Ever feel like you got the wool pulled over you? Few weeks ago while visiting my Grandson's school I noticed a flyer for having your students picture taken with Santa. At the time I didn't think much of it. But than a flyer come home a little later with the details. Students who paid $12 would be excused from class to go sit on Santa's lap and have their picture taken.
Now, my first thought was: " What is this saying to those students whose families do not have the extra $12 for this "? Now I know there is no such thing as equality. Some will always have more than others. There will always be those who will feel the hollow sting of wanting. That's just reality isn't it? But wait just one minute. This is Christmas and there is no reality!
What is being said to the under privileged kids is you and your family are not good enough to visit with Santa. Plain and simple.
2nd thought: " How appropriate is it to allow a for profit entity to use education time to sell their product "? Or since employees of the school district are undoubtedly being used to escort the children to the Santa event, plus the untold time involved in keeping track of who was good enough and who wasn't, wouldn't that make those employees temporary employees of the private contractor? So who would be responsible for their pay?
3rd: This whole program was not an appropriate use of valuable education time.
So, I placed a call to our local School District with my concerns. After being passed to 3-4 people ( I think in my first call I mentioned the " D " word ( discrimination) and no one in their right minds wants to touch that. Anyways, the 4th person was to look into it and get back with me.
Well almost a week later, and the Santa picture day growing nearer I called back to the district. It seemed there had been discussion and the general consensus was that it indeed was a bad idea but nothing final had been determined.
Well this morning I got the call as I expected. Today was Santa picture day and I had bet everything that the call would come today.
It went like this:
" Sir we believe your concerns are valid and this will be addressed at the next superintendent meeting. However, since the Principal had felt that this was a cheap way for families to get pictures of their children with Santa, and that the flyers were out already with no way to notify those who choose to participate we see no way of being able to cancel at this time. However, rest assured we do not think this will happen next year ".
Cheap for families? A trip to the mall with camera in hand will get you a free picture of your child sitting on Santa's lap. Or for a more professional look the local Walmart offers pictures with Santa starting at $5.
As for the idea that it was to late to cancel, a flyer sent out yesterday would have resolved the issue.
No, I'm pretty sure I'm reading this correctly. The wool wasn't pulled over my eyes as far as these folks had thought.
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