A television advertisement for a chain of electrical stores denying the existence of Father Frost, Russia's version of Santa Claus, has been banned by the Russian government. According to the BBC, the Federal anti-Monopoly Service found the advertisement for Eto electrical stores had broken rules for advertisers not to discredit parents and teachers when it declared that Father Frost was non-existent.

An incident caught on a cell phone camera might lead the Caddo School Board to ban cell phone use at schools during the academic day from 7 a. m. until school ends. The idea was born when a student with a cell phone camera took photos of a physical fight between another student and the Huntington High School Principal Jerry Davis. According to The Shreveport Times, the cell phone images caught the media's attention and school board officials had to put Davis on paid administrative leave. KSLA TV 12 reports that Davis was accused of choking the student. In explaining that she wasn't really banning cell phones from schools, School Board Members Dottie Bell said that the student who used his cell phone to photograph the incident highlighted the fact that students are misusing their cell phones during school time. "Students are misusing the phone. They are texting test answers, they are taking pictures while changing clothes, and sending them to You Tube," Bell said. But the Caddo Federation of Teachers objects to banning students from using cell phones during school hours. They say that it would require checking the students. Anyway, both teachers and parents say they favor students having the security of cell phones to communicate in light of the massacres at Columbine High School and Virginia Tech. But school board members say that banning cell phone use would be in line with existing school policy that bans use of electronic devices during school hours without permission from the principal, The Shreveport Times reports. If the student with the cell phone camera had been following that rule, it is doubtful that Davis would be on leave now, because it can be assumed that he wouldn't have given a student permission to photograph him while he was choking another student.

A school in Devon has effectively banned elementary pupils from donning angel wings during nativity plays citing health and safety reasons. The headmistress of Sacred Heart , RC Primary in Paignton, Devon, Linda Mitchell said the order was made for fear that the angel wings could catch on fire from the children carrying candles in the play.

If you need a hug, steer clear of Percy Julian Middle School. Principal Victoria Sharts is cracking down on the "extreme hugging" that has gotten out of control at her suburban Chicago school, evidenced by a rash of recent "hug lines," causing hallway congestion and sharp increases in student tardiness. "Hugging is really more appropriate for airports or for family reunions than passing and seeing each other every few minutes in the halls," Sharts said.

Children in the U. S. could soon be playing with a talking Jesus toy, a bearded Moses, Daniel in the lion's den and other biblical figures, as company One2Believe convinced Wal-Mart to sell Bible-based toys to promote the Christian faith to children. David Socha, founder of One2believe, the company which manufactures the dolls said he is optimistic the demand for "God-honoring" toys will increase as children will be attracted to toys that focuses on Christian teachings and morality.