A school in Suffolk has banned hot cross buns - in case they offend pupils from reliious minorities.
Head teacher Tina Jackson asked for the crosses to be removed from all buns supplied by caterers in case it upset some of her pupils who are Jehovah's Witnesses.Parents have accused her of "political correctness one mad" reports The Sun. But Miss Jackson, of The Oaks primary school in Ipswich, said: "For our students who are Jehovah's Witnesses, hot cross buns are not part of their beliefs.
"We decided to have the cross removed in respect of their beliefs." The local Vicar, Father Haley Dossor, said: "I'd be amazed if anyone was offended by the cross on a bun. The school is wron to act like this."
Do you aree that this is political correctness one mad?
Are hot cross buns a religious observance? Isn't the cross just an X of frosting on top? Call them Hot X Buns and be done with it!
Posted by: srah | February 07, 2006 at 11:17 AM
Yep.Did the buns have some religious undertone before? Were the students forced to pray before they ate them? Can the Virgin Mary be seen within the buns? Honestly. *Shaking my head*
Posted by: Keb | February 07, 2006 at 11:20 AM
Stupidity has no discernable depth.
Posted by: sigmund, carl and alfred | February 07, 2006 at 11:29 AM
YES! If the other students do not want the crosses, they should remove the crosses themselves.
Posted by: kenju | February 07, 2006 at 11:30 AM
I'm not exactly sure what a hot cross bun is. But, if it is srah says, and is just an "X", then the school has definitely taken it too far. I wonder what they're going to do about that pesky "+" sign in math class . . .
Posted by: Phil | February 07, 2006 at 11:35 AM
Seems more like a prank, or joke story. If it's real, it's (1) madness, and (2) time for a new perspective. Recommend one rotated 45 degrees left or right.
Posted by: Radioactive Jam | February 07, 2006 at 11:59 AM
It's hard to say if/how it is silly to take such action without more info. But if this is a secular school then maybe this is appropriate. To many of us, the hot cross buns are just a pastry, but to many people - including christians - it is clearly associated with the easter holiday. As a christian myself, the last thing I want to do is force people into complying with my beliefs. Giving them a false security in their salvation is not doing them any favors, but rather, they should willingly come to accept God. Check out these links for some related info...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/03/16/nbuns16.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/03/16/ixhome.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cross_bun
Posted by: archshrk | February 07, 2006 at 12:13 PM
Well, crap. Now we have to take X out of the alphabet.
Posted by: Tara | February 07, 2006 at 12:39 PM
The fun thing about this is that while certainly the crosses on the buns were and are associated with the christian faith we do assume also that the kids were not forced to EAT the buns. Merely SEE them. Ahem.. Now what do we do about the crosses on our churches? What a lovely way to avoid a learning/teachable moment here. (BTW...the sugar crosses are often the best part of these buns!! they're depriving the kids of SUGAR!!!!)
Posted by: Carolyn R. | February 07, 2006 at 01:04 PM
this is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard.
Posted by: barbie2be | February 07, 2006 at 02:51 PM
STOP IT!!!
Isn't part of growing up learning to tolerate differences?
Posted by: Courtney | February 07, 2006 at 03:01 PM
Yikes!! That's appalling and ridiculous!! Putting all religious connotations aside Hot Crossed Buns are absolutely lovely and something many of us look forward to all year!
Posted by: Claire | February 07, 2006 at 03:02 PM
Political correctness is the same thing as rampant stupidity, and I despise both. I hate all euphemisms.
Posted by: Mamacita | February 07, 2006 at 03:03 PM
Whoo Hoo, Mamacita!
Posted by: plumkrazzee | February 07, 2006 at 03:05 PM
Rather than banning the buns, how about introducing other food items that are related to other religions and cultures?
Introducing other religions and encouraging tolerance seems like a much better plan.
Posted by: Tania | February 07, 2006 at 04:41 PM
The world's gone mad and for those that don't know here are the Hot Cross Bun Fast Facts.
Hot Cross Buns are small, sweet yeast buns with raisins or candied fruit, marked on top with a cross of white glaze.
They are traditionally served on Good Friday.
According to some the tradition dates back to the 16th or 17th century though others believe the origins of the Hot Cross Bun date back even further.
In 1361, a monk named Father Thomas Rocliffe, was recorded to have made small spiced cakes stamped with the sign of the cross, to be distributed to the poor visiting the monastery at St. Albans on Good Friday.
Hot Cross buns are traditionally eaten during lent.
To the ancient Aztecs and Incas, buns were considered the sacred food of the gods, while the Egyptians and Saxons offered them as sacrifices to their goddesses.
The cross represented the four quarters of the moon to certain ancient cultures, while others believed it was a sign that held supernatural power to prevent sickness.
To the Romans, the cross represented the horns of a sacred ox.
In 2002 the Food Standards Agency said “Hot cross buns, with their fruit and fibre content, are definitely the all round healthy choice for consumers wanting to indulge a little this Easter.”
Source www.erasofelegance.com
Posted by: Dave | February 07, 2006 at 05:12 PM
I feel confident in predicting the swift decline of any religion which shuns dessert.
Posted by: g8s | February 08, 2006 at 02:29 AM
ok class.. starting today we will no longer be crossing our t's. You can still dot your i's, but no more crossing your t's.. PC gone overboard.
Posted by: Jude | February 08, 2006 at 08:33 AM
I think the political correctness thing has gotten so outta control that I can't even grasp how much worse it could possibly get.
Posted by: LilRed | February 08, 2006 at 08:20 PM