Alabama school bans ‘Easter’

By Efrosini Costa

Alabama school bans ‘Easter’
Students at an elementary school in the United States have been banned from using the word “Easter”, all in the name of religious diversity.

While children at Alabama Elementary will still be allowed to hunt for eggs, they will not be allowed to refer to them as “Easter eggs”- after the school’s principal banished the word from being used.

Heritage Elementary School principal Lydia Davenport said the move came after parents expressed their concern at the way school activities and events were being run. 

“We’re just trying to make sure we respect and honour everybody’s differences,” Davenport told reporters about her decision.

Teachers at the school were also informed they would have to re-think planned Easter themed events and that no activities based around religious celebrations would be allowed under any circumstance, in an effort to safeguard religious diversity.

“Kids love the bunny and we just make sure we don’t say ‘the Easter Bunny’ so that we don’t infringe on the rights of others because people relate the Easter bunny to religion,” the principal explained, adding that, “A bunny is a bunny and a rabbit is a rabbit.”

But, as expected, not everyone is happy about the move. 

One parent wrote to a local television station to express their dismay at the ban:

“I don’t get upset about too many things, but this upsets me,” they wrote, arguing, “Even non-believers enjoy a good egg hunt. Kids need to enjoy being kids.”

A meeting with district leaders saw the principal relax her stance slightly, allowing for the annual egg hunt to go ahead – but not without conditions.

Teachers are even being urged to use shapes besides eggs and not to reward students with chocolate Easter eggs. One district leader believes the decision is political correctness gone mad.

“The principal was trying to be extremely cautious about having anything religious in the school – probably more cautious than she needed to be,” Phil Schmidt told Fox News. “In this world of schools, it’s probably better to be cautious than reckless. But at the same time you’ve got to use good judgment about it.”

But, he added: “Don’t over think it… it’s the Easter Bunny. People have known there are multi-coloured eggs that have been a symbol of Easter for a long, long, long, long time. I don’t think you want to over think it. I don’t think our parents want us to over think it.”

Besides, Schmidt pointed out, the White house still holds its annual Easter egg roll. 

What do you think of the ban? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or join the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login