Joy, love, and belonging are at stake! The elementary schools in Sudbury have made the unanimous decision to no longer have Valentine’s Day celebrations in classrooms, with the intent of making the holiday more “inclusive and equitable.” Instead of class exchanges, there will be an overall school emphasis on kindness and class projects - which, in and of themselves, are great - but not a replacement for the fun and specialness of a Valentine exchange.  This is the latest of many recent decisions Sudbury Public Schools has made in the name of equity, including Halloween celebrations and festivals that celebrate different countries - traditions that enrich students’ lives and bring joy and a sense of belonging. (Worth noting: things like book fair, food pantry, and teacher gifting regularly highlight things families can/cannot afford, and yet, these are not in danger of being cancelled…) 

Our kids need and deserve the simple childhood joy that comes with exchanging Valentine cards with their peers. Research has proven that traditions are extremely important for mental health, creating a sense of stability and belonging. While seemingly simple, erasing a tradition that children have done in schools for decades is no small thing. Our children already live in a climate of active shooter drills, rising rates of depression and anxiety, standardized testing, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Let them have the simplicity of exchanging Valentine cards (which needn’t be expensive, or include a trinket or toy). How many more things will be stripped away from our children in the name of “inclusion”?  In an effort to create an equitable environment, we are heading toward a world reminiscent of Lois Lowry’s The Giver (read in 7th grade at SPS) - a world of “sameness” where there are no celebrations, no traditions, no conflict, no emotions - and that world is decidedly bleak. 

Of course, we want to be aware that purchasing Valentines may present a burden to families. The schools’ PTOs can organize donation efforts and families can donate cut-out hearts and place in a bin outside the schools. We can creatively solve this issue so that a tradition that brings love, kindness and joy into our children’s lives can be preserved. 

If you’d like to protect classroom traditions, please consider signing this petition and sharing it, or emailing your school principal and/or Brad Crozier, SPS Superintendent: brad_crozier@sudbury.k12.ma.us or the Sudbury School Committee: school-committee@sudbury.k12.ma.us. Thank you! ❤️