An Inclusive Litany

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In a newsletter of the Child Development Center at San Antonio College in Texas, director Peggy Apple explained that henceforth all traditional holiday celebrations will be replaced by events reflecting the diverse makeup of the student body. Apple said it is an attempt to wrest holidays from the dominant cultures. As examples, traditional Pilgrim stories were replaced by an ethnic cooking demonstration, and the staff recommended against Halloween costumes because some families can't afford them and others see the holiday as a satanic revel.

But the center's accommodations are nothing compared to the decision some schools have taken: no holiday celebrations at all. A spokeswoman for the National Association for the Education of Young Children told the San Antonio Express-News, "It's important to be aware of the holidays, but celebrating only the holidays of the dominant culture may exclude some children. The easiest way is to de-emphasize holidays or not celebrate them at all."