I don't know about the book, but I definitely remember from the late 80s or early 90s seeing candy canes with this little typewritten explanation of the symbolism.  I am a Christian, and even this is just too icky-poo for me.  What would Jesus do?  I don't think he'd make people look for meaning in a piece of high-fructose corn syrup.

I don't know what I'd do about the librarian situation.  Can you explain to Grant that it is not a true story, just something someone made up about a candy cane?  I would imagine at his age he just liked getting the candy, but it would still annoy me.  I prefer to teach my son about my beliefs at home, thank you, not with someone profiting on some crappy book.

That's gory. Gross. Still, Snopes says the whole thing is a bunch of hooey.

I'd be ticked. If they want to teach myths and legends, they should identify them as such in an age appropriate manner, clearly enough for every child to realize it's pretend.

I guess whether you say something depends on how much you want to stick out. I figure your chances of a desirable result are probably slim. If you say something to the librarian, well, her personal opinion probably got the book included in the school's library collection in the first place. If you sent a copy of Snopes along with your list of objections to the librarian, the teacher, the principal, and the school board, and since the area is predominantly Christian, do you think they'd call you a censorial, anti-Christian, Christmas hating, traitorous terrorist? Maybe ostracize your kid a little?

Still, as one reviewer on Amazon says, "The separation of church and state is not a debatable issue - it is a constitutional right and fundamental to freedom," and so maybe a Mother Talker would be the best person to get this trash out of the public schools.

but whatever you do, Grant may never look at candy canes with sweet innocence again.  IMO, that alone is reason enough to be pissed.

I may never look at candy canes with the same sweet innocence again. I mean, boy, can these fundies ruin a good piece of candy or what?!

Seriously speaking, though, 1p1p, I'd be just as peeved and just as torn as you. Part of me would want to rip into that woman for overstepping her bounds as a public school employee and teaching your son something you didn't approve of. But part of me would also want to avoid making a fuss so as not to generate backlash. But then I think, we're in the mess we're in because we're too nice to make a fuss.

So where does that leave you? I don't know, but I'd have a lot of sympathy for you whatever you decide to do.

It's not cool.  It's a clear violation of the establishment clause, and let me tell you, if my Jewish kids were subjected to that, I would be more than pissed off.

I would write a strongly worded letter to the principal and cc: the superintendant.  Don't threaten legal action or anything, but let them know that at least on parent out there knows her Constitution!

If I was in your shoes, I would just let it go.  If you are already the minority in a Christian environment, as you've already written, there could be ramifications if you say something about this.  Ideally, of course, you would say something, but I think the town you are in does factor in.

I would let it go and say to myself, "If it happens again..."

The primary "story" of Hannukah is about the oil that was supposed to last only one day, but miraculously lasted eight days (long enough to get more oil).  This is the "Miracle of Hannukah" and a major part of the whole week.

So, imagine our family's surprise (especially my 8yo) when my 16yo came home from Temple and said the Rabbi said that story is not "true" - it's an allegory, taught by ancient rabbis to teach a lesson (like most biblical and post-biblical stories, I guess).  The real story of Hannukah is basically a war story - little guys beat the bigs guys, but a war story nonetheless - and was less wonderful to pass on generation to generation.

Finding out the oil story is "fake" is a little like finding out there's no Santa or no Tooth Fairy.  LOL

and give it to the school...that's what I did. I left a copy of it in the administrator's mail box at my DDs preschool.

and I'd let everyone know about it. People in general and in MN specifically are way too concerned with not making waves, so that's how this stuff takes root. Beyond the fact that this story clearly promotes a particular religious belief, it is just yucky. Honestly-- do 7 year-olds really need to hear how some guy was beaten and tortured?

