Principal Bans Candy Canes Because They Look Like A ‘J’ Which Stands For Jesus

Because Christmas is right around the corner, that also means that the Grinch and his minions are out in about. For this particular story, an elementary school principal has been portrayed as a Scrooge after multiple news reports and websites said she banned candy canes at her school due to what she said was religious significance.

Leading up to the holiday season, Manchester Elementary school principal Jennifer Sinclair sent out a two-page memo, providing teachers with a list of banned classroom decorations, as well as a list of what she had deemed acceptable. The notice included banning candy canes from classrooms for being in the shape of a capital letter “J,” which the principal said stands for Jesus.

Sinclair wrote:

“Candy Cane — that’s Christmas-related. Historically, the shape is a ‘J’ for Jesus. The red is for the blood of Christ, and the white is a symbol of his resurrection. This would also include different colored candy canes.”

Other banned items include images of Santas or Christmas items on worksheets, Christmas trees in classrooms, elf on the shelf, singing carols, playing Christmas music, reindeer, red and green items, giving ornaments as a gift, and more.

Acceptable holiday items included snow people, snowflakes, gingerbread people, polar bears, penguins, and Olaf from the Disney movie “Frozen.”

Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel said:

“The First Amendment does not require elimination of Christmas. Nothing prohibits public schools from teaching objectively about Christmas or other holidays with religious significance, from displaying religious and secular Christmas symbols side-by-side or singing sacred and secular Christmas songs together.”

He noted that according to the First Amendment, there is no requirement for religious viewpoints to be prohibited. Staver then said that Sinclair’s demand has nothing to do with the rules and regulations of the school, but her personal “hatred toward Christianity and Christmas.” He then wants the principal to apologize.

Sinclair has been placed on administrative leave.