St. Nick used to make an appearance during the Andrew Peabody School’s winter fest, but one parent allegedly complained, so he was cut from visiting the school.
Santa Claus won't be coming to one Massachusetts town after being snubbed at the last minute for a public elementary school's winter concert.
St. Nick was disinvited to the Andrew Peabody School's festive bash after one parent at the Cambridge school, where many children are not Christian and don't celebrate Christmas, complained to education chiefs about his presence, according to reports.
Principal Jennifer Ford wrote to parents Thursday night to explain her decision to give Santa the shoulder at the following day's event.
"Our First through Fourth grade concert as well as our Kindergarten concert will not include a visit from Santa Claus this year," she wrote.
"I am sensitive to the fact you may not want your child involved in this event. If you prefer your child spend time with me that afternoon, please let me know. I will be in the library, playing games and reading books with the children," Ford added.
Parents at the school said they were stunned by the decision to scrap the long-held tradition.
And they claimed it was based on a complaint from another parent, although the exact nature of the gripe has not been revealed.
"I don't think it's right, and I know a lot of people agree with me," Robert Thompson, who has two children in the school, told CBS Boston.
"It seems like that's what's going on in America — the squeaky wheel gets oil. It's a shame," he added.
"It's too bad," Merline Sylvain-Williams told the Boston Globe, adding, "I like to see to the joy in the children's faces when they see him."
Mohammed Hassan, meanwhile, said he did not look at St. Nick as a religious symbol. Instead, he said, "Kids like that, it's fun for kids, which is good."
"I think that it's a shame we can't all celebrate each other's cultures and Santa is a big part of Christmastime," added Rachel Begley.
Cambridge Superintendent Jeffrey Young backed his principal's decision.
"Our mission is around education. Santa's not on the top of my list. ... I just don't know why he has to be in the school," he told the Boston Globe.
Young said he believed Ford handled the situation "in a sensitive and smart way" and added, "There's no anti-Santa sentiment. It's just that there's no pro-Santa sentiment, either."
Ford's letter did reveal that Santa wouldn't be left out of its festive celebrations altogether, however.
The bearded gift-giver will still make an appearance at the end of a family sing-a-long on Dec. 23, where parents can also opt their children out of the event.