I went to 12 years of Catholic school and never once heard this particular myth surrounding candy canes. Christmas was all about the angel, the donkey, the baby in the manger, the shepherds, and the kings. Nobody got beat up on Christmas . . . that was Easter!

during lent.  EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT we went to stations.  my whole childhood LOL

My survival strategy as a kid living somewhere that felt like I was the only non-Christian non-conservative was to sit down, shut up, and hope nobody noticed me.  Nod and smile, and slip through the cracks.  Say the pledge of allegiance without a grimace.  Make excuses for not being in the Boy Scouts.  And wait until my family moved... oh sweet relief!  Actually I thought life was fine until we moved and then I realized how bad it had been before.

I think it depends a lot on just how much of a minority you are in the community, and what kind of attitudes the majority has.  

good luck...

and I would definitely take action.  There is a big difference between sharing holiday stories and festivities in public school, and telling graphic, violent, gory stories to little children in the name of "Jesus".

The fact that the librarian feels it is appropriate is a non factor, and there may be lots of parents who do not know that this is being taught.

If it were me, I would print the Snopes page, attach a formal letter requesting that the book be removed from the library, copy the prinicpal, the librarian, and possibly the district's superintendent of instruction.  Give them 10 days to respond.  

I have been down this road with my daughter's school so feel free to shoot me an email if you need some help.

My 2 cents is that you have to stand up sometimes and have your say.  I don't mean that you have to call a news conference and all, but you should definately send a letter and a highlighted copy of the Constitution to the principal and possibly the school board.  There are also probably state and local statutes that cover the topic of separation of church and state.  The principal may be unaware that this went on, and if they have a bit of sense, will have a talk with the librarian about it.  I bet that there may be more parents in your area with your beliefs than may be public about it. Either way, I understand that you are between a rock and a hard place, and the worst part is that you now have to deal with talking to your son about this gory, inappropriate story.  I would make sure to mention that in my letter.  I'm hoping for the best for you!

I just sent off a letter to the principal. I'm hoping that's enough.  I agree... I don't think making a big stink is a good idea, but after reading the comments and reflecting on it, I think a letter's appropriate.  

Here's what I sent:

Dear Mrs. Hicks:

Yesterday, my son Grant came home with a candy cane.  I asked him where he got it, and he told me Mrs. Yates, the school librarian gave it to him.  I didn’t think much of it, as his second grade class had library time and figured she was just passing them out to the students.  

At dinner, he told us about the book that was read to him during library time called The Legend of the Candy Cane.  He told us all about how the candy cane came to be and that it’s a religious symbol.  He specifically mentioned that the red in the candy cane represents the blood of Christ after his whipping and that the white represents how he died for our sins and made us all "pure and white as snow".  He also told us that the candy cane turned upside down is a "J" for Jesus and right side up is a shepherd’s staff.   This book really made an impression on him as he told us that it was NON-FICTION.   I was quick to tell him that it was just a story, and that it wasn’t indeed true.  

It’s hard to know where to start with what’s wrong here.  First of all, I don’t think young public school children need to hear such a gory story.  Taking an innocent confection like a candy cane and filling it with false religious symbolism like the blood of Christ is very disturbing.  

I decided to investigate the book further.  A quick Google search reveals that it’s listed on Snopes, a popular debunker website:  http://www.snopes.com/...

As you can see, this story has no basis in facts.  My son is 7 ½ years old.  If he hears something taught to him in school by a teacher, he’s going to think it’s true.  I think that’s the part that bothers me the most.  He came away thinking the story was indeed fact.  

Let me also state that I am not anti-Christian.  I actually would have been fine with a story about the nativity.  I also welcome holiday stories from other cultures like Judaism, Muslim, and Kwanzaa faiths.  But this isn’t even a Christmas story, as the blood of Christ is usually associated with Easter.  I really don’t think it has a place in a public school library.  If someone wants to believe this story, then perhaps it’s best told in that person’s home away from a school setting.

You know... normally, I couldn’t be happier with the school and it’s teachers.  It’s actually my favorite thing about living in Plain City.  My hope is that this is an isolated incident.  I would not be happy if this sort of thing became commonplace in my children’s education.

