FORT WORTH - Some new holiday guidelines in the Fort Worth Independent School District have some parents fuming.
Many parents say it sounds like district officials want to do away with Santa Claus, gift giving and the spirit of Christmas.
District spokesperson Clint Bond said the district has nothing against Santa Claus, but new holiday guidelines make sure district schools obey the law by not promoting one religion over another during class time.
"We like Santa Claus," he said. "Santa Claus can be in our school, there can be an excahnge of gifts and that there can be holiday parties. All that we are asking is that it not be done during constructional class time."
This holiday season, there will be no exchanging gifts nor cards with personal, holiday or religious messages and no visits from Santa Claus during class time.
However, Bond says all of that can happen before and after school or during lunch. Students can even exchange gifts in the hallway between classes if they choose.
What will be allowed in class this holiday season at Fort Worth schools will be seasonal holiday decorations and holiday parties, so long as they are not religious in nature.
Lidia Herrera, a mother of a McRae Elementary student, said the policy is too extreme.
She said her first grade son ought to be able to exchange gifts in class if he wants to, and he was looking forward to it.
Yuriana Meraz, another parent of a student, said her Pre-K son's teacher is only planning a pizza party for the holiday season. She told News 8 she grew up with Christmas parties and gift exchanges at school and she wanted the same for her son.
Bond encourages parents to plan parties and gift exchanges after school, instead.
As for Santa Claus, Bond said don't be surprised if he's the first to greet you in the hallway when you arrive to drop your child off at a Fort Worth ISD school over the next few weeks. But, rest assured, Santa knows his place in the Fort Worth ISD and he won't be in class with your child once school begins.
