PUBLISHED: 15:29 EST, 18 December 2015 | UPDATED: 00:51 EST, 19 December 2015
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A Jewish mother is under attack after she successfully petitioned her child's public school to cancel their annual trip to visit Santa Claus.
The woman, whose name is Talia, has a daughter at Sartorette Elementary School in San Jose, California, did not want her to participate in a kindergarten field trip where the children write letters to Santa then go to deliver them, drink hot chocolate and sit on his lap.
She decided to write a four-page letter to the school committee, and now the decade-long tradition has been canceled by the principal and superintendent.
This move however has angered other parents, who staged a walkout on Friday with their children and took them to see Santa.
Thirty students were photographed walking away from the school alongside their parents who were wearing Santa hats.
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Peace out: Thirty parents at Sartorette Elementary School in San Jose, California staged a walkout on Friday morning (above)
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Anger: The parents were upset after a Jewish mother named Talia (above) successfully petitioned the school to cancel a visit to Santa Claus
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In charge: Parent Vanessa Howe (above) decided to lead the walkout Friday
'This is not a Jewish issue for me. It’s an inclusion issue,' Talia told NBC Bay Area.
'We can’t spend five days on just one culture. That’s fostering intolerance. When Christmas is given the same time, or less time, than American holidays, like Veterans Day, then kids don’t feel as American.'
Talia also added that in her family her grandparents told stories about getting beaten for being Jewish in Poland prior to the Holocaust.
After meeting with Superintendent Carrie Andrews, the two woman came to a compromise - the children would go on the field trip and drink hot chocolate, but there would be no Santa.
Then soon after, the school principal elected to cancel the entire trip.
Talia said that now some of the other women have terminated their online Facebook friendships with her, and one even yelled; 'You’re the one who started the war on Christmas.'
Letter: The parents took the children on the trip regardless, having the kindergartners skip class for the day
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Hurt: Talia claims she had been attacked by some of the parents ever since, and one told her; 'You’re the one who started the war on Christmas'
Parent Vanessa Howe went a step further however, and decided to lead the walkout Friday.
She is also calling out what she thinks are problems with Talia's logic.
'We had a person come in last week to my son's class to speak about Hanukkah, and it would be like saying, "I don't want you coming into the classroom because I don't want my son around that, or learning about that,"' said Howe.
Big E Café owner Ernesto May, who hosts the annual trip, is also upset.
'I can’t get rid of Santa. It’s an unfortunate situation. Last year, we had 160 children come by to decorate the place, drop letters off to Santa and families donated toys,' he said.
'What are they going to cancel next? I know she means well, but we can’t shield our children from everything. When is it going to stop?'
Superintendent Andrews said; 'Our biggest commitment is inclusion. This isn’t about Santa.
'Santa is everywhere, he’s all around town. But during school, we have to represent and reflect our community to make sure we’re inclusive of all beliefs.
There's a huge difference between having a lesson about Hanukkah, and having Jewish children (or any non-Christian children) write a letter to Santa, go sit on Santa's lap and tell Santa what they want for Christmas.
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
There's a huge difference between having a lesson about Hanukkah, and having Jewish children (or any non-Christian children) write a letter to Santa, go sit on Santa's lap and tell Santa what they want for Christmas.
Yeah, the former is WAY WORSE. It is promoting religion. Santa in our culture has been secularized.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
She would have been put in another class for the day.
As for the letters, it's kindergarten. It isn't about a lesson in anything but writing.
And the kid could have had an alternative assignment based on religious exemptions.
This was ONE woman ruining 30 other kids field trip for her own personal agenda.
That is wrong.
I really don't get why the school caved on this one.
There were way too many options.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I am so glad that my son will be attending a Christian school. Am quite tired of the crap going on in public schools.
My parents never refused to sign a permission slip when I was in school. Whether it was a book with 'adult' words or a trip to the farm, they signed it all. This crap over holidays didn't happen when I was in school. I have fond memories of decorating the classroom for Easter, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Halloween, etc. I remember one year, the teacher had us make a dreidel for Hanukkah. I remember one Halloween project that I bet would've set heads spinning today - My French teacher had us design our tombstone in French. I had so much fun with that! She hung up the tombstones in class as part of our Halloween decorations. But today? Oh the horror!
Ya know... I don't do Halloween, nor do I have my kids participate in Halloween festivities at school. But doggone it, I simply take them out of school for the afternoon and have an enjoyable hookie day with them. I don't go and anger the rest of the school by having the celebration cancelled! Eesh. Imagine what bullying that kid is going to have to endure!
I really don't get why the school caved on this one.
Because they were using taxpayer dollars to promote Christianity.
No.
They were using tax payer dollars to promote social skills and awareness.
