‘Grinch-like, almost communistic’: Teachers banned from Christmas activities, holiday countdowns

Dozens of Queensland teachers have reported being ordered not to take part in Christmas celebrations or count down to the end-of-year holidays with students because “it sends the wrong message”.

• Kylie Lang: Why Qld school Christmas ban is nonsense

Queensland schools have been accused of playing the Christmas “grinch” after some teachers claim they were warned against hosting Christmas festivities or countdowns to the holidays in their classrooms.

The message has been slammed by the Teachers Professional Association of Queensland, which described the decisions as “grinch-like”, but the Education Department said it had not issued a directive on these issues and insisted it leaves these decisions to individual principals.

A state high school teacher posted in an online group that their school’s executive team had banned a Christmas holiday countdown because “it sends the wrong message”.

Several teachers responded to this post saying their current or former schools had similar views on Christmas activities and holiday countdowns.

However, many teachers replied saying their schools encouraged celebrations.

Primary school students show their in festive cheer. Picture: Marzolla Dean

The Courier-Mail has seen correspondence in which a state high school staff member defends their support of students’ end-of-year celebrations after the staff member alleged they were criticised by their principal.

The staff member makes the point that they did not see the celebrations that spanned a matter of minutes affecting the students’ exam performances after a year of hard work.

TPAQ secretary Tracy Tully said she had received an estimated 50 reports in the past few weeks from members saying their school had issued directives around Christmas classroom celebrations, end-of-year celebrations, or holiday countdowns.

She said these reports were coming from state schools, describing them as “frightening” and “almost communistic”.

Teachers, Professional Association Queensland secretary Tracy Tully. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“This is abnormal what we’re seeing this term – the rhetoric is militant,” she said.

“Teachers are feeling lost and sad that they can’t farewell their students in the ways they have done previously.

“The norm is for classes to have a party and kids to bring a plate of food and give gifts – this still happens in many primary and high schools.”

Even parents were saying they had always given Christmas gifts and now they were not sure whether they were allowed to, Ms Tully said.

“The Christmas lights have been turned out,” she said.

The Education Department said it did not issue directives around Christmas holiday countdowns or festive celebrations.

“Principals are best placed to make decisions about celebrating Christmas in their schools, in consultation with their local communities,” a department spokesman said.