Fort Worth ISD Bans Holiday Messages and Gifts

The PC Police have struck again, this time in Ft. Worth. On Thursday, the districts attorney sent out a memo saying that students shouldn't exchange gifts or personal holiday messages during class. According to the Ft. Worth Star Telegram,

On Thursday, the district's attorney sent a memo to staff explaining that students should not be allowed to exchange gifts or "distribute personal holiday messages" during class.

Bertha Bailey Whatley's memo says there are legal concerns associated with the distribution of personal holiday messages.

"For example, if students are allowed to exchange cards or small trinkets, the district would be required to allow a student to distribute a religious message with the gift or card," the memo says. "In other words, the school district cannot prohibit the distribution of unsolicited religious material directly to students if it allows other personal messages to be distributed during school activities held during the school day."

Students can, however, exchange gifts and cards before and after school and during lunch, district spokesman Clint Bond said.

Students can say "Merry Christmas" to one another during the school day, Bond said.

The memo also says Santa Claus is not allowed to visit classes.

However, the memo says, "seasonal decorations are appropriate if they are not religious in nature" and classroom parties are allowed if they "serve an appropriate instructional purpose."

David Rapp, a Weatherford attorney and parent of two Fort Worth district students, said he sent the district an e-mail challenging portions of the memo.

"By following these guidelines, with respect to the passing around of gifts or cards, you will be violating the constitution itself by prohibiting the free exercise of religion," Rapp wrote. "These guidelines are absurd and wrong."

Want to know part of the reason why this country is on a downward spiral? Just look at Ft. Worth ISD as an example. This entire decision by the attorney is absurd. If you are a parent or child that gets offended by Christmas, get over it! Grow some thicker skin and move on! Let the kids be kids and let them celebrate the different Holidays.

What are your thoughts on what Ft. Worth ISD has done?