Parents: Chelmsford school holding firm on holiday gift-shop re...

After meeting with members of the Byam Elementary School PTO, two mothers asking to put the holidays back into the school's annual holiday gift shop say Byam isn't budging.

[Crazy]

This quote is hysterical.

'If we allow Santa, what do we say if a child brings in a swastika? Do we allow that too?'

First of all, the swastika is not a religious symbol. Secondly, if someone donated a swastika, I doubt any elementary school child would buy or comprehend its historical relevance.

I say, if someone wants to donate a swastika, or a picture of the devil, etc, let them.

It is clear that the thought police are on patrol. They don't want you see, think or say anything that even approaches controversy. These people are intellectually lazy.

[Resident]

It is typical of Yeoman not to take a position and push it off as the principal's decision. Shouldn't this policy be uniform through out the district? He also uses the weak argument that he hasn't had complaints for the last several years. Did he have complaints for the prior 100 years when celebrating Christmas was OK?

[Things that make u go hmm]

What about school vacation during Christmas? and there was still school vacation when Christmas was on a Satruday and Sunday.

[ru serious]

A swastika.......uumm a big jolly fat man in a red suit vs. hitler?
Hmm a ficticous character vs a mass murderer......I think the school would be able to figure out the difference
Gee where do you get that picture at the mall?

[Maggie]

What gets me is that other schools in Chelmsford don't restrict what's at the "holiday" sale. I'd boycott the sale if I lived there.

[Frank]

The parents who have complained about this holiday shop should be proud of themselves. From now until the year there children grauduate from High School, everyone will know them as the IDIOTS who ruined Christmas and all of the holiday spirits here in Chelmsford. This story has already made it to WBZ news and I'm sure that it'll make national news before the holidays come. Congrats on ruining your kids lives here in Chelmsford! You've earned it! May the holiday spirit go out to you and your family as well.

[Angelo Mysterioso]

Actually, the swatsika is a Native American religious symbol.

[Anne]

As a Christian resident of Chelmsford I find this to be outrageous. Dr. Gilmore takes one of the two most important holidays on the Christian calendar and removes all references and symbols of Christmas. Then she exploits this very holiday make money off it? I am offended. In the name of being fair and not offending anyone, has she considered all of the Christians who find offense at this? Shame on you, Jane Gilmore, Donald Yoeman and the Byam PTO. I am glad my children will be attending South Row.

[LearnTheLawAnne]

No one cares what a "Christian resident of Chelmsford" thinks, Anne.
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion".
Learn the law Anne or maybe you need to go back to school.

[Daddy Warbucks]

Anne wrote:

Then she exploits this very holiday make money off it? I am offended.

It's the American Way, Anne. Are you offended by Wal-Mart and Target, or any of the [B]thousands[/B] of other establishments that make money from Christmas? Maybe you should be.

[citizen]

Frank wrote:

The parents who have complained about this holiday shop should be proud of themselves. From now until the year there children grauduate from High School, everyone will know them as the IDIOTS who ruined Christmas and all of the holiday spirits here in Chelmsford. This story has already made it to WBZ news and I'm sure that it'll make national news before the holidays come. Congrats on ruining your kids lives here in Chelmsford! You've earned it! May the holiday spirit go out to you and your family as well.

Frank, go back to bed, These woman and their kids should be proud. They are standing up for their beliefs. They are ruining the holiday spirit? They want to bring it back. the school is trying to suppress it. No candy canes, no santa, not even red table clothes at a holiday gift shop. How dumb is that?
I hope it does go national, eveyone needs to know how being politically correct is not doing this country any good. Look what happened at Fort Hood. If more people weren't trying to be politically correct, this guy would have been thrown out before this happened.

[ru serious]

If the folks at Byam are so correct, then why isn't this a town wide policy?.........BECAUSE ITS THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!

[Irma from Halifax]

Angelo Mysterioso wrote:

Actually, the swatsika is a Native American religious symbol.

Actually, the Native American symbol has the arms bent in the OPPOSITE direction as that of the Nazi symbol.

[Enough Government]

Actually, this whole issue issue is political correctness driven to insane levels. The Holiday season is comprised of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, and New Years. These should be celebrated, not banned. Is everyone so offended by everything these days?

[outoftowner]

To "LearnTheLawAnne", how convenient of you to only quote a portion of the First Amendment. Please pay SPECIAL attention to the second portion of the First Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF;

These parents are standing up for their First Amendment rights.

[Byam Parent]

This is not just about wanting Christian symbols at a holiday fair. I would have no problem with dreidels, menorahs and stars of David, or kinara candles, colorful african clothsor other Kwanzaa inspired items there either. By using moments like these we can teach our children to tolerate the differences in others. These can be "teachable moments" where we educate our children on different types of heritages, perpetuating more acceptance of those same differences. Instead, our principal chooses to enforce a regime of ignorance.

We HAVE been complaining for years about these policies, just not as effectively as the 2 parents who brought it to the forefront this year. Thank you to those parents fighting for our right to be proud of our traditions. Hold your heads high; there is much support for you: at Byam and in Chelmsford as a whole. And.... Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah! Happy Kwanzaa!

[Jacob]

Back when I was a kid at Byam School (teachers; Mrs. Castner, Mr. Jubett, Mrs. Hutchinson,
Ms. Kerrigan, just to name a few) everyone enjoyed the Christmas season. We had a Christmas play at school attended by parents. We sang Christmas carols. Each classroom had a tree and a party. Plus Santa made a visit to each room. No one complained in those days.

Today, It is because of wacko liberals that Santa, Christmas trees, and Christmas decorations, are banned from many schools. That “Christmas vacation” is now a "Winter Vacation". That store employees have been forced to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas".

Liberals are just miserable people who are only happy when they make others miserable.

[Enough Government]

Jacob wrote:

Back when I was a kid at Byam School (teachers; Mrs. Castner, Mr. Jubett, Mrs. Hutchinson,
Ms. Kerrigan, just to name a few) everyone enjoyed the Christmas season. We had a Christmas play at school attended by parents. We sang Christmas carols. Each classroom had a tree and a party. Plus Santa made a visit to each room. No one complained in those days.
Today, It is because of wacko liberals that Santa, Christmas trees, and Christmas decorations, are banned from many schools. That “Christmas vacation” is now a "Winter Vacation". That store employees have been forced to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas".
Liberals are just miserable people who are only happy when they make others miserable.

The extreme liberals are ruing the country with over the top political correctness, lack of personal responsibility, and frivolous lawsuits.

Enjoy Christmas like we did as kids. Let the Libs sit around and complain while we enjoy the season. Merry Christmas!

[Even More Amused]

Enough Government wrote:

<quoted text>
The extreme liberals are ruing the country with over the top political correctness, lack of personal responsibility, and frivolous lawsuits.
Enjoy Christmas like we did as kids. Let the Libs sit around and complain while we enjoy the season. Merry Christmas!

It's sad that you have to blame your pathetic life on all those "extreme liberals" ruining your country. Deluded, you are.

[Enough Government]

Even More Amused wrote:

<quoted text>
It's sad that you have to blame your pathetic life on all those "extreme liberals" ruining your country. Deluded, you are.

It's sad you pathetic liberals have to ruin our country because you're all deluded. I corrected your statement for you.