CHRISTMAS cards are being banned at a primary school to avoid tears and tantrums in the playground.
A letter was sent to parents of pupils at Healey Primary School informing them that children should only send one card to the whole class to avoid any ‘disappointment’.
A number of concerned parents contacted the Observer to condemn the move.
One parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “For small children, sending cards is a big part of Christmas.
“It should be a lovely time for them but this makes me think that the spirit of Christmas has gone completely.
“It’s political correctness gone mad and it’s ridiculous. The parents are up in arms about it and we’re very annoyed.
“How can you ban children from sending Christmas cards to their friends?
“Sending cards is all about bridge-building, making new friends and celebrating the friendships they’ve already made.
“Christmas is all about giving, not receiving but the spirit of Christmas has disappeared.
“A lot of the parents think that it’s because the school doesn’t want to offend non-Christian pupils but this situation has ended up offending most parents.
Rumours began circulating in the school playground and was confirmed when the letter was sent to all parents on Monday and Tuesday.
Another concerned mother added: “I’m absolutely speechless.
“It makes you wonder if birthday party invites will be banned as well for fear of upsetting children who don’t get invited. It’s ruining their Christmas.”
Another parent echoed these concerns, adding: “The children are all friends and Christmas should be an exciting time for them but now they’re very upset.
“They can’t even send them to their best friends.
“If the school had decided to ban Christmas cards for environmental reasons then I’m sure the parents could have thought of ways to recycle the cards.
“The children are really upset and they’ve taken the message literally.
“They’re only young and some of them are frightened to send Christmas cards at all because the school’s told them they can’t send them to each other.
“I’m mad, upset, angry and disappointed that they’ve done this.”
A spokeswoman for Healey Primary School said: “We are not being mean or Christmas Scrooges.
“It takes a lot of time to give out the cards and we are trying to be more practical this year. It has an impact on teaching time.
“The parents have asked for class lists and we can’t give these out for data protection reasons.
“If it doesn’t work well and the children are upset then we will look at doing something else next year.”
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Rachelle Compton (07/12/2007 at 16:43)
Connor Barrett, Heywood (07/12/2007 at 16:44)
Ian Alletson (08/12/2007 at 10:18)
All three of my children have attended Healey Primary school and my youngest child still attends, this has meant continual involvement with the school from 1995 to today and I have been delighted with the school in every way. One proposal regarding Christmas cards will not be changing my view.
I also feel that if any child attending the school really wants to send a Christmas card to a best friend the school will have helped them develop the common sense to be able to do so outside of the school’s teaching hours.
Finally I’m sure that all Observer readers would like to join me in wishing the children of Healey Primary all the best in the many carol singing events, Xmas plays and Xmas parties that the school have no doubt been preparing for over the past months with little parent intervention or media coverage.
Ian Alletson, Parent
knoxy, rochdale (08/12/2007 at 12:27)
Connor Barrett, Heywood (08/12/2007 at 18:28)
F.A.B, ROCHDALE (09/12/2007 at 01:20)
John Callaghan (09/12/2007 at 19:39)
I do not have any children at the school but I do have a grandaughter there and I have to say that I have always been impressed with the fully 'inclusive attitude' which they manifest in their dealings with ALL their charges. The story you put out, I would venture to suggest, is no better than a work of fiction designed, not to report the news but to manufacture it when you have nothing more sensational to report. Your main 'alleged' complainant chooses to remain anonymous which suggests to me that either he or she, at worst, does not really exist or, at best, has not said what your article reports him or her to have said verbatim or he or she lacks any semblance of 'courage of conviction' and displays 'a lack of moral fibre'. In any case, you have totally misrepresented the context of the letter sent to parents and the only decent thing for you to do is to publicly apologise, in you next issue, firstly for your sensationalist, insulting banner headline, 'HUMBUG', but more importantly for your completely unjustified attack on the school and its very worthy staff. I trust you will enjoy a very Happy Christmas.
Yo, rochdale (09/12/2007 at 20:04)
Anglosaxon, Norden (09/12/2007 at 20:47)
ceam (09/12/2007 at 21:31)
carol collins (10/12/2007 at 10:59)
Margaret Powsey (10/12/2007 at 19:18)
The older children were outraged and truly upset by the biased report in Saturday's Observer. But thankfully the wealth of Christmas activities they are enjoying at the moment will soon dismiss the meanness of your attack upon their school.
