The Grinch that Stole Valentine's Day

Recently a question was raised about holiday parties at Franklin Elementary. I thought it might be interesting to enlighten you all with a little bit of background on this issue. 

Last year there was quite a stir when Franklin students, parents, and teachers were informed they would not be allowed to join their counterparts across the district and take part in traditional Valentine Day activities. This was the message from Franklin's principal, Diedra Holmburg, explaining the situation in 2015.

Valentine’s Day at RFSE
Here are our reasons for not supporting parties or card exchanges during school hours:

(1) Parties and card exchanges are disruptive to the learning process and have no educational value. It's very hard to get anything accomplished if students are anticipating a celebration or recovering from one. With only 180 days in a school year and rigorous standards and assessments, every instructional minute is precious.

(2) Not all students' religious beliefs include Valentine's Day and celebrating it in the classroom could be considered discriminatory.

(3) Valentine's Day is perfect fodder for bullying, clique behavior and hurt feelings, even if the "everyone gets a card" rule is enforced-which is impossible to do at the administrative level at RFSE. Instead of providing the opportunity to send cards with unkind messages or to make fun of certain types of cards, we ask that Valentine's Day celebrations and exchanges take place outside of school.

(4) Food associated with Valentine’s Day is typically unhealthy and is potentially unsafe for our large number of food-allergic students.

(5) 48% of our students qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch, which means that every other one of our students cannot afford extra spending on items that have no educational value. Families with 3 or more students on FRL could be heavily impacted.
Hopefully, everyone can see that our time is better spent engaging students in hands-on, minds-on learning activities. We hope to see you and your family for our Mission: STEM Possible event on February 17th at 5:30.

Have a great day,
DH

Although many parents were upset about the announcement, courageously, a few parents challenged this decision. Their actions were probably what inspired our superintendent, Saundra Hill, to submit this 401 to PSD employees. You can see the original document by following this link:  http://www.psd1.org/cms/lib4/WA01001055/Centricity/Domain/70/The%20411%20Issue%20209.pdf

Perhaps if parents wanted to unite and address this issue changes could be made.  There is strength in numbers and being quiet is not going to help anyone. 

On Valentines of Ghosts Past... 

Valentine’s Day-I don’t really care. There. I’ve said it and I mean it. Talk about your holiday manufactured by the greeting card industry. And, what comes of it? Kids all hopped up on sugar and hurt feelings, disappointed adults when things aren’t going their way-that’s what. 

My most memorable Valentine’s Day as a teacher was spent as a substitute teacher. Now this was back in the day when teachers just called and said “I’m not coming in,” and you were greeted by the principal who said, “So sorry. No plans. Have a good day.” I learned that lesson early as a sub and always carried a big bag of tricks. No plan? No worries! I have my big bag right here! 

Chief among my tools were two albums (vinyl LPs, for you youngsters out there). I never left home without  the soundtracks from “Star Wars” and “Grease,” both very popular movies and pop culture with kids in those days. (Now you know the era.) Dance parties, writing lessons, math lessons all set to the epic orchestration of Star Wars or the croonings of John Travolta and Olivia Newton  John helped me survive the day. 

So it was on this particular Valentine’s Day that I landed in a 5th grade classroom that would send most teachers into a spiral of career doubt and fitful nightmares. The absent and unplanned teacher had papers that needed to be graded stacked in 3 foot tall piles all over the classroom floor. I started sifting through them and these uncorrected papers were from SEPTEMBER! remember this is February 14!) No sooner had I gotten settled than I was met by a wall of students and room mothers asking what our plan was for a Valentine’s Day party. I don’t even remember what I did...it’s all a blur of construction paper and cupcakes set to a “Star Wars” (or “Grease”) soundtrack. But, much to my dismay, we did have a party. It was a disaster but I survived it and vowed to take a different path when I had my own classroom. (Like write lesson plans and pre-plan a fun ,but sane, event.) 

When I was in sixth grade I got a BIG lacey Valentine from one boy, but I wanted it to be from another. The Valentine giver went on to become a murderer truly, but that’s another story. Nothing good comes of too much sugar and pre-teen crushes. Nothing. 

And, today there are so many more things to think about. We already don’t have enough instruction time, and we are working harder than ever before to close the opportunity gap. Every minute counts. Of course allergies are much more prevalent than they were then. For those of you who don’t know, those “room mothers” usually came with dozens of cupcakes and peanut butter cookies in tow. Bring on the gluten and peanuts -the kids with the allergies had to beware. 

Okay, so maybe you enjoy Valentine’s Day. Make your kids a heart-shaped pancake in the morning. Host an event after school at school or in your home. Take your spouse/significant other out on a date. My husband asked what I wanted to do. “Dinner? Movie?,” he asked. “No, diet,” I retorted, “and I don’t like any movie made after 1950.” He said, “We could just stay home and relax...maybe watch an old movie?” Hello, Valentine! 

So, in spite of my Valentine’s Day experience over the years, I hope yours is filled with love (from the people  you love) and just enough sugar to tide you over to next Valentine’s Day.  Spring is on its way..  Saundra