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CHRISTMAS cheer... pupils performed the Nativity at Healey Primary School
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'We have loads of festive fun'
Bethan Dorsett15/12/2007
HEALEY Primary has hit back over claims it has ‘banned’ Christmas.
Following complaints that the school has prohibited festive cards to avoid tears and tantrums in the playground, some reports in the national press have suggested this decision was made to prevent upset to Muslims.
Parents had been sent a letter asking parents to send just one Christmas card to the whole class or school.
But headteacher Susan Taylor says the story has been blown out of all proportion.
And despite the accusations, the spirit of Christmas is alive and well in school, which has a packed festive programme.
Highlights include the nativity, two carol services for old people and parents, along with appearances at both the Manchester Evening News Young Voices concert and a party at Hebron Pentecostal Church.
Parents are also invited to make a donation to charity – this year the Henshaw Society for the Blind – when cards are given out.
“The school is like a grotto at the moment, it is beautiful,” said Mrs Taylor.
Following an initial report in the Observer, the story hit the national press this week.
One tabloid even accused what it called the ‘Scrooge’ school by banning the cards so it doesn’t offend Muslims and conducted a readers’ poll asking whether the ‘PC brigade was ruining Christmas’.
“This has been very distressing, especially for the children,” said Mrs Taylor.
“I would like to thank the overwhelming majority of parents who have given us both their verbal and written support.
“If anything positive has come out of this story is that it shows how much they support our school.
“We have had some of our Asian parents come to speak to us about the story, which shows that we are a multi-cultural school.
“The national press can say what they want, but we have not banned Christmas or even Christmas cards.”
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It was stated in the Observer this rule was decided because it took up teacher time.
I hope this is a lesson to this and other looney councils that keep banging on about what asians should be offended by. Leave us alone to live side by side , we get on better without you lot causing problems with your PC lunatic politics.
16/12/2007 at 00:18