The long view.

TO: All faculty of the Fannie Lou Hamer Learning Resource Center (formerly known as Jackson County Middle School)

FROM: Vice Principal Edwards

IN RE: Seasonal Issues

Dear Faculty:

After lengthy consultations with members of local civil-rights groups, child psychologists, family counselors, and plaintiffs' representatives, we have decided on the following guidelines to celebrate the holiday seasons:

1. We will no longer "celebrate" the "holiday" "seasons," as currently defined. The concept of a "celebration" was deemed offensive and racist to some students and their families (see Runningfeather et al. v. Jackson County School District), who noted, with some historical justification, that to "celebrate" the "birth" of the "savior" is to, essentially, celebrate the instigation of the continental genocide of the indigenous peoples of what is now called "North America," but which we now at the FLHLRC designate in classroom maps and resource materials as "The Land of the Eagle Goddess" (see my memo "Guidelines for Understanding What We Used To Call Columbus Day" of last autumn for further clarification).

2. To that end, the formerly named "Jackson Holly-Daze Pageant" will now be called the "Fannie Lou Hamer Learning Resource Center Commemoration of the Season." Please instruct all students to take down the posters and signs that currently line the upper hall and that use the unapproved terminology and replace them with materials that reflect our new understanding. New poster and sign art can be developed and created during Cultural Discovery time--formerly known as "History" (please see my memo "Guidelines for Understanding the Negative Effect of Current History Instruction on Students of Color")-as a way to introduce students to next month's unit on "The Violence of Language: Rape, Denial, and Assault in the American Lexicon."

3. Discussions of god and faith are currently forbidden under the Jackson County School District consent decree. Please see my memo "Many Gods: Okay; One God: Rethink" on this subject, and be aware that all faculty are currently, as of this memo, NOT indemnified by the school district, or by the Fannie Lou Hamer Learning Resource Center, for violations of this court order.

4. The Fannie Lou Hamer Learning Resource Center Gay-Bi-Transgender Student Alliance has informed us, through their attorneys, that the current depiction and costuming of elves is unacceptable and offensive.

5. The Jackson County School District has issued district-wide guidelines for the description and/or discussion of "Santa Claus," the mythical creature that younger children believe delivers presents on what was formerly known as "Christmas" but that will now be known, as of this memo, as "Wintertide Reflection Day." In furtherance of our mission to educate and train young people to embrace the diversity that is Jackson County, a mythic god-creature that delivers presents only to the "good" and not to the "naughty" obviously poses some critical problems. If at all possible, in classroom discussions --particularly during the Denouncement of Wrong Thought Hour--it would be preferable to steer the conversation away from such notions as "What are you going to get on Wintertide Reflection Day?" and "What did you ask your parents for on Wintertide Reflection Day morning?" and instead guide students to an understanding of what Wintertide Reflection Day really means, and why Wintertide Reflection Day is part of our Fannie Lou Hamer Learning Resource Center tradition. (A memo addressing these questions is forthcoming.)

6. Please try to steer the children to an understanding of "Santa Claus," which many of them remain attached to for family and cultural reasons (see my memo "Guidelines for Rethinking the Family: A New Mission of the Fannie Lou Hamer Learning Resource Center" of last year at Vernal Equinox Reflectiontide, formerly Easter). Try to integrate Santa into the pan-cultural tradition of the "trickster god."

7. The formerly sung seasonal "carols"--be they of the Jewish or Christian tradition-are clearly off-limits. Try to restrict your students, either in Artistic Expression Period or even while absent-mindedly humming to themselves, to "Jingle Bells" or "Frosty, One of the Snow Gods." (Lyrics attached.)

8. Kwanzaa, which is awkwardly scheduled during our Wintertide Reflection Day Break, can be either integrated into Cultural Discovery units or treated as part of the larger unit on "Liars, Con Artists, and Fools: The American Dream as Nightmare," which is just concluding in some of the upper pods. Lower pods can address these issues next term.

9. It has come to my attention that in the previous item, I inadvertently described Kwanzaa, a traditionally African-American celebration of community cohesiveness and family strength, as "awkward." My choice of words was inappropriate, and I regret the lapse in judgment. In the rush and hustle and bustle of Wintertide Reflection Day preparations, I did not adequately reflect on my word choice, and for that I am truly sorry. I will be taking administrative leave beginning at the conclusion of this memo (please see my memo "Taking Administrative Leave: When Apologies Fail"). I have enjoyed my time at the Fannie Lou Hamer Learning Resource Center, and I wish you great success in the future. Happy Seasons!