Yep, you heard me right. Jennifer Sinclair, a school principal at the Manchester Elementary School in Nebraska, is making headlines after sending out a memo to her staff prohibiting Christmas-related symbols. What kind of “symbols,” you ask? Well, candy canes for starters because “the shape is a ‘J’ for Jesus.”
According to FOX 42, Principal Sinclair was placed on administrative leave yesterday after her shocking holiday reminder ruffled a few more feathers than anticipated.
The memo, which starts off with an explanation from Sinclair, stating that she comes “from a place that Christmas and the like are not allowed in schools,” included a list of unacceptable practices on campus, like reindeer and Christmas trees in classrooms. Other things that didn’t make the cut are as follows:
- Santas or Christmas items (clipart) on worksheets
- 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
- Christmas videos/movies and/or characters from Christmas movies (emphasis added)
To prove she isn’t a total Scrooge, Sinclair also tossed in a few “acceptable” traditions that boys and girls are allowed to enjoy while perusing the halls. Get ready to be completely underwhelmed as you browse through her archive of all things merry and bright.
- 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.)
In a desperate attempt to make light of her politically incorrect bullshit memo request, Sinclair signed off as “The (Unintentional) Grinch who stole Christmas (from Manchester),” but sadly, Liberty Counsel, a non-profit group that promotes Christian values, was not amused. They issued a demand letter to the superintendent of Elkhorn Public Schools, stating the ban showed hostility to Christians and should be reversed.
In response, school officials lifted the ban and issued a statement, saying the memo “does not reflect the policy of Elkhorn Public Schools regarding holiday symbols in the school.”
The good news: Kids attending Manchester Elementary School can sleep well knowing Santa isn’t such a bad guy after all. The bad news: The printer broke before Sinclair’s memo about Hanukkah went out. Maybe next year she can go after Buddhists.