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Mass Elementary School Principal Warns Teachers About Celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving and Columbus Day

Principal Warns Teachers Against Celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving and Columbus Day

One principal is bringing reform to Massachusetts schools. Well, at least in the way they celebrate holidays. NECN reports on Principal Ann Foley’s stand against celebrating Halloween, Columbus Day and Thanksgiving at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Somerville, Massachusetts:

The Boston Herald reports that the Foley controversy emerged after an email she sent to teachers was revealed, outlining the principal‘s opposition to some of America’s most cherished holidays:

“’When we were young we might have been able to claim ignorance of the atrocities that Christopher Columbus committed against the indigenous peoples,’ wrote Kennedy School Principal Anne Foley. ‘We can no longer do so. For many of us and our students celebrating this particular person is an insult and a slight to the people he annihilated. On the same lines, we need to be careful around the Thanksgiving Day time as well.’”

This section from the scathing email comes off of Foley’s ban on allowing children to come to school in costumes on Halloween. NECN reports that Foley’s critical comments on holidays beloved by many, has created a chatter among parents and community members:

“Many parents and grandparents were outraged. Parent Lisa Eicks said, ‘If you don’t want to celebrate it then don’t celebrate it, but I don’t think it’s right for the kids that do celebrate it to suffer.’

Grandparent Mary Files said, ;This is America and I think people like her stir up all these prejudices.’

Others were a little more understanding. Grandparent Jeanne Aiello said, “Some things are like her prerogative, she’s the boss and if she feels that that’s being insensitive to other children you have to support that.”

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone was  supportive of Foley, telling the Herald “She raises a fair point. History is messy.” School Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi said her “intention is to be very, very sensitive to all of the many, many cultures” of Somerville.

Principal Warns Teachers Against Celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving and Columbus Day

Foley would not elaborate on her “atrocities” comment, but told the Herald ““When I grew up, I was taught from a very European perspective of history and it was both embarrassing and enlightening to me when I learned other perspectives.”

Comments (257)

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  • GRAMPA-D-NH
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:46pm

    This crap is has been underway for years by the self-loathing leftists. The masks are coming off at an accelerated pace now to “turn inside out” everything that has made this country great and tear its success and power down. This is what Moooochele was refering to when she said we need to “change our history”.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f2j_a_7XkE

    Report Post » GRAMPA-D-NH  
    • woodyb
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:15pm

      Masks coming off — can’t celebrate Halloween — Ironic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • ScienceIsNotEvil
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:59pm

      A great many christian fundamentalists would love to see schools band Halloween…

      Report Post »  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:45pm

    Oh, grow up doctor. I am a senior citizen and school used to be a pleasure when we learned about Christopher Columbus and the ocean blue, and celebrated and still celebrating Halloween (trick or treat time) and Thanksgiving ( being thankful for what we have). We would still have history if we talked about President Kennedy and the good he did for the country and forget the scandals during school years. We can’t even believe the books now days because so much is made up. Now teachers are trying to mess up the kids heads. LET KIDS BE KIDS

    Report Post »  
    • Amma K
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:08pm

      I am so sick of one person being the reason for a complete change in a school. Happens all the time – someone calls to complain and before you know it that one person rules over everyone who didn’t want the change. All this PC crap has to end!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 8:03am

      I agree about Thanksgiving and Halloween, but I remember when I was a kid what we were taught about Columbus didn’t just whitewash his faults, but was a pack of outright lies from beginning to end. We were still fed the horse manure straight out of Washington Irving’s long–discredited pseudo-biography that he was the only person in Europe with the vision to figure out that the world was round. The reality is that he was not just a ruthlessly dictatorial slave-master, but also an idiot. He endangered his life and those of crew by pursuing a crackpot theory based on no evidence that the world was much smaller than every educated person knew it to be. I would have no problem with renaming October 12 as American Discovery Day and continuing to celebrate it without giving Columbus undeserved credit for the role in history he stumbled into through no virtue of his own.

