The parent at the heart of the Santa breakfast issue asks to be heard

Editor’s note: The following comes from Cori Robbins, the parent “everyone is seeming to talk about in regard to the Sandfordville Santa Breakfast issue.” It is her original letter to Warwick Valley Schools Superintendent, Dr. Frank Greenhall, and she asked that it be printed “for purposes of clarifying to those who have misconstrued my intent in this matter.” She is using her maiden name to shield the identity of her children who attend school in Warwick. Dear Dr. Greenhall: Please take a moment to read the following e-mails I have received concerning the Santa breakfast. I could reply to each, but feel it should not be my place in life to educate the Sandfordville PTA as to why Santa does not belong at the breakfast. Simply put, that decision is not made by me or my family, but rather by the United States Constitution, the United States Supreme Court, and in this matter, you. I have nothing against Santa or the Christmas holiday. Indeed, I grew up in a home that celebrated both Christmas and Chanukah and my children have often sat upon Santa’s lap and had their picture taken with him while at a mall. What I do feel, however, and what I have expressed in the past to the PTA, is that unless it is for educational purposes, religion and/or religious imagery do not belong in our public schools. This is not a issue of merely inclusion or uniting traditions as some have expressed. I am all for our children learning about and experiencing other people’s religions. I believe that all children should be exposed to new and different ideas and customs. But, there are places for doing this in our society; and a public school PTA sponsored Santa breakfast is not one of them. Up until late last month, I did not even know that this issue was being discussed by the PTA. As we talked about yesterday, the event chair contacted me on Oct. 20, 2006, and informed me, that she (not me) had “officially gotten the PTA to change the “Santa Breakfast” to a “Winter Wonderland Breakfast.” It was then and only then (at her request), that I got involved. Irrespective of this fact, for some reason I (and my family) appear to have been made a scapegoat. This is in despite of the fact that this type of activity is against school board policy, and would not be tolerated by yourself. As a result, I am in a predicament. I have three wonderful children in your school district, whom I do not want to have any blame or repercussions placed upon because of the misinformed and misguided perceptions of some. Yet, on the other hand, these same children were raised to respect the laws of our nation and to fight for that which is just. While I certainly appreciate and respect the opinions voiced by others, if any of these women actually knew me (or had at least spoken to me as you have), they would know this has nothing to do with being intolerant or fearful of others’ religion(s). That notion is utterly laughable as my oldest son was once enrolled in Burke Catholic. Rather, this is simply a matter of following the law of this country. I find it hard to believe, no, make that I feel deeply saddened, that for the past several years not one person on the PTA has ever has had the simple common sense or courtesy to question the validity of this event or, conversely, to even consider, let alone care, that some members of the community may feel excluded by this event. I just wish the PTA could look past feelings of “giving something up” and instead look forward to placing their efforts into sponsoring an event which, yes, maybe different from the past, but which maybe equally as wonderful, if not better, and which is not only within the law, but is inclusive of all. The fact is that the “tradition” of having a Santa breakfast should never have been started in the first place. I am a great believer in religion and I respect all religions. I feel that the general principles taught by religions, such as being good to our fellow man and respecting each other regardless of our differences, are tenets by which we should all live. Unfortunately, these are often not the principles practiced by certain members of society. We live in a country founded upon the separation of church and state. Why there are those who refuse to acknowledge this fact, especially in this day and age, is beyond comprehension. Yet, it is these same people have no problem using our Constitution as a sword when it suits their perceived needs. This is not an argument about religion, it is about the law of this land. Laws are often enacted to protect those in a group or minority from the discrimination and oppression of the majority. Unfortunately, this is the very type of oppression and discrimination expressed by some in their e-mails. Sadly, comments like “1 or maybe 2 satisfied parents basking in their glory that they ruined this special children’s event” are only thin masks covering that which is all too abundantly clear. Discrimination, in any form, is simply detestable. The fact is that there are more than “1 or maybe 2” families in this area who were offended by the concept of the Santa breakfast but chose to remain silent for fear of the very type of reactions some have expressed. I only wonder if these PTA members would still feel the same if the situation somehow became reversed. Sincerely, C. Robbins Warwick