Christmas is the perfect time to enjoy the best things in life and that includes candy– lots of candy. Of course, not just any candy will do, it has to be Christmas-themed, meaning candy canes are in order. For one school in the US, however, children will not get to enjoy candy canes, all because of their killjoy principal.
Manchester Elementary School in Nebraska, US is not a happy place this Christmas season. You see, their principal, Jennifer Sinclair has a big problem with candy canes… and pretty much everything involving Christmas tropes in general. That means no elves, no reindeer, no Santa, no carols, and certainly no candy canes, emphasis on candy canes.
It’s not because of the sugar in the candy which could cause cavities or the fact that a dog has actually died after getting fed candy canes. No, Sinclair abhorred the idea of candy canes because they are shaped like the letter “J.” So she bans them in the school along with other Christmas-related imagery.
This is what she wrote in the memo as a reason for the ban: “Historically, the shape is a ‘J’ for Jesus. The red is for the blood of Christ, and the white is a symbol of his resurrection. I feel uncomfortable that I have to get this specific, but for everyone’s comfort, I will.” More like, for everyone’s discomfort.
This caused quite a stir among the parents and even the school, so Sinclair was put on administrative leave. The school also iterated that “The memo does not reflect the policy of Elkhorn Public Schools regarding holiday symbols in the school.” Regardless, candy canes, Santa, and Christmas trees remain as secular Christmas tropes for everyone to enjoy (or hate), not just Christians.
Thank goodness for that or otherwise, the holy Grinch would have ruined Christmas for everyone. Sinclair has since issued an apology afterward.
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