School bans Mother's and Father's Day activities from the classroom
Students at an elementary school in Mission, B.C., recently came home with an unusual letter tucked away inside their backpacks.
According to the letter, which has been posted on Facebook, classroom crafts for Mother’s and Father’s Day will be scrapped this year.
“In an effort to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and also to nurture our students who are part of non-traditional families, we have decided to encourage those celebrations to take place at home,” the letter reads. “Due to this, children will not be making gifts at school to give on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.”
The decision was made after a group of grade 1 and 2 teachers at Albert McMahon Elementary got together to discuss the upcoming holidays.
“We feel each family knows the best way to celebrate with their own family,” the letter concludes.
In an interview with Vancouver radio station CKNW, Mission School Superintendent Angus Wilson said it’s ultimately up to the teachers about what is covered in the classroom.
“Mother’s Day and other civic holidays are not actually directly part of the curriculum so they haven’t broken the rules or anything,” he said, adding that he hasn’t talked to the teachers directly about the issue.
Mother’s Day falls on May 14 this year, while Father’s Day is on June 18.
