An elementary school headteacher in the United Kingdom has banned his charges from sending Christmas cards to one another — all in the name of saving the planet.
In a letter sent home to parents, Jonathan Mason of the Belton Lane Primary School placed blame for the idea on students, saying he’s “been approached by a number of children who are concerned” about the cards’ impact on the environment.
According to the Daily Mail, Mason wrote “Throughout the world we send enough Christmas cards that if we placed them alongside each other, they’d cover the world’s circumference 500 times.”
The cards, he continued, contribute to “our ever-growing carbon emissions.” Mason noted students may send only one card to the entire class this year.
Naturally, parents were cheesed.
“Why should children have the joy of taken out of Christmas? Why can’t all these cards be recycled anyway? And I buy a lot of Christmas cards for charity,” one parent said. “Where is all the Christmas spirit in this?”
Another mother added: ‘Telling people to stop sending cards in a letter sent out to hundreds of kids stinks of rank hypocrisy.
‘I hope parents boycott these Grinch-like plans and keep this tradition alive by sending lots of cards to their little pals.
‘They are mostly recyclable anyway. I agree that environmental issues are important but I don’t see recyclable Christmas cards as a massive contributor to these problems.’
Other parents took to social media to comment on the plans with Lucy Fairbrother writing on Facebook: ‘Most cards can be recycled!
‘There’s too much technology with emailing & texting a ‘Happy Christmas’ wish! It’s so sad to see all the old traditions dying.’
Glenn Gelsthorpe added: ‘Would be a good idea to send Mr Mason a Christmas card from every pupil*’
Mike N Bry Collins said: ‘Most cards are made from responsibly sourced paper and are recyclable.
‘So what’s the problem. Just out to spoil Christmas for the children by the sound of it. Bah humbug.’
One mom, however, agreed with Mr. Mason — but not out of environmental concerns:
“I think it’s a good idea especially from personal experience having a child who had some learning difficulties with spelling being one,” Katrina Oswin said. “Writing out 30+ cards was a struggle not a happy experience.”
MORE: Don’t be afraid to wish someone ‘Merry Christmas’ this year
MORE: Have a Merry Christmas … in spite of progressive academics
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