A Massachusetts elementary school has banned religion and other holiday items from its holiday gift shop.
Byam Elementary School in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, is asking parents to donate seasonal items such as snowmen, mittens, and snowflakes to sell in a seasonal gift shop fundraiser. Susan Fani of the Catholic League explains the provisions of the benefit. "They're not including anything that has anything to do with Christmas [or] Hanukkah," Fani reports. "The holidays are actually being celebrated during the month of December, and so we thought this was very strange and really multiculturalism run amok because they have snowmen and mittens and snowflakes -- winter-related items -- but nothing involving Christmas or the other holidays." Furthermore, the school indicated in letters to the parents that any religious item would be considered "taboo." In spite of this view on items concerning the holiday, however, the school does close down for a Christmas break. "It doesn't make sense to us why you can be off on Christmas, as it's obviously a national holiday as well as a holiday the school is celebrating, and then even call it a 'holiday gift shop,' then turn around and exclude holidays," notes Fani. "I mean, it really is madness." She believes the school is trying to be politically correct, but that it has gotten out of hand. By attempting to be inclusive, says Fani, they end up being exclusive because they do not recognize the holidays the period represents.
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