An Albertan elementary school has cancelled its winter concert before Christmas break after deeming it wouldn’t be inclusive enough.
True North’s Rachel Parker revealed that students and parents were upset about the school’s decision to cancel the concert “because not all students celebrate Christ’s birth.”
The Whitecourt school’s principal released a statement on the decision, which she said follows discussions with the Pat Hardy School Advisory Council and school staff.
“Not all students celebrate Christmas, and their families may or may not choose to have them participate in the Christmas concert. Other families celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday but do not want children engaging in the non-religious parts such as Santa, Christmas trees, etc.,” she said.
Despite arguing that Christmas is a non-inclusive time, the entire school has Christmas break and no school between Dec. 23 and Jan. 7.
The principal added that while some students celebrate Christmas traditions like Santa, trees, and gifts, they do not participate in the religious aspect of the holiday.
“Preparing for a concert involves months of preparations and daily practice in the final weeks prior to the event. As a result, students who are not participating are excluded from multiple music lessons and classroom practices for an extended period of time,” wrote the principal. “We work hard to find ways to ensure our events are as inclusive to as many students and families as possible.”
The principal explained that the music teacher is currently covering a grade 4 classroom and cannot facilitate this year’s concert.
She said that a spring concert would be more inclusive.
Additionally, the principal argued that holidays impact family routines and that springtime will be less busy; therefore, it will be easier for students to manage their time.
“For some families, the additional financial stress, increased alcohol consumption, family conflict and other stressors can result in an increase in stress reactions in students in the month of December,” said the principal. “These reactions can be based on past or current experiences during this time of year. Moving the concert to the spring will reduce additional stress for these students during a potentially difficult time.”
The principal insisted that the decision was not made lightly and that it was made in the best interest of all students.
Various Canadians noted their outrage in replies to an X post.
“No, if the people who don’t celebrate Christmas cannot appreciate the concert, then let them just not attend. Why are we erasing our customs and traditions because some people might not feel ‘included.’ We are including them; it’s them who don’t want any part of it,” said one user.
“Ah, yes, because the true spirit of inclusion is making sure no one gets to enjoy anything!!!! Forget celebrating diversity or teaching kids to appreciate different traditions, better to just cancel everything and call it equality!” said another.
The Canadian Human Rights Commission published a paper in Nov. 2023 that described Christmas and Easter as a form of discrimination and religious intolerance.
A month later, the University of Alberta removed Christmas trees after a student was denied the request to display a menorah in a study space.
Pat Hardy’s principal said that if anyone had questions or concerns, they could call her or stop by her office at school.
Some users took the challenge and are waiting for a callback.
