This is what happens when ONE parent gets his or her underpants in a bunch, and this is how far we've gone to include everyone.

I'm all for inclusion, but I don't see how having a party, especially a party that celebrates love and friendship, can offend anyone's beliefs. I think it's crap.

I also realize that kids have lots of allergies and crap, but if you're that concerned about it, don't ruin the party for EVERYONE else's kids, just send along a safe snack for your kid. As a teacher, I'm more than willing to make sure that your kid gets to eat that snack.

Ugh. Frankly, as a teacher, too...I'm really glad I don't have to do this crap anymore. Title I definitely has it's benefits. I just got so sick of all the whining and bickering and rules. I just wanted the kids to have fun.

I always ignore these notes.

My suggestion.  Make your cup cakes, label as many V day cards with names as you can, then show up the day of the non party and pass it all out.

My oldest has attended 4 diff schools and so far this approach has worked every single time.

What's really great is (so far) the teachers are VERY grateful.  They don't necessarily agree with the non-party mandates either.

Besides I figure the most they can do is say, "no," and I find most people when face to face aren't as quick to do so....

Good luck.

I sit here with my mouth open! How have we become such an over cautious society? Good grief!

How have we become such an over cautious society? Good grief!

My sentiments exactly!

Ugh...hard to believe just over 7 years or so ago that having holiday parties were fine...hell, Christmas was okay to say in school...we had valentines and all kinds of stuff. Hell, we've had piñatas and all sorts of fun things....and the candy overflowed with sugar...good times.

It's a shame that it's all being taken away by a few fun killers in society. Man...I fear for the next generation and all their uptight upbringing....I'm glad I got out of institutional learning and brainwashing when I did....college promotes free thinking, so hopefully nothing crazy will happen here. Although they promote the hell out of equality, but I'm cool with that.

~Zoo

That's insane. We get a student directory from our school that has the name and phone number of every kid in the school, with the ability of families to opt out. It's stupid to even propose that the teacher can't send home a list, of course she can.

What will they do when the class picture comes, blur out the faces? What about the yearbook, no names? This doesn't sound like a parent causing problems, it sounds more like a teacher with a problem.

Just little black bars across the eyes...

People are nuts...it's school, not the witness protection program.

~Zoo

Of course...because that's ALWAYS the way it is. I've never heard you even consider that a parent might be the catalyst that caused the problem. I wonder why it is that you do that?

But I assure you...most, if not all school or classroom policy is the result of a parent complaint or a lawsuit. LH can't bring home baked goods? Some kid had an allergic reaction ONE time. Her kid can't bring home a class list? Someone's crazy boyfriend is trying to kill her and kidnap his kid and is afaid that the publishing of a name will lead to that very act.

It's not the teacher that has the problem, its the parents.

It's also possible it could be the admin. I've seen THAT happen as well, and the teachers get caught in the middle. They know what is happening, but they can't say much...they DO need jobs after all!

Gid...you're right...and I apologize for my little outburst. I've had an el-crappo day, and I didn't mean to take it out here, LH, or on you personally, Baker.

I know that it's not necessarily parents that have issues, either. And it's not kids' faults that they have allergies and such. The fact of the matter is that we're just much more diverse than we were even ten years ago and kids are much more sensitive to things than they were ten years ago as well.

And honestly, in all the schools I've worked at, the parents have been absolutely wonderful. They've been overwhelmingly concerned about their kids and wanting to help in any capacity they could. They cared about me as a person and wanted me to succeed as a teacher. They sent stuff in for these "celebration" parties, offered to help, gave me hugs and wrote letters for me when they knew I was leaving. All in all they were wonderful, and I'm so glad I got to know them.

And I think its sad there's all these rules and regulations that *have* to be there to "protect" everyone involved. I think it throws up barriers that are really unfair to parents and families and kids and teachers who want to build an educational family where people care about one another and the educational and social success of the kids.

uh..Zoo? Which college was that promoting free thinking?

My kids' school has holiday programs with Christmas songs and decorations. We had a big Halloween celebration with a scary mummification reenactment (the kids were studying Egypt). We are encouraged to bring snacks including homemade stuff, and the teachers hand out candy as prizes for good behavior or good work. We don't (currently) even have a dress code to speak of.

"Lucky you live Hawaii" I guess.

it's not that bad everywhere, thank goodness.

i just signed up to take cookies to my boy's valentine party, and the PTO has a bake sale every month to raise money for new playground equipment.

you should just come live out here. that should help your electrical problems as well. hee hee.

Insanity.

This doesn't sound like a parent causing problems, it sounds more like a teacher with a problem.

It's also possible it could be the admin

Actually, the teachers had the notes plastered to all the doors......so I'm betting it's not a teacher, but the administration. I'm almost considering transfering my son to a different school. It's actually a test school with uniforms, but they do all the fun parts of learning too. Walking into the school is like walking into an art display/science fair. The halls are filled with school projects and class projects and there are all sorts of incentives for the kids.

you should just come live out here. that should help your electrical problems as well. hee hee.

I can't wait for the day. Allthough I'm wondering if I really want to considering your lousy weather lately.

maybe we can all move to Hawaii and put our kids in school with Tex.