An Alabama elementary school has banned the word “Easter” this year in order to respect religious diversity.
“We had in the past a parent question us about some of the things we do here at school,” Heritage Elementary School Principal Lydia Davenport told WHNT. “So we’re just trying to make sure we respect and honor everybody’s differences.”
The boys and girls can are still going to be able to hunt for eggs, they just can’t call them “Easter eggs.”
According to the station, teachers had originally planned to participate in a “quiz bowl” egg hunt where students would use egg buzzers to answer quiz questions in Easter eggs. But a school administrator told WHNT that they came up with a compromise to allow the game to continue.
“We compromised by allowing teachers to use other different kinds of shapes besides eggs in the classroom to put those questions in [that] the students will be answering.”
Ms. Davenport said the kids love the bunny, they just can’t call him the Easter bunny, “so that we don’t infringe on the rights of others because people relate the Easter bunny to religion; a bunny is a bunny and a rabbit is a rabbit.”
One parent wrote in an email response:
“I don’t get upset about too many things, but this upsets me. What is this world coming to? I am a Christian and proud to announce it. But even non-believers enjoy a good egg hunt. Kids need to enjoy being kids.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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