      Report Post »  
    • whatsupdoc
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 7:57pm

      Chet…
      He endangered his life and those of crew by pursuing a crackpot theory based on no evidence that the world was much smaller than every educated person knew it to be.

      How did the so called educated get educated without someone risking their life to physically verify the unknown? If Columbus came from the public school system of today everyone would still live in Europe on welfare. History is filled with people like Cortez who slaughtered whole civilizations while exploring the world. Disease was a major killer of indigenous people but the explorers didn’t have the convenience of history, the ACLU or a lawyer on board to determine the appropriate strategy. It was survival of the fittest and most didn’t survive. I also doubt there were many educated persons among the crews as elitists are rarely pioneers…

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 8:18pm

      whatsupdoc
      What the hell does any of that have to do with my accurate statement that Columbus was wrong and that everyone who thought he was crazy was right?

      Report Post »  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:45pm

    LiberalMarine

    The principal should be fired. She‘ll make all the student’s in her school into mental cases. How? Every freaking holiday that the kids do celebrate or may celebrate, she will tell them that they shouldn’t & that they should feel guilty,

    Report Post »  
  • trench99
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:44pm

    Just another fine example of why we should shut down the public school system. Vouchers only. America needs a good washing to rid itself of these parasites.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:55pm

      I agree .. let the parents choose the schools for their child and a lot of this cr*p will stop!

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:13pm

      Agree. Guess that is why Obama, whose girls are in private schools, nixed the voucher idea. Hey, he’s tied into pleasing his union base! Couldn’t care less about what is good for minority/ poor kids. Heck, if they got a good education, they wouldn’t buy into the garbage the Democrats feed them ! Bad for future votes. It’s all about the votes.

      Report Post »  
  • Secular Conservative
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:44pm

    You do realize that in a public forum you have just called for the murder of someone with who you politically disagree with. You ignorant, inbred, moron.

    Report Post » Secular Conservative  
  • jordy2010
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:43pm

    I sent Foley a nasty e-mail. I called a marxist female dog……..they censored it….. I’m from Canada……… I know the difference between a teacher and a marxist indoctrinator

    Report Post » jordy2010  
    • randy
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:48pm

      HAHA I did to, and I think they censored most of what I wrote, I bet she gets the tone of the message though.

      Report Post » randy  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:42pm

    Her resignation is accepted by WE THE PEOPLE forthwith. She is allowed to leave the USA and reside in the socialist country of her choosing outside the North American Continent.

    Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:30pm

      What did she say that had ANYTHING AT ALL to do with socialism? Not that I agree with her, but you’re getting carried away.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:15am

      *kick*

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • texasfarmer
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:41pm

      When she wants to change traditions, she wants to control your life. This may not be the federal or local government but she is modifying your behavior to satisfy her.

      Report Post » texasfarmer  
  • decendentof56
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:41pm

    This from the Congressional Record of Jan 10, 1963…….
    Communist goal #31.
    Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the “big picture.” Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.
    I just wonder if Dr Foley is a Co…………. Nah, probably not!

    Report Post »  
  • sweetgold
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:41pm

    A sad commentary on a sad lady.

    Report Post » sweetgold  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:45pm

      Sweet…..
      They’re coming out of the woodwork, aren’t they?

      Report Post »  
    • fatjack
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:58pm

      decendentof56
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:45pm

      Sweet…..
      They’re coming out of the woodwork, aren’t they?
      ————————————————————————

      Naw I believe she came out of the back seat of a 1953 Buick.

      Report Post » fatjack  
    • scoter
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 10:08pm

      Glenn sad they would.Glenn Knows.

