A group of elementary schools announced they will be canceling certain holidays because they aren’t “equitable and inclusive” for all families. Instead, they are offering “alternative days” for the sake of diversity.
East Lansing Public Schools announced that they will strike certain holidays from the school calendar in order to promote an “equitable and inclusive” environment. Oddly, the holidays have nothing to do with any religious or ethnic background but the social and economic disparities of class welfare.
As the progressive train careens down the track, public schools continue to set their sights on issues that unite children and, at the same time, celebrate their diversity. While academics fall by the wayside, educators are now turning their attention toward the school calendar in an effort to snuff out inequity.
East Lansing Public Schools elementary principals banded together to send a joint letter to parents announcing that students would no longer be celebrating Halloween and Valentine’s Day in the classrooms, the Lansing State Journal reports. The reasoning behind the decision to strike the festivities is the fact that some children’s costumes and gifts aren’t as expensive or elaborate as ones their classmates might wear.
It’s not uncommon to see students crying on Halloween “because they don’t have the same kind of costumes that other kids have or they didn’t bring the same amazing valentines that other kids do,” Assistant Superintendent Glenn Mitcham said. “We’re striving hard at East Lansing Public Schools to be a district that is equitable and inclusive for all families.”
The letter suggests that the move to nix Halloween parties was made in response to parents’ concerns over their children’s feelings of fear or inadequacy over costumes.
“Each year, along with the fun of Halloween parties and parades, we also have students whose families do not celebrate or feel comfortable with their children participating in Halloween festivities,” the elementary principals wrote. “We have young children who become overwhelmed and sometimes frightened of the costumes and others who come to school with no costume at all.”
Mitcham refrained from calling the decision a cancelation of certain holidays, adding that some aspects could be injected into the curriculum. He suggested that a math class use a pumpkin to learn about circumference, as an example. However, costumes, parades, and parties won’t be on the itinerary.
“While this may be a disappointment and/or an adjustment for some of our students/families at first, we promise to continue to offer alternative days throughout the school year that are full of fun and learning, for everyone,” the elementary principals wrote.
As for Valentine’s Day, the principals agreed that exchanging gifts often leads to “drama and teasing” among the older children. The schools announced they will hold “alternative” holidays during the year which will celebrate students’ academic achievements and behavioral goals. The letter did not explain how or when these festivities would take place.
Meanwhile, some families and students “do not feel comfortable with the idea of boys and girls exchanging valentines or participating in a celebration that focuses on ‘love,’ ” the principals wrote.
Schools are against students “focusing on love” but are introducing young children to graphic sex acts and birth control. They don’t want children to feel different based on their Halloween costumes but have no problem painting their white pupils as inherently racist and privileged.
Parents are more concerned about students getting their feelings hurt over a costume or card than the political propaganda being used to mold their children into social justice warriors. If families don’t start objecting to the radical curriculum their children are being taught, scary costumes are going to be the least of their worries.
