YOUR TURN: Salemwood School Says 'No' To Student Valentines, Parties

Salemwood School's policy of not celebrating holidays or birthdays during school hours isn't new, but has some residents fuming this Valentines Day. 

According to a letter sent to parents from Principal Carol Keenan last week, the school "(does) not celebrate holidays and/or birthdays during school hours," citing the "more than sixty-seven different cultures and languages" represented there. 

"We welcome and celebrate our diversity, however to insure equity of all beliefs we are unable to acknowledge specific holidays," she wrote. 

Critics respond

That didn't sit well with at least one parent, who wrote an anonymous letter to administrators and members of the media this week. 

"I have a son that attends the Salemwood School," he wrote. "I have been made aware that there is to be no celebrations of any kind at the Salemwood because of its diversity. This includes birthdays and non-religious holidays such as Valentine's Day.

"My son is DEVASTATED! He loves giving cards to his friends. The excuse I am being told is that there are too many different cultures represented at the school. Am I to believe that no other schools have students from other countries?"

Others on social media were equally critical. 

"Malden school cancels Valentines Day. Really Salemwood? Really?" @TheTrillJuan wrote. 

"Salemwood canceled Valentine's Day.... Really??" Kelly D'Amaral echoed on Facebook.

"I used to love going to school and exchanging cards with classmates! Little kids look forward to class parties and little holiday celebrations/traditions! Who ever made the decision to cancel Valentine's Day ought to be ashamed of themselves!"

An official weighs in

School board member Adam Weldai said that the policy is not unique to Salemwood, but said Keenan was the only principal to send a letter home to parents about the issue this year. 

" There are other schools that do the same thing, but it's not highlighted like this," he said, noting the policy would vary from school to school at the principal's discretion. 

Readers, what do you think about this ban on holidays? Is it a thoughtful way of including all students, or PC nannying gone amok?