      Report Post » scoter  
  • barber2
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:41pm

    Think everything went to hell when the Left started the “Columbus was an evil white man” crapolla. Instead of admiring him for taking a real risk to explore the unknown world, they like to crucify him for bringing New diseases to the the“ New” World. Wonder what diseases Columbus’ men were exposed to in the New World ?! Never hear anything about that because it doesn’t fit into the ” all good native/ all evil white man” agenda that is so popular in today’s Lefty university curriculum.

    Report Post »  
    • Darla_K
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:58pm

      I say to her, “If you don’t like our holidays get lost and go to a different country.” Maybe Iran or North Korea would be more to her likin’.

      Report Post » Darla_K  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:46pm

      “Wonder what diseases Columbus’ men were exposed to in the New World?” Syphilis, according to some.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • SCHEXbp
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:42am

      The “Indigenous” people can be genetically traced to the northern islands of Japan & they got here less that 10,000 years ago. Thereafter they remained Stone Age nomads for the most part without even a written language. Remember, evil explorers after Columbus brought the horse to the New World, so Indians has that benefit for only a couple of hundred years once there were enough horses to go around. Amazing all this “presentism” about the “natural’ course of events during those centuries: conquering. enslave & annex, all of which has been going on since ancient Egypt. Most of these practices did not die all over the world until the end of WWII (except the USA earlier around 1900).

      I remember Alistair Cooke’s “America: show (late 70s?) commenting that syphilis made its way across Europe & we “find the Archbishop of Crete dying of it in 1579.” (I’m ball-parking that date.)

      Report Post »  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:41pm

    Principal Ann Foley is a leftists. I get that. As a leftists she hates Europeans, so she would hate Thanksgiving & Columbus day.

    But why Halloween? That has roots going back to the Celts, a 1,000 B.C. or longer. Some of the Celts beliefs are no different than the ancient Iranians & others.

    Is Anne Foley really that effed up? She is a pseudo educated intellectual.

    Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:47pm

      In today’s Denver Post the local zoo is encouraging young people to celebrate Halloween at the zoo by dressing up as their “favorite super hero” so that they can someday be “a a hero for the planet.” Can you believe this ? The poor kids of this crazed politically brainwashed crew! Just more future zombie “Occupiers. ” Sad .

      Report Post »  
    • dmforman
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 10:17pm

      She should be glad that I wasn’t a teacher at her school, as I would do it all up for Veterans Day!! There would be American Flags, veterans, and the whole nine yards in the school.

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:04am

      dmforman

      Sounds like a plan! Send her over the top; Film it & get her fired.

      You know she will judge a teacher to be a poor performer if they don’t follow her holiday dictates.

      Report Post »  
    • unbound1
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 3:33am

      maybe she is a leftist Jehova’s Witness

      Report Post » unbound1  
    • Blacktooth
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:28pm

      unbound1 – maybe she is a leftist Jehova’s Witness.

      Just for your information, it is true that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not participate in Halloween or any other worldly holidays for that matter. We want to follow a course of dedication to our God, and Jesus Christ without compromise.
      Jehovah’s Witnesses are not political, being either leftist or of the right. We do not interfere with anyone if they want to do this or that, we are all free to do what we want. That is why JW’s do not engage in protests or other forms of trouble-making.

      So, please try to not make prejudicial comments about, any group, without knowing what you are talking about.

      Report Post » Blacktooth  
  • LiberalMarine
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:38pm

    Wow, what a good person to say that she should be killed. You should be proud of yourself.

    Report Post » LiberalMarine  
  • PapaJohannesPatriot
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:37pm

    The principal wants to stop the celebrating of those holidays. Well better change the name of your school. Need some of us point out the moral failings of JFK? Our national history and cultures have not always been without faults. We’ve have presidents who have strayed at one time or another and made wrong decisions. We have streets named for people who have not always been the model of decorum and in some cases were downright scoundrels at one time or another. I’ll bet Dr Foley has some racial biases and wants to re-write our history. I’ve heard about a despicable person who has stated that we were going to have to change our history and traditions. Sound familiar?

    Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:48pm

      This particular sorry excuse for a principal would find fault with Christmas, Easter, & the 4 of July. Unless the soldiers who served or died who good little leftists serving a leftist cause, I bet she hates Memorial Day & Veterans Day.

      So that leaves Labor Day & May Day as approved Holidays worthy of celebration.

      I like how she so open mindedly threatens teachers who are her subordinates.

      Report Post »  
    • YepImaConservative
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:54pm

      “Moral failings of JFK.” Correctomundo you are… and most of the Kennedy clan.

      She can start right there and work backwards if she likes…

      Report Post » YepImaConservative  
    • barber2
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:09pm

      Yes. Many past presidents had human failings but they were proud to be Americans. They were not trying to “change” the economic foundation of our capitalist economy. They were not trying to “avenge” past injustices. They were not apologizing for American “mistakes” while ignoring those of other countries. They were not trying to “redistribute” the belongings of others. They were more respectful of the old moral code which forbade the “coveting” of one‘s neighbor’s “goods.” The New Left , in their elitist egomania, has substituted the idea of God‘s Law with Big Daddy Government’s “Regulations. ” A very bad substitution. Failure guaranteed. Some things can not be substituted.

      Report Post »  
  • eat-more-bacon-USA
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:37pm

    Wow – she’s insane.

    Report Post » eat-more-bacon-USA  
  • phineas
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:36pm

    fire the beotch, who does she think she is?? obama!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Stu D. Baker-Hawk
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:36pm

    I‘m willing to bet that ’Doctor‘ Foley won’t be sleeping very well this weekend. I hope that ‘Doctor’ Foley will see the error of her ways… and well before Halloween night (if you know what I mean). Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-hah!…

    Report Post »  
  • Alvin691
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:35pm

    http://youtu.be/4f2j_a_7XkE?t=1m6s Change our history

    Report Post »  
  • Dean Toadblatt
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:32pm

    Lunatic and nincompoop.

    Report Post » Dean Toadblatt  
  • momsense
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:32pm

    .She better not dare have the kids celebrate Martin Luther King day that SOB started the destruction of his country

    Report Post »  
  • nohussein
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:31pm

    What about ramadan?

    Report Post » nohussein  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:26pm

    What an unhappy person she must be; and I find her icky and gross.

    Report Post »  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:25pm

    Plymouth Plantation should be wiped off the map. It is replica of the Plymouth colony established by the pilgrims. There were very few Indians living in the area by 1620. Spanish, Portugese and English explorers had spread disease well before these people arrived. Obviously her English Ancestors Lineage, caused many deaths of innocent native Americans. She shoukl quit her job in shame for her atrocities.

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • momsense
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:30pm

      Life goes on–deal with it.

      Report Post »  
    • Dagnabbit5
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:49pm

      While you are right that incoming colonists did a lot of harm it is not like the Native Americans were just sitting around weaving and smoking peace pipes. They were attacking, raping and murdering each other quite a bit. The different Indian tribes rarely got along with each other and battled over resources, territory and women.

      Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 10:14pm

      I Agree

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • hidden_lion
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:24pm

    Sounds like THE house to egg on halloween night.

    Report Post » hidden_lion  
  • UlyssesP
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:23pm

    History may be messy, but not as messy as the jumbled mess she calls “thoughts”.

    Report Post » UlyssesP  
  • brado9505
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:20pm

    man we’re fuc@ed up

    Report Post »  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:35pm

      I agree Brad!

      Report Post »  
    • Hobbs57
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:57pm

      You got that right. These stupid idiots wouldn‘t even have the air to breath up there is Columbus hadn’t established colonies in those times. These people are always the one to pass judgment on times they have no idea about what it was to actually live during them. To have an oil lamp and a fountain pen, compared to the everything surrounding all that it is that sustain her ability to even send a mass e-mail with her ignorant opinion. What a waste of intelligence with these people..

      Report Post » Hobbs57  
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