The elementary school principal in Nebraska who made headlines last week for banning a slew of Christmas-related items has been placed on administrative leave after issuing an apology one day before.
Jennifer Sinclair, principal of Manchester Elementary School, faced a lot of backlash after the Liberty Counsel, a right-leaning religious freedom law firm, found out about her actions and sent a letter to the Omaha school district.
Before the district investigated Sinclair’s unilateral decision and shot it down, Sinclair banned things like Santa or Christmas-themed clipart on worksheets, the playing of Christmas carols, red and green items, reindeer and candy canes because “historically, the shape is a ‘J’ for Jesus.”
Elementary School in Nebraska Bans Slew of Christmas-Themed Items
Explaining her reasoning for barring Christmas-related items, Sinclair told parents she “come[s] from a place that Christmas and the like are not allowed in schools.”
Ultimately, though, the district placed the first-year principal on administrative leave Thursday for violating the school district’s policy that allows Christmas trees, Santa-themed items and other secular, seasonal symbols to be displayed and celebrated in the classroom, according to The Associated Press.
Sinclair was placed on leave one day after she issued an apology for her decision.
In a statement to TheBlaze, Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver said his organization “did not ask that Principal Jennifer Sinclair be placed on administrative leave,” though he added the group “will not second-guess the school district’s decision.”