12/22/2000

Christmas in the Schools

Christianity and its place in our schools, at Christmas time and throughout the year, is a topic that brings out strong feelings among SNET readers. I personally favor a balanced approach that reflects the world's religious history, not just America's. Others disagree, saying that our country was founded on Christian principles, so school teachings and activities appropriately reflect that fact, but should also reflect tolerance for the beliefs of others. Whatever your personal beliefs, I want to wish you and your families a joyous holiday season in the spirit of caring and good will to all.

A selection of reader letters follows:

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Christmas is primarily a holiday associated with the birth of Christ. This holiday is holy for Christians around the world and provides a rare opportunity in today's world to enjoy moments with one's family. Christmas is a celebration of love and giving to one's fellow man, and in my opinion, transcends religious boundaries. Most of the movies and programs dedicated to Christmas emphasize the message of peace, brotherly love and sharing.

It is very possible that celebrating Christmas in schools may offend a minority, since Christianity is not the religion that they follow. It is in the spirit of Christmas to be sensitive to the multicultural and religious diversity around us. However, this should not stop the majority from celebrating this festive holiday.

I agree with your suggestion that, in case of the musical program, one could provide a repertoire based on various cultures and religions. This would show the exact sensitivity I mentioned before. But again, omitting Christmas carols because some people could be offended creates the reverse situation.

We read every day about various parts of the world where being a Christian or a Jew is almost a death sentence. Here we live in a free and tolerant society, where one can grow and develop without fear of persecution. We should find a common ground, a multicultural and religious middle ground if possible, that we could all share. We should celebrate understanding, peace, and love among all people, regardless of color or religion.

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Thank you SO much for this article! I am an educator and a Muslim, and I have complained forever about this issue in my children's school. They just give me blank looks, like they can't figure out just what I'm talking about.

Today my daughter came home from school and said her substitute teacher had read them a poem about Jesus Christ. She's in 4th grade, and she knows the difference between historical info and proselytizing. Last year, another sub used this as a way to define the spelling word "stable": "You know, the place where the Baby Jesus was born."

Those are minor issues. Our music teacher fills the "Winter Sing" with Christian songs. In response to my increased efforts to mitigate this, she included two Jewish songs (now staples in her repertoire) and one Native American song. The only problem with the Native American song was it was titled "Jesus My King." I was disgusted. Were I a Native American, I might wonder why in the world this woman thought Christianity was an appropriate representation of Native American religion! How clueless can one person be?

I am a white American, born and raised here in Michigan. I converted to Islam as a young adult and have been practicing Islam for almost 25 years. I understand my own white people. We don't mean harm usually; we just assume the rest of the world is marching along with us. But it's time to stop this. If I want to teach my children Islam in school, I must pay for that - it's called private Islamic school and tuition! I am going to send your article to my children's school district Administration and School Board. This is really enough. We have been fasting Ramadan for 3 weeks, but has anyone so much as mentioned it? No. You would think we were cut off from the rest of the world in this little white bread cocoon. Our community is starting a chapter of the American Muslim Council precisely because of this on-going nonsense. We intend to change things, and if getting political is the only way to accomplish this, so be it.

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For most of the 225 year history of the United States, not only was the Bible a standard part of the curriculum in our public schools, but the Lord's Prayer was recited on a daily basis. This was true when I went to public school, and those who didn't want to pray were not forced to.

This country is overwhelmingly Christian, and I have no problem with a public school curriculum that recognizes this obvious truth. Nor would I