One elementary school instituted a Taliban-like ban on singing “Happy Birthday” for fear of upsetting students who were not participating in the celebration (or something like that):
A ban on singing “Happy Birthday” lasted all of four days at Chesterfield Elementary School in Missouri after angry parents bombarded the school with complaints.
“Singing is not permitted due to the sensitivity of all student beliefs,” wrote Principal Jodi Davidson in a letter to parents dated August 13.
On August 23 Davidson sent another letter reversing the policy noting that students “are permitted and encouraged to sing the happy birthday song in the classroom.”
However, students will not be permitted to sing the traditional song in the cafeteria and all birthday treats must be individually inspected by the school nurse.
Update: They Lied Us Into The War On Happy Birthday
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One article I read on the subject stated that the principal is married to a Jehovah's Witness…and Witnesses don't celebrate birthdays, Christmas, or other holidays. The implication was that she was allowing her (or her husband's) religious beliefs to influence her decision.
These are the people who are teaching our kids? It is simply hard to believe that a grown adult could rationally come to this sort of position, and decide to enforce it on schoolkids.
Maybe vegans could object to meat being served in the school cafeteria, too, for fear of upsetting students who were not participating?
Hmmm.
I am religiously opposed to people breathing air…
From the article linked to:
"While cupcakes and other pre-packaged treats are allowed, the school also encourages non-food related items to be distributed for birthday celebrations.
Among the “non-food” related items suggested by the principal are pencils, erasers, book marks, and book donations to the class library."
Can you imagine the delight and excitement of a young child who opens a birthday gift and finds an eraser? What a thougtful gift. If I were her husband, I'd give her a slightly used Sham-wow rag on our anniversary.
Even Hitler Youth could sing the German version of that song. What a complete idiot.
How about a slightly used smack upside the head?
Is it any wonder that home schooling has become so wildly popular?
Freedom requires tolerance. If our freedoms are going to be trimmed back for fear of offending hyper-sensitive people, maybe they aren't ready to live in a free country and should find a country with a culture more suitable to their intolerant nature.
>>“Singing is not permitted due to the
>> sensitivity of all student beliefs,” wrote
>> Principal Jodi Davidson
I can see how being forced to wish someone happiness can traumatize children. But what about songs which all students can believe in?
Mine eyes hace seen the glory of the burning of the school!
We have tortured every teacher, we have broken every rule!
We have crucified the principal as a dirty rotten rat!
Our Truth goes marching on!
And that principal is probably being paid as much as $200,000 a year with wall to wall benefits and cushy early retirement.