Joy of Christmas

A PRIMARY school has scrapped its Christmas carols concert in favour of scaled-back shows featuring nursery rhymes and Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach.

Disenchanted parents have written to Premier John Brumby – who called on schools to embrace the festive season last month – seeking his intervention.

The latest furore follows attempts to ban some shopping centre Santas from shouting “Ho Ho Ho”, as fears grow that Christmas is under threat.

Ringwood East’s Tinternvale Primary prompted the anger after replacing the long-running concert with individual class productions.

Songs in the new-look mini-performances include a reworked version of Papa Don’t Preach – a song about illegitimate pregnancy.

The parents claim the change was prompted by school bosses’ fears Christmas celebrations would offend a Jehovah’s Witness student.

Principal Lorraine Gamble confirmed the concert had been replaced with smaller performances.

But Ms Gamble categorically denied the format had been changed to appease some parents, saying children could sing carols at the end of their performances.

“The parents have absolutely nothing to worry about,” she said.

The change was driven by a shift in artistic direction, she said.

Parents last week did not accept the reasons, saying the school had taken the focus off Christmas.

Until this year the school had gathered to sing yuletide hymns, they said.

A letter from one grandparent to Ms Gamble, obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun, accused the school of being “culturally fragile”.

“This was a simple good-natured event of goodwill and inclusion that showed Australians at their best,” it said.

“I can think of no other culture that would want, or permit, such flagrant disregard for its traditions on such flimsy reasoning.”

Opposition education spokesman Martin Dixon urged the school to reassess its decision.

“Celebrating Christmas in the traditional way is a long-established practice,” he said.

“To me there is no reason whatsoever that should stop that.”