Aha Dua Permata: Texas school board president says it's called 'Christmas break' not 'holiday break'

Friday 22 December 2023

Texas school board president says it's called 'Christmas break' not 'holiday break'

Texas — Carroll ISD board president Cameron Bryan this week called for the district to refer to “Christmas break” rather than “holiday break” during a discussion about the district’s 2024-25 calendar, which was approved at the Dec. 18 board meeting.

Bryan also said, without citing specific examples, that he’d heard from some teachers, administrators, and parents that they were “afraid to openly recognize this holiday on our campuses due to fear of retribution

“I have, as I’m sure we all have, received several correspondence this month from the district referring to a ‘winter break,’ ‘winter parties,’ ‘holiday break,’ ‘holiday parties’ -- everything but ‘Christmas break’ and ‘Christmas parties,’” Bryan said. “It’s Christmas and New Year’s break, and I think the district should refer to it as such.”

Bryan cited House Bill 308, signed into law in 2013, which states, “a school district may educate students about the history of traditional winter celebrations, and allow students and district staff to offer traditional greetings regarding the celebrations, including “Merry Christmas”; “Happy Hanukkah” and “Happy holidays” in making his request.

“That is the law in Texas, so therefore, I want every Carroll ISD student, teacher, administrator, and parent to know it is OK to recognize and observe this holiday on our campuses if you so choose,” Bryan continued.

Bryan also asked Carroll ISD Superintendent Lane Ledbetter to send an email to district staff summarizing HB 308 and to include the 2013 bill. It’s unclear whether Ledbetter has at the time of this post.

Patriot Mobile Action praised Bryan's comments on X, formerly known as Twitter. Patriot Mobile, which identifies itself on its website as a “Christian, conservative wireless provider," as previously reported, has supported school board candidates, including in Carroll ISD and nearby Grapevine-Colleyville, Keller, and Mansfield districts.

WFAA reached out to Carroll ISD and board members for comment on this story, but they haven't yet responded.