As an adult I remain concerned because of your insidious and devisive quoting of one parent, who thought there was an element of not wanting to offend non Christians.This is blatantly not an issue and never will be! All the children at school take full part in Christian Carol Services and Nativity plays. Indeed Muslim children and their parents revere Jesus (or Isa )as a prophet. Children are taught to understand and respect all religions. What was your agenda in quoting an ill-informed viewpoint, which was at best ignorant and at worst designed to stir up ill- feeling? The Observer has made a serious error and owes all at Healey Primary a sincere apology.
Finally I would like to assure all concerned, cards are not banned and never were.
Margaret Powsey
mandy40 (10/12/2007 at 21:06)
Not exaclly going to miss their GCSE'S are they?
Who made this silly decision Mrs Grinch?
Scoobysu, Whitworth (11/12/2007 at 10:43)
I for one thought it was a good idea to send one card to the whole class. My youngest is 5 and getting him to remember 30 names and write out 30 cards takes ages and would probably result in him losing half of them. The suggestion to send one card which could be displayed in school and enjoyed by all the children was much better. As for the older children they had no problem giving cards out in the yard before school to best friends.
To the person who contacted the Observer anonymously - Have you failed to notice the Christmas trees in classrooms and lights and Christmas pictures on the windows? Do you not take the time to listen to the Christmas songs your child has been busy learning? You said "this makes me think that the spirit of Christmas has gone completely." Exactly where is your Christmas spirit? Are you happy with the trouble you have caused for YOUR childs school? Im sure you will be sat in the school hall at some point this week watching the Christmas play. The word hypocrite comes to mind.
mandy40 (11/12/2007 at 20:22)
Why do people always have to think that deep? Asians have no problem with Christmas. It's the pc lefty brigade who decide what asian people should be offended by, not Asian people themselves.
mum of 2, rochdale (12/12/2007 at 00:58)
DO YOU FEEL PROUD.....
maybe you should find another school !
You owe Mrs Taylor and all the pupils an apology
Peter Price (12/12/2007 at 15:30)
First class Honours in this subject also goes to First Choice Travel Agents in the Town Centre Shopping Mall. Who found the Christmas Carols being played there by the Salvation Army Band not to their taste, and promptly complained. Not that they had the Guts to complain to the Band themselves, no they directed the complaint to the Centre Management! When you've got some Bah Humbugs to give away - Best let somebody else do it eh?
First Choice customers who did appreciate the playing might like to make their feelings known: To the Agency, To the Agencies Office, To the Observer, To the Band?
mandy40 (12/12/2007 at 22:21)
They had every right to call the observer regarding this madness, and the observer have every right to print this story then we can decide what school we send our kids to.
Are you embarrassed by any chance that your children attend a school )God forbid) has been exposed as Bah humbugs in the local paper?
Perfect little existence came crashing down in one Wednesday article.
Well never mind at least you will be prepared for Easter.
Eggs next.....
mandy40 (12/12/2007 at 22:33)
Whats first choice's problem with the sally army?
One would think they'd be greatful for a bit of life outside their dull office.
Perhaps the staff are more into "Club Tropicana" or, "OH i'm going to Ibiza". Or, "Copacabana"
With thier prices i'm afraid i will be listening to the salvation army in Rochdale town centre this year.
They do a good job , unlike some travel companies.
Henry Kelly Expat (Ireland), Irealnd (15/12/2007 at 03:34)
Chris Mas (15/12/2007 at 21:58)
mandy40 (17/12/2007 at 23:53)
My point was the local rag was contacted by concerned parents and this issue was rightly addressed by the local rag and equaly was solved in Saturdays issue by the local rag who ran a story on the nativity.
So the good reputaion of Healey primary remains.
Happy Christmas to all at Healey primary and the local rag.
And may i end this by saying Stop blaming asians.
mum of 2, rochdale (21/12/2007 at 01:08)
Are you a racist ?????? after all you repeatedly mention asians... yet Asians were NOT mentioned by ANY parents of the school regarding the xmas cards.
Learn to read the articles thoroughly before writing your spat.
roses (28/12/2007 at 00:23)
S.Claus, N.Pole (07/01/2008 at 12:17)
A few parents with their children at this school, neglecting the impact that this practice has on both the school and the environment have taken it upon themselves to make mischief for the school and its' teachers and got the local Rochdale Observer Newspaper involved. This scurrilous newpaper looking yet again for a cheap headline, dedicated a lurid front page to the story.
Following the Rochdale Observer's story the national sleaze papers ran with their corruption of the real story and a hue and cry went out condemning this school. Since then the school and its' teachers have been subjected to a stream of violent hate-mail and threats!
Thank you Healey Primary School, Rochdale for using your common sense. Best wishes for 2008.