Saugus super backs off anti-Santa clause

SAUGUS – A long-standing Saugus tradition will survive to see another year after Superintendent Richard Langlois reversed a decision to ban firefighters dressing as Santa Claus from visiting kids at all of the town?s public schools.Saugus firefighters have gone to the various elementary schools dressed as Santa Claus since 1962 to hand out coloring books and crayons to children.But after announcing Monday morning that Santa Claus was no longer allowed in any public schools, Langlois reversed his decision later in the day.Saugus Fire Chief James Blanchard called the original announcement a “slap in the face,” but said he was happy about Langlois? reversal.?I was very disappointed and taken aback,” said Blanchard. “It?s something we?ve always done. I don?t see Santa as a religious symbol. It?ll continue this year and I think he made the right decision to continue it. It had a good outcome, this year at least.”School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said Langlois didn?t consult the School Committee before making the original decision.?This is political correctness gone awry,” said Grabowski. “(Langlois) runs the day-to-day operations of the school, but this should have been a discussion that we had as a full School Committee in my opinion.”Speaking from his office on Monday evening, Langlois said, “They will follow through with the tradition this year and the School Committee will revisit the policy next year.”Langlois remained in his office and declined to comment further, referring any questions about the issue to the school?s “ceremonies and observances” policy.According to the policy, “While it is recognized that many activities are initiated with the approach of major holidays ? it should be understood that such occasions frequently have religious underpinnings. Care should be taken to relate only to secular aspects of these holidays.”Grabowski said that he?s “tired of the majority losing tradition due to a very small minority,” adding that Santa Claus isn?t a religious symbol.?If you had the baby Jesus in a manger and you carried him around to all the schools, then that?s a religious symbol that I don?t think would be appropriate,” said Grabowski. “Giving the kids and the town of Saugus a little treat prior to Christmas with the good nature and good intentions of the fire department, what?s wrong with that?”Around nine firefighters take turns volunteering to dress as Santa Claus while they?re off-duty to make appearances at the elementary schools.Firefighter Mark Gannon has been organizing the events for 13 years and, after weeks of planning, said he just found out Monday morning about Langlois? initial decision, the day before Santa Claus was set to make his first appearance.?I just think it was crazy,” said Gannon. “You have the 1 percent dictating what the 99 percent want. As far as we?re concerned, it?s not a religious thing at all. The kids love it.”Gannon said whoever dresses as Santa wears a pair of green mittens that were knitted almost 50 years ago when the fire department first started going to the schools.?Ask any kid in town who the real Santa Claus is and he?ll tell you it?s the Santa with the green mittens,” said Gannon.Gannon called doing away with traditions “taking the easy road,” and said he thinks kids should learn more about holiday traditions no matter what they are.?Why do we keep taking things away instead of explaining where things come from?” said Gannon. “Explain the history. The kids learn all about the different holidays. My kids used to bring home dreidels from school.”Dawn Hunt, Co-President of the Oaklandvale Elementary School PTO, said Santa Claus already made an appearance at the school?s annual Holiday Stroll earlier this month, and said he was a “huge hit.”?In my opinion, 90 percent of these families celebrate Christmas,” said Hunt. “It?s something the kids look forward to. I know in our school, there are three or four kids that don?t celebrate. You can?t punish 235 kids because of three.