Calgary schools snub valentine cards

CALGARY – The annual schoolchild ritual of exchanging valentine cards with classmates was spurned like a forlorn lover this week at two Calgary elementary schools.

Colonel Walker School in Inglewood and nearby Ramsay School asked children not to bring Valentine’s Day cards to class during celebrations Tuesday and Wednesday (schools were closed Thursday, Valentine’s Day, for the teachers’ convention).

A note posted in the school newsletters said the move was for environmental reasons. If every child in the school brought along 30 cards, the newsletter said, “it adds up to 3,000 cards! Imagine the trees we are saving by not exchanging cards in our school.”

Advocates of the idea say this isn’t a war on fun. Kids remained free to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but in a different manner than the typical card exchange. Each child, for instance, designed a large heart on paper, which other students then signed. They made fruit kebabs, and wore red and pink clothing.

But not all parents are impressed with the prohibition on giving and receiving cards.

“I think it’s a bit much,” said Julianne Osberg, whose daughter attends Ramsay School. “We’re too overly cautious with all of our children.”

The irony of the environmental concerns, she said, is families were notified of the card embargo via a letter home printed on a sheet of paper.

Her daughter, Genevieve, said the ban wasn’t the “smartest choice.” The Grade 5 student managed to give a valentine card to a friend, but did so in the schoolyard before the bell rang. Others did the same.

“The boys (put) boogers on cards and gave them to each other. I know, it was gross,” Genevieve said.

Valentine’s Day in schools everywhere can also mean a fair bit of work for parents, who help younger children draft a valentine note for each classmate.

Many schools ask that if children bring Valentine’s Day cards to school, they make sure they have one for every student in the class. Teachers often send home a list of student names.

The chairwoman of the school council at Colonel Walker thinks the lack of a card exchange is a good idea, as the valentines quickly end up in the trash. Kelly Dueck said her son and other children celebrated in different ways.

“He was just asked not to bring 30 tiny pieces of paper that will get thrown out within the week,” Dueck said.

“I think it was as great idea. They’re still celebrating, the kids can still express themselves, they still know that there’s this holiday that we’ve been celebrating for years.”

This is not the first time Colonel Walker and Ramsay have veered away from traditional interpretations of holidays.

Two years ago, the school banned masks, weapons and any signs of violence from Halloween costumes. Children attended a caring assembly.

The principal of the two schools could not be reached for comment Thursday, which was an in-service day because of Calgary teachers’ convention.

A spokeswoman with the Calgary Board of Education said decisions on how to celebrate various occasions, like marking Valentine’s Day, are left to principals and are not dictated by central office.

Written valentines date back six centuries.

The earliest known example was composed by Charles, Duke of Orleans, while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

An industry took off and, by the 19th century, valentine cards were being mass produced.

But the practice of swapping cards has not been immune to debate in schools.

At a school in Massachusetts this year, students were told to leave Valentine’s Day cards at home to maintain cultural equality, according to a television report. The children will instead make “friendship cards.”

An elementary school in Oregon has also banned cards and candies on Valentine’s Day.

Three years ago, a school in Somerset, England, made national news when it barred Valentine’s Day cards. The school made the decision to spare the feelings of children who received no cards.

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