Banning of Hanukkah Discussion in Florida School Sparks Outrage

[Behind the Aegis]

Social media users responded with outrage following a report that a Florida school denied a mother permission to give a presentation about Hannukah to her son's fifth-grade class.

Pasco County Schools reversed that decision as of Wednesday evening and said they would allow Rachel Long to do her presentation about the Jewish Festival of Lights once she's met with teachers and relevant faculty.

Nonetheless, there has been anger about the initial refusal online and some Twitter users took aim specifically at Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.

A Longleaf Elementary School teacher cited Florida's Parents' Bill of Rights when speaking to Long, which was signed into law by DeSantis on June 30, 2021.

more...

[childfreebychoice]

1. I feel sorry for dems in red states, but authoritarian

Gov is what the majority of their voters voted for. Sadly, those who think desantis won't be able to successfully take his show nationwide, are deluded. An aside, so definitely no kwanza...sigh.

[jimfields33]

11. You can't celebrate Christmas in a public school either.

[barbtries]

12. according to the article,

the same school is doing just that.

[jimfields33]

14. Oh they will get sued.

[barbtries]

15. probably.

whether they win may depend on who hears the case, not whether the law is clear.

[jimfields33]

16. That's definitely true.

[onenote]

18. Depends on what you mean by 'celebrate'

Public schools can have Christmas trees, classes can have gift exchanges, school choirs can sing Christmas carols

They can't hold a Christmas mass, but that's about it.

[jimfields33]

22. That doesn't seem unreasonable.

I thought that banned all Christmas stuff due to having a religious view. When I was in school, grade school, early 80s, we used to have some sort of Disney movie (that darn cat and herbie the love bug were two I remember. And everybody brought treats in to school. It was a lot of fun. of course back then, nobody really had any restrictions on food. There were so many Christmas cookies, candy, just all-around junk food table after table full of it.

[Mariana]

23. You thought wrong.

It might be a good idea to stop believing right-wing talking points.

[jimfields33]

27. Maybe. But regular news discuses it to.

I’d say get around and you’ll see.

[ZonkerHarris]

29. yea, they do

[Phoenix61]

13. Trumpism got its ass kicked on the national stage.

DeSatan winning Florida says more about the Florida Democratic Party than it does about his viability as a national candidate.

[In It to Win It]

20. Piss poor turnout

among Dems. It was very disappointing to watch.

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

[secondwind]

3. I cannot believe my eyes, reading this.....

[aeromanKC]

4. Don't be a sucker

Reminds me of the 1947 anti-fascist PSA. "Don't be a sucker"

[RocRizzo55]

5. That's Floriduh for you. nt

[peppertree]

9. Flawrida

The American Latin America.

[DFW]

6. I have to wonder

How many snowbird right wing Jewish voters will continue to support the Republicans after incidents like this become commonplace? I suspect, unfortunately, just about all them.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Probably the same amount of queer, immigrant, and other minority voters...

...who continue to ignore the real nature of the republican party.

[Wounded Bear]

24. Sad, but true...nt

[Dorian Gray]

7. Not a good look for them

and their reversal looks like a micromanaging overstep too. "She can present it but she has to run everything by me, the principal, to approve bc I don't trust her not to indoctrinate the Christian kids...."

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

10. no mention of the Holocaust either... might make some students feel bad

[Hotler]

17. All DeSantis needs is that little black mustache. nt

[Ilsa]

19. I'd like to hear about Kwanzaa, Festivus, and Yule. nt

[Mosby]

31. Those are all secular holidays. nt

[sarisataka]

21. Interesting situation

I wonder if a parent wanted to give a presentation about Easter if that would be denied and if it was would the DU response be similar? Or Eid al-Fitr?

Ironically in the Catholic high school I attended we had a few Jewish students. There was no issue having a Menorah in class and being exposed to and celebrating a different religion.

[jonstl08]

25. Another instance years ago

Remember reading about Louisiana state legislatures voted to allow vouchers to be used for private schools including religious ones. When a Muslim student applied for the voucher to attend an Islamic school the Christians in that state went nuts. State Legislatures went on record and said that it not supposed to be used for non christian schools. Courts ruled that in fact it was allowed because you cannot discriminate based on religion. Not sure what happened after that.

[Baitball Blogger]

26. This is getting crazy.

Glad she's going to prevail, but it shouldn't take this much red tape. RED tape.

No question that De Santis is trying to turn Florida into a Christian only state.

[maxsolomon]

28. I don't recall any parent making any presentations to my 5th grade class.

When did parents start presenting to classes on sundry topics?

That said, all religions, or none.

[sarcasmo]

30. If you live in Florida and can afford to leave, you should leave.