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Healey Primary School
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School bans Christmas cards
Alice McKeegan7/12/2007
CHRISTMAS cards are being banned at a primary school to avoid tears and tantrums in the playground.
A letter was sent to parents of pupils at Healey Primary School informing them that children should only send one card to the whole class to avoid any ‘disappointment’.
A number of concerned parents contacted the Observer to condemn the move.
One parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “For small children, sending cards is a big part of Christmas.
“It should be a lovely time for them but this makes me think that the spirit of Christmas has gone completely.
“It’s political correctness gone mad and it’s ridiculous. The parents are up in arms about it and we’re very annoyed.
“How can you ban children from sending Christmas cards to their friends?
“Sending cards is all about bridge-building, making new friends and celebrating the friendships they’ve already made.
“Christmas is all about giving, not receiving but the spirit of Christmas has disappeared.
“A lot of the parents think that it’s because the school doesn’t want to offend non-Christian pupils but this situation has ended up offending most parents.
Rumours began circulating in the school playground and was confirmed when the letter was sent to all parents on Monday and Tuesday.
Another concerned mother added: “I’m absolutely speechless.
“It makes you wonder if birthday party invites will be banned as well for fear of upsetting children who don’t get invited. It’s ruining their Christmas.”
Another parent echoed these concerns, adding: “The children are all friends and Christmas should be an exciting time for them but now they’re very upset.
“They can’t even send them to their best friends.
“If the school had decided to ban Christmas cards for environmental reasons then I’m sure the parents could have thought of ways to recycle the cards.
“The children are really upset and they’ve taken the message literally.
“They’re only young and some of them are frightened to send Christmas cards at all because the school’s told them they can’t send them to each other.
“I’m mad, upset, angry and disappointed that they’ve done this.”
A spokeswoman for Healey Primary School said: “We are not being mean or Christmas Scrooges.
“It takes a lot of time to give out the cards and we are trying to be more practical this year. It has an impact on teaching time.
“The parents have asked for class lists and we can’t give these out for data protection reasons.
“If it doesn’t work well and the children are upset then we will look at doing something else next year.”
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28/12/2007 at 00:23
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A few parents with their children at this school, neglecting the impact that this practice has on both the school and the environment have taken it upon themselves to make mischief for the school and its' teachers and got the local Rochdale Observer Newspaper involved. This scurrilous newpaper looking yet again for a cheap headline, dedicated a lurid front page to the story.
Following the Rochdale Observer's story the national sleaze papers ran with their corruption of the real story and a hue and cry went out condemning this school. Since then the school and its' teachers have been subjected to a stream of violent hate-mail and threats!
Thank you Healey Primary School, Rochdale for using your common sense. Best wishes for 2008.
7/01/2008 at 12:17