And a Cornbird In A Palm Tree......

Angry parents are banning kids from a school party after the head introduced PC versions of festive songs. He is insisting on a reggae-themed Twelve Days of Christmas with the line “Partridge In A Pear Tree” changed to “Cornbird In A Palm Tree”.

Instead of “Twelve Lords A-Leaping” or “Ten Pipers Piping”, kids will sing about “Six Limbo Dancers” and “Seven Steel Band Beaters”.Other changes include a ruling that Christmas classic Away In A Manger will not be sung but performed in sign. And Rocking Around The Christmas Tree becomes Rocking Around The Shops.

The decision to ditch the traditional nativity play in favour of a calypso concert has angered parents. More than 100 have signed a petition demanding a return to a Christian Christmas — or they will keep their kids away.

Mum Michelle Geddes, 32, said: “I have no problem with the kids learning about other cultures — but now it is Christmas. This is a time for Christian people to celebrate. “To turn it into some sort of politically correct function with a Caribbean flavour is just not on. They want the kids to sing about Four Pumpkin Pies instead of Turtle Doves and it is just winding all the parents up. When it comes to the one tradition we have left they have to go and change it. This is Britain and we want a traditional British Christmas for our kids.”Chantelle Thomas, 32, who has three kids at Highview Primary School in Wallington, Surrey, attacked headmaster Nicholas Wollaston’s plans. She said: ”I think it’s terrible. They’ve learned about other celebrations from all around the world but when it comes to British ones they don’t want to know.”

However, deputy head Elizabeth Brailsford claimed that putting on nativity plays disrupted the school’s curriculum and adversely affected children’s behaviour. She added: “If anything, this is even more traditional than any other year. We’re going to have poems, Christmas carols and Bible readings.”