Sincerely

As some of you have said, even some Christians aren't comforatable with it.  There might be more people annoyed with it than I realize.  

I would probably do one of these two things, depending on the culture of the school and how you think the principal would respond.

1. Write a letter to the librarian and deliver it with a donation of several books that are about different religions.  Explain that you're uncomfortable with this being read to the whole class, but that you're fine with it being in the library as long as there are many books about different religious traditions.  Saying it should be taken out of the library (as suggested above) is a dangerous step towards censorship.

2. Do #1, but cc the principal in the letter as an "FYI" (like someone mentioned above).  

I would avoid going directly to the top.  I'm a teacher and always prefer that parents address concerns specifically with me.  If you feel like the principal would support you in this, I would keep him/her in the loop since someone in the school would be able to make sure this doesn't continue.

I would be sure to approach this as a "I don't know what really happened, but this is what my kid told me."  It sounds like you're probably getting the whole story here, but it's hard as a teacher when kids are relaying information and facts are not accurate, so be sure to give the librarian a chance to explain.

I think your approach will affect how things are received, so be generous, forgiving, and give the benefit of the doubt when possible, but don't just let it go since it sounds really inappropriate to me.

Please follow up with an update!

I've only read the first eight comments on this posting.... I think you are getting the gist of what everyone is saying. It really is your obligation to approach the librarian (I would go to her first be/c in my experience, when you go to a supervisor before talking to the teacher, the teacher really does get defensive and then it all becomes pretty unproductive). I would ask her right out, not in an accusatory way, but in a way that you say you must have misunderstood your 7 year old but from what he told you he had learned in school, it seemed extremely inappropriate curriculum and you were just following up. Then it gives her a chance to explain -- then you can have a nonthreatening discussion with her... and then you could mention it to the principal as more of a policy issue: what is the school's policy regarding the discussion of holidays this time of year?

Although we don't live in a conservative Christian area, being Jewish, we are in such a small minority that when my kids were in elementary school, it was always an issue- I spoke up immediately when my son started kindergarten 15 years ago. My youngest left the elementary school 4 years ago - and there were two kids in between them -- I am pretty proud to say that my legacy to that school was a creating a sensitivity to diversity and an appreciation for all faiths. It took determination, but I did it.

Make your meeting with the librarian, principal of officials productive and worthwhile -- it may be a starting place for a discussion and change in your school .. and most importantly you are modeling for your child. Good Luck.

Thank you for letting me know. I was unaware this story was shared by the library aide. I'll address your concerns with her. Especially the NON-FICTION part :)

I'm pleased to see that she responded quickly and that she feels it's important to address it with the library aide.  

I'm glad I contacted her about this.  Thanks to all of you... for supporting me and solidifying my feelings to speak up.

Doubly so by the fact that it was the school librarian who shared this story. I know that here in the Dallas area there is always a big to do over students trying to hand out candy canes with the story of the candy canes meaning and every year the school districts do not allow it due to the religious nature of the story(that it happens every single year leads me to wonder if this candy cane distribution is the idea of students,which I doubt,or the work of different religious organizations that want to bring attention to their cause which, is another topic entirely)at any rate I am truly surprised that a public school employee shared a religious story,outside of use within a historical context,with elementary school students.

never heard that lil ole tale.  reminds me of a baby book my ex MIL sent my then 2 year old daughter.  it was very brutal description of  christ's crucifixion and i was baffled as to how she thought it appropriate for a 2 year old.  i simply tucked it away.

however, i wouldn't let a public school get away with this one.  congrats for taking this on.

Good for you for speaking up.

I'm really glad you decided to act. As an agnostic, I want to second what Hillary said:

As a member of a religious minority, I also personally appreciate you standing up and speaking out.

There's a dignified place between "giving them hell" and sucking it up, and you found it.