Illinois Schools Cancel Christmas and Halloween
Charles Johnson
Tue Oct 2, 2007 at 10:00 am PDT • Views: 452
We had this story of US cultural suicide last Friday, and it’s finally starting to be noticed by the mainstream media today: Oak Lawn Schools Cancel Holiday Traditions.
(CBS) OAK LAWN, Ill. A southwest suburban school district has taken action, responding to the concerns of a Muslim parent.
But now, as CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot reports, other parents are angry that traditional school holidays will be renamed or even eliminated. “That does not represent all the Muslims, all of the Arabs at that school,” said Qais Nofel, the father of a student in Ridgeland School District 122.
There was some heated discussion between parents outside Columbus Manor Elementary School in Oak Lawn on Friday. The thought of no more traditional holiday celebrations has many parents really upset.
For now, children in Ridgeland School District 122 will celebrate fall festival instead of Halloween and winter festival instead of Christmas.
Brenda Elvidge said, “It’s not fair to our kids. This is America and that’s an American tradition.”
The decision affects the children at four elementary schools in Oak Lawn and one junior high school in Bridgeview.
The district has a 30 percent Arab-American population, many of whom practice Islam. The superintendent says the reason for the change in tradition comes after one parent wanted Ramadan decorations put up inside Columbus Manor Elementary. They were taken down.
Frank says: