Misunderstanding about Chesterfield’s birthday policy sends community up in arms

Hannah Boxerman, Reporter
August 26, 2010
Filed under News, Top Stories

Conflict has hit the Rockwood School District over what, for most, is a cherished childhood memory.

Early last week parents of students at Chesterfield Elementary received letters from Principal Jodi Davidson concerning how birthdays would be celebrated at the school. It covered both a new policy concerning the types of snacks students could bring to share and mentioned that singing Happy Birthday would be eliminated due to “the sensitivity of all student beliefs.”

Both the faiths of Islam and Jehovah’s Witness traditionally do not celebrate birthdays.

Outraged parents sent numerous emails and calls to the school and alerted the news about the new rule.

On Aug. 23, Davidson sent out an apology letter explaining the ban applied only to singing in the Cafeteria but that singing of the tune in individual classrooms was permitted. She said the ban was put in place only to limit the chaos of the Cafeteria, which she hoped would be a calming place for students.

Lafayette students are divided over the issue.

“If they can ban that for such a small group of students, there are so many other things they could ban. It’s ridiculous,” junior Blake Hoover said.

Senior Will Montgomery said the issue is becoming a bigger problem than it really is.

“Honestly, everyone is overreacting,” Montgomery said.

Davidson held a parent coffee meeting this morning (Aug. 26)at which the issue was discussed. She explained it was a misunderstanding and her controversial letter to parents was merely clarifying Chesterfield’s unwritten rule that songs could not be sung at grade level in the cafeteria.

“Nothing has changed. We’ve never sang in the cafeteria. Birthday celebrations are held in classrooms and are up to individual teachers.” Davidson said.

The only change in policy involves the distribution of birthday treats, which must now be checked for allergens by the nurse and distributed to the birthday child’s class during lunch.

She said Chesterfield Elementary will continue to celebrate birthdays by a morning announcement, birthday button and special birthday gift.

All other celebration is at teacher discretion.

“Classes may celebrate birthdays any way they want, including singing the birthday song,” Davidson said.