District Policy Stomps Holiday Spirit (featuring NINE Days of December)
Kilt staffers are disheartened at the new restrictions on their holiday cheer. (From left to right: top- Lizzy Botkin, Jordan Revenaugh, Shelby Smith bottom- Sophia Williams, Adam Garfinkle, Zoe Garden)
Adams teachers were reminded last week (December 2) of a long-standing policy regarding holiday celebrations and decorations within schools.
The issue came to the attention of students when they were forced to take down their Christmas tree from display in the senior area. On Friday, teachers received an email from administration stating, “we have been advised to not display any holiday or winter decorations until December 9. If you have some already on display, please take them down; we will look forward to seeing them up on Friday, December 9.”
For those who do not know, the policy reads,
“Symbols of religious holidays that might have acquired secular meaning might be used as decoration for up to ten school days prior to the holiday. Example: presents, bells, turkeys, bunny, cornucopias, giving tree, etc. It is important that holidays reflect the variety of cultural traditions of all students. Sensitivity to the needs of all students should take precedence and teachers are encouraged to expose students to a variety of cultural traditions.”
As to why decorations are only allowed after the ninth, no one knows for sure. Many students and teachers alike are also confused as to why winter decorations are lumped together with “holiday” decorations. So, no snowmen? No snowflakes? Furthermore, students and staff were mostly unaware of this policy in years past, which prompts the question: why now?
NINE Days of Christmas (policy remix)
On the first day of December, the district took from me
My beloved Christmas tree
On the second day of December, the district took from me
Two dreidels spinning and my beloved Christmas tree
On the third day of December, the district took from me
Three happy snowmen, two dreidels spinning, and my beloved Christmas tree
On the fourth day of December, the district took from me
Four wrapped presents, three happy snowmen, two dreidels spinning, and my beloved Christmas tree
On the fifth day of December, the district took from me
ALL OF MY JOY
Four wrapped presents, three happy snowmen, two dreidels spinning, and my beloved Christmas tree
On the sixth day of December, the district took from me
Six paper snowflakes,
ALL OF MY JOY
Four wrapped presents, three happy snowmen, two dreidels spinning, and my beloved Christmas tree
On the seventh day of December, the district took from me
Seven twinkling lights, six paper snowflakes,
ALL OF MY JOY
Four wrapped presents, three happy snowmen, two dreidels spinning, and my beloved Christmas tree
On the eighth day of December, the district took from me
Eight candles burning, seven twinkling lights, six paper snowflakes,
ALL OF MY JOY
Four wrapped presents, three happy snowmen, two dreidels spinning,
and my beloved Christmas tree
And on the ninth day of December the district gave back to me
My right to celebrating (finally!)
