Winter vs. Christmas break _ hot issue in South Kitsap schools
Quote:
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. -- Debate over what to call the holiday period in late December and early January is roiling the South Kitsap School Board.
In May the panel voted 4 to 1 to rename it from Winter Break to Christmas Break. On Monday night, responding to a public uproar of e-mail and letters to the editor, the board voted unanimously to restore the name as Winter Break.
"I've heard from a lot of parents on both sides," board member Patty Henderson said, "but what I've heard most of all is that there are more important issues than this."
Henderson was joined by Keith Garton, Christopher Lemke and then-board president Jim Huff in switching to Christmas Break three months ago.
Huff, who resigned from the board a few weeks later because of back problems, branded those who favored Winter Break "Howard Dean wannabes."
More than 70 people attended the heated session at a room in Port Orchard Elementary School. The board allowed 45 minutes of public comment.
"I believe it's going to lead to an exodus from the schools," said Ron Boehme, one of the Christians who argued against calling it Winter Break.
"It's a seasonable description, comparable to summer break," countered Nancy Levin. "I think it's a shame that Mr. Huff chose to leave the board with this parting shot that he knew full well would create a divisive mess for no educational reason."
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Anyone wanna move to
Port Orchard
So, does calling it winter break lead to an exodus from public schools?
There was a woman interviewed on the news tonite, saying she really didn't care because there were much more important things to worry about... I guess her attitude isn't newsworthy though :\