Like I said, it wasn't required.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
If this was a school with a heavy jewish influence and they were lighting menorahs and reciting jewish prayers, and one student was any other anything, should the majority of the school suffer because of the one?
I would like to know if those who push so hard against, in this case Christianity, actually practice their faith.
I wonder if this women observes all the Jewish holidays and such.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I agree with Talia, this should not be a school organized activity.
The only excuse for celebrating Christmas in a public school is the claim that there is no Christ in Christmas, which is ridiculous.
How is going to see Santa celebrating Jesus, exactly? And then they should not have had the guest speaker on Hanukkah, either. Kids get to learn NOTHING about the holiday traditions of the country they live in.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I really don't get why the school caved on this one.
Because they were using taxpayer dollars to promote Christianity.
Sounds like they used them to promote Hanukkah more than Christianity, especially since that was done on school grounds, and this wouldn't have been.
But you are so warped about children being exposed to Christianity, it's ridiculous. This country has a LOT of Christians, you don't get to just tell them all to shutup.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Uh huh. And yet atheists go see Santa and even celebrate Christmas.
You have conveniently ignored the Hanukkah being taught in school issue.
What did they teach about Chanukah? Did they have the candle lighting ceremony at sundown, with all the kids singing the prayers?
Did they teach the kids that Jesus celebrated Chanukah, so it's part of Christian children's heritage too?
Or did they teach them the dreidle song?
Did they teach them WHY Chanukah is celebrated (driving the invaders out of Jerusalem and the miracle of the Everlasting Light) and why Christmas is celebrated (birth of The Savior)?
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
Uh huh. And yet atheists go see Santa and even celebrate Christmas.
You have conveniently ignored the Hanukkah being taught in school issue.
What did they teach about Chanukah? Did they have the candle lighting ceremony at sundown, with all the kids singing the prayers?
Did they teach the kids that Jesus celebrated Chanukah, so it's part of Christian children's heritage too?
Or did they teach them the dreidle song?
Did they teach them WHY Chanukah is celebrated (driving the invaders out of Jerusalem and the miracle of the Everlasting Light) and why Christmas is celebrated (birth of The Savior)?
I bet they taught them more about the Jewish tradition. Santa Claus you see in stores are secular and they do not talk about Jesus. They promote toys. I didn't know that Santa was taken from a saint till I was much older. Of course I wasn't raised Catholic.
Uh huh. And yet atheists go see Santa and even celebrate Christmas.
You have conveniently ignored the Hanukkah being taught in school issue.
What did they teach about Chanukah? Did they have the candle lighting ceremony at sundown, with all the kids singing the prayers?
Did they teach the kids that Jesus celebrated Chanukah, so it's part of Christian children's heritage too?
Or did they teach them the dreidle song?
Did they teach them WHY Chanukah is celebrated (driving the invaders out of Jerusalem and the miracle of the Everlasting Light) and why Christmas is celebrated (birth of The Savior)?
Makes ZERO difference. Hanukkah is still about religion whereas Santa Claus is not. they weren't taking the kids to ponder a nativity scene.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
seriously ed, don't you ever tire of playing the victim?--this jewish mother was wrong--instead of doing the sensible thing, she did the selfish thing--what a drama queen--are y'all acquainted by chance?
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" the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. "--edmund burke
Ed, I learned about a few of the Jewish traditions in my, are ready for this, church.
What????
Yes. This pentecostal Christian learned and learns about Jewish customs, celebrations and history in church.
And in that thing called a Bible.
Sooooo........
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Given eds persistent nonsense, I'm going to start voting for candidates who would defund military aid to Israel because that is tantamount to our government supporting a religion.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
Given eds persistent nonsense, I'm going to start voting for candidates who would defund military aid to Israel because that is tantamount to our government supporting a religion.
Personally, I don't care that she made a Menorrah, or learned about Hannukkah, or Jewish holidays - but if anything Christmas related in school is bad, then so is anything Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or any other religion.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
My boys learned "dreidle, dreidel, dreidel" song. Catchy little tune that got stuck in my head. I think they learned it in preschool, along with various Christmas carols. Meh. As long as they don't come home and tell me to cover my head with a hijab.
Personally, I don't care that she made a Menorrah, or learned about Hannukkah, or Jewish holidays - but if anything Christmas related in school is bad, then so is anything Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or any other religion.
- Lawyerlady
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I agree with this. Religion in government entities should be all or nothing. That way everyone's rights are protected equally, and no one religion is favored above the others, as the First Amendment requires.
Caitlyn sings a couple of songs in Arabic and Aramaic.
I really couldn't tell you what she is saying but they are beautiful.
I know she sang one at the Christmas concert when she was in High school.
I guess I should have shut the whole concert down.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.