high school situation

[damo]

A question for you guys. A situation came up at my daughter's high school and I was wondering about your take on it. The sewing class had made a bunch of polar fleece hats to sell to other kids for them to donate to the local women's shelter. If they purchased a hat to donate they got a yellow felt star pinned on their shirt to show that they had done a charitable deed. Some of the teachers complained that this was a anti-Jewish thing to do and demanded that the practice be stopped. The kids were very confused.

Do others feel that this was being unsympathetic to those of the Jewish faith or was it an over-reaction?

 

[RNMOM]

Personally I do think it is not in the best of taste. Jews were made to wear yellow stars of David in Europe during WWII and this is a bit out there.

Could they have not just made yellow ribbons or any number of other sympols? I know things happen out of innocence and this seems to be one of them..perhaps best if they acknowledge that this may be a sensitve issue, publicly, and make a change. I think when mistakes are realized and changes made to correct them, we all learn from it.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm new here, and don't want to get myself into any hot water (which I do on a regular basis) but....Couldn't the yellow star just be a cloth version of earning a gold star? You know, like when we were kids? I try to not hurt anyone's feelings but I think that sometimes we can get carried away. Can't we just assume that these things are not meant to insult anyone? You know....heaven forbid we ever find out that lime green ribbons are offensive to some ethnic group. Just trying to make a point. Sorry if I've offended anyone.

 

[grinningghost]

That's a tough one to call. In one way, I agree that it could be offensive, but probably only to Jews who were thinking that way. I, being a non-Jew, would never have thought of that in a million years, even though I've read enough about the gold stars over the years. It just wouldn't have come to my mind. It does seem a little crazy for people to over analyze everything though - where will it end?

 

[Kallison]

It sounds like an innocent mistake but I do see how a person of Jewish faith could be offended. They should just change the symbol.

 

[HunnyPots]

While I wouldn't have thought of the anti-jewish slant, I don't see why they need to wear a star to show that they did a charitable act. I think knowing they've done a good deed is reward enough.
I know this didn't really answer your question but it is just my view of the situation.

 

[RNMOM]

Just a little more input from me here.

I live in a city with a large Jewish population. That said, I doubt many, if any, of them would have made a comment. I, who am not Jewish, feel from my exposure to movies about the Holocost and my readings and discussions that most adults, especially teachers, might have put these things together.

I guess I also think it is not often we pin things on ourselves other than ribbons or patriotic symbols. Perhaps a different shape or symbol would not have raised this thought in me.

Yellow stars pinned on clothing mean labeling of Jews in Nazi controlled areas to me. Just my feelings. It doesn't have to be yours.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

that was my first thought, too, RNMom. yelllow felt star pinned to clothing = Holocaust symbol. obviously that was not the intent, but it makes me very uneasy.

 

[SeaSpray]

I think a yellow 5-pointed star is different than a yellow 6-pointed Star of David. Personally, I was thinking more along the lines with the poster who said this cloth yellow star was reminiscent of the gold stars we used to get as kids....

I am usually very aware of things like this, I tend to notice even the smallest of details, and if I would've walked into a high school and saw students wearing yellow 5-point stars on their clothing, I would not have made the connection between them and the Holocaust. Just my humble opinion....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would say it is in very poor taste to choose that symbol out of the many others that could have been used.

 

[damo]

Just to clarify the yellow stars. The charitable drive was centered around a tree that was put in the office of my daughter's school, where the mitts, scarves, hats etc. were going to be put on. On top of this tree was a star. Now, as other Christmas trees would have, this star was to be gold. Each student was going to have a gold star to match this star, and show that they had bought one of these items. The teacher in charge was then going to go around and if she saw somebody with one of the stars on, they were eligible to win a prize. That was the significance behind wearing stars in the first place.

 

[WDWfanatic288]

when I first read yellow star I thought Jewish but didn't think of the Holocaust thing and I knew you were gonna say someone stopped it

I know it wasn't done on purpose but it's better to be safe than sorry b/c there are some CRAZY people that would take it offensively how about they just change it to a random color star or a just a ribbon or a band or something?

the idea is cute though...th estar with the tree

how about little cmas trees? those are noticeable! and then everyone can decorate their tree their own way!