Parents Pull Kindergarten Students Out Of Class For San Jose Santa Trip
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- Despite a San Jose elementary school canceling its 10-year-old tradition of a walking field trip for kindergarten students to see Santa, a group of parents pulled their kids out of school for the trip.
A dozen or so parents took their kids out of the Sartorette Elementary kindergarten class Friday and went to see Santa at a neighborhood coffee shop anyway, holding the walkout of pint-sized students in protest of the school district's handling of the Santa field trip controversy.
"Today I'm going, to tell the district to keep these things here that are important to us," said Sartorette Elementary parent Cindy Diotalevi.
The drama began earlier this month, when a Jewish parent who identified herself only as Talia complained to the Cambrian School District about the Santa field trip.
"It is not an appropriate activity in a public school, said Talia. "And if these parents want to take kids to Santa on their own time, that's great."
In fact, Talia showed KPIX photos from Thursday of an activity she helped organize that featured holiday celebrations from different cultures.
She takes issue with the practice of making kids draw reindeer on red and green paper.
"That sends a message to kids who do not practice Christmas at home, that I am not as American as my peers," said Talia.
A district school board meeting Thursday night drew a packed house as parents are asking why the board acted so swiftly to cancel the long tradition without a public discussion.
"We need to find out the truth," said parent Joanne Tashiro. "We need to know what happened and what the board did to allow this to happen so quickly based on one woman."
The unexcused absences will affect the school because of California's attendance-based school funding formula that reduces state funds provided to schools based on such absences.
KPIX inquired with the district's superintendent Friday morning, but did not hear back.
