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I am pissed! My local school district, Plano Texas, is banning Valentines Day. They will no longer allow cards or candy to be passed out because they dont want someone to be hurt if they dont get a card.

I have the list of emails and phone numbers and I will be making some noise!


One of the parents is trying to get a letter campain off the ground to the school board. Below is her letter.

Parents and Families of the PISD,

I’d like to take this opportunity to share a little about myself before starting the issue at hand. I have three sons two of which attend Stinson Elementary in Plano where I have been given the privilege to serve as a room mom. I have so enjoyed this experience of being involved with Stinson and all the wonderful staff who work there.

However, I am terribly concerned. Recently, I found out about the PISD decision to enforce a rule that would eliminate the tradition of “passing out” valentine cards or even personalizing them “to give” to their fellow classmates. My understanding is that a student will be permitted to place valentines brought from home on his/her desk and if another student so wishes to, he/she can go by and “take” one.

Further more, the students will not be allowed to pass out any candy or any sort (nutritious or not) to his/her classmates. This is NOW being enforced due to a possible lawsuit from a family in the PISD. This lawsuit (which I am sure you are aware of) is concerning a child who was passing out candy cane pens with the history of the Candy Cane attached for his/her classmates to enjoy reading.

I understand that students should not be allowed to daily pass out stories, spiritual references, etc. for the mere fact it is distracting to study time. However, I would like to see this regulation be changed to where any child of any denomination would be permitted to pass out a card, note or story (spiritual or not) on the three specified party dates during the year.

Our culture is thus that everyone has to learn discernment about many issues that we face daily. By not allowing our children to share their own traditions, I believe we are putting padded walls around our children and not preparing them for the real world. These stories are harmless and are only meant with the greatest love for one another. But, that is another part of my agenda.

Currently, I would like to let each of the families in our school district have this information about what is going on and the continued privileges that are being taken away from our children. I have had many parents voice their concerns that I have spoken with.

These parents share in my concern-as they would like to see this issue with the Valentine’s Day cards be resolved for the enjoyment and the mere fact of teaching what our world so desperately needs; love for one another. My boys enjoy choosing Valentine’s that personal fit the friend or classmate that the card is intended for. The children learn neatness, presentation, writing skills and GIVING. It is a great time for parents to set at the table with their kids and enjoy the traditions that American elementary students have had for decades.

Though I know the PISD officials have a difficult time keeping a healthy balance with many issues other than education. But, in this case I feel that the PISD officials have over reacted to protect themselves. Their enforcing has no benefit on the children and only takes away the customs and traditions of families and much of the enjoyment that this time brings.

I would like to see each and every parent that has any concern for this issue and the privilege that is being taken away from our children, nay our families to write and call the superintendent and the PISD school board. Ultimately, I would like to see this policy changed to where students could pass out goodies, cards, notes, etc. during the three designated parties each year. However, until that time I would like to see this years Valentine’s be a time of GIVING not taking off the desk.

I have called Mrs. Salamone and she has been very cooperative providing me with names, e-mails and the phone numbers for parents to contact those of importance-so our concerns can be heard. Any help with getting this information to other PISD parents would greatly help. I urge you to take action on this and not to lay it aside. The future of how our kids will grow to understand the traditions of Valentine’s and to celebrate it depends on each of our voices being heard.

Attached, is the contact information that you will need to send your concerns to. I so appreciate your time in listening to my heartfelt concerns in regards to the issue of teaching our children to be “givers” especially on special occasions-and not “takers.”


Thank you for your time,

I get so pissed reading about the total over-reaction some schools and districts make on issues. Instead of trying to make everything inclusive, they are taking away the ability to express cultural differences.

No nativity scenes because it may offend someone who doesn't believe in it... No St. Valentines because it might hurt someone's feelings IF they don't get one (or because it's a Catholic holiday)... No St. Patty's Day binge drinking in school because it would upset MADD... it's out of control.

Schools shouldn't be protected from lawsuit happy/over zealous parents... barring extreme circumstances... and should focus on educating... that's it! Take the political crap out of their hands and if they can't make the cut... fire every administrator and replace them.

There are so many things wrong with schools these days, that worrying about giving out Valentines seems so trivial.

The school district is taking steps to insulate itself from lawsuits, they are trying to allow the kids expression without making themselves liable. The school has a right to protect itself and alwasy had. It never needed to exercise that right until a lawsuit was brought against it. Now it MUST exercise that right for sake of self-preservation.

The lady who wrote the letter is taking action against the wrong party, probably because they are more visible and easier to take aim at.

e-chick

If they had been sued for any of the actions listed and hypothetically lost the case, how stupid would they be to allow those things to continue.

This IS NOT the big bad mean school beauracracy coming down on the kids and trying to take away thier joy. It's an institution trying to protect itself from frivilous lawsuits in the only way it can.
The schill is still TRYING to allow the kids to celebrate Valentines and for that they should be commended.

Please, this is cause and effect people, there's a reason they're doing this and it's that reason that needs to be criticised, talked about and railed at. NOT the school district.

djheater

Uh, yeah...right.

Frivilous lawsuits? What Judge wants to be known for letting a frivilous case win? Sure it's happened. But, ah, I believe that an 'honorable' Judge would laugh it out of court...

It sounds to me like you have yet to experience having a child of yours go through the public school system.

Who works in the ed system in your family?

Both my daughters are in the public school system. My aunt has taught elementary school for more than 30 years, and one of my close friends is a teacher as well.

You must know as well as I do that the board is in a tight spot and is taking the easy, most legally defensible way out.

A judge must be impartial if he is to be 'honorable', he doesn't have the luxury of throwing something out of court unless there is reason and precedent to do so.

Who in your family works in the judiciary?

{no flames}

I think it is rediculous that the schools are losing sight of common sense in an effort to protect itself from lawsuits. They should get better lawyers to get these stupid suites bounced out of court. We can't rely on the ability of a judge to throw it out.

On the flip side, there should be some way to protect the schools from even having to think about these bogus lawsuits. This whole thing is way out of hand.

In a nutshell, over zealous parents need to be flogged for their stupidity and the schools need to recapture their common sense.

School districts today and common sense? HA!

my wife taught for the Plano ISD for 7 years - finally left for neighboring Allen ISD because of crap like this. they already banned Christmas and Easter. They wouldn't let her even put up anything RED or GREEN in her room...UNLESS it was for Kwanza!! She couldn't mention Christmas or Easter, couldn't make any decorations (she teaches first grade), etc. In fact, one teacher was told she couldn't wear a cross necklace because it was too big! This is the same school district that was trying to tell parents what they could and could NOT put in their childrens lunches!!! I'm sure they're not the only district that's like this either - just an example of liberal influences...

It sounds like your bad experience was with a bad teacher and the fact he was guy should have nothing to do with it. There are bad people out there (straight or gay) and it sounds like you had one teaching your daughter. Glad to hear you got him bounced... hopefully on the grounds that he was a poor educator rather than the fact he is gay.

if they dont repeal it, you can always go dance around the schools holding up giant red hearts that say "our children love each other, the school district hates them"....thatd make a great front page picture in the dallas morning news