in such a facile world that you reckon you can get away with such lies.  Trump does the same thing.  

Do you guys lie to really convince us?  Or, is it just to salve your own conscience?  

You keep telling yourself that lie Quill, it just further proves my point the left are not to be trusted

How you can blatnatly lie, when it was Wolf who made the claim and then you use my question to him on this. To then claim it was me. Is further proof of your dishonesty, which I expect nothing less from someone schooled in the art of lawyers.

Even when its there for all to see, how you cannot admit when wrong

Priceless

Thor wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

Nah...it was you.  I've already quoted you on the relevant passage...twice.

You deal in such a facile world that you reckon you can get away with such lies.  Trump does the same thing.  

Do you guys lie to really convince us?  Or, is it just to salve your own conscience?  

You keep telling yourself that lie Quill, it just further proves my point the left are not to be trusted

How you can blatnatly lie, when it was Wolf who made the claim and then you use my question to him on this. To then claim it was me. Is further proof of your dishonesty, which I expect nothing less from someone schooled in the art of lawyers.

Even when its there for all to see, how you cannot admit when wrong

Priceless

Nah, it was you.  I proved it...quoted your own words...twice.  Did you study under Goebbels?  Tell a lie and keep repeating it? You have almost got it down!

The seasonal items on the ban list do not clash with the religious side of Christmas at all, they help celebrate the joy of it. Simple harmless pleasures!

Try instead to curb the OTT materialism, commercialism and greed that defines the festive season for many.

Jules wrote:The seasonal items on the ban list do not clash with the religious side of Christmas at all, they help celebrate the joy of it. Simple harmless pleasures!

Try instead to curb the OTT materialism, commercialism and greed that defines the festive season for many.

Hi Jules. I agree...if they divorced the holidays from Christianity, it would revert back to what it always was: the Winter Solstice Festival, on or about December 21-22 each year. https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/winter-solstice.htm

Original Quill wrote:

Didge wrote:Then you refuted Wolf, not me

Nah...it was you.  I've already quoted you on the relevant passage...twice.

You deal in such a facile world that you reckon you can get away with such lies.  Trump does the same thing.  

Do you guys lie to really convince us?  Or, is it just to salve your own conscience?  

Wolfboy called it a redneck state actually.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

Nah...it was you.  I've already quoted you on the relevant passage...twice.

You deal in such a facile world that you reckon you can get away with such lies.  Trump does the same thing.  

Do you guys lie to really convince us?  Or, is it just to salve your own conscience?  

Wolfboy called it a redneck state actually.

Exactly Rags and again it seems Quill has forgotten to go to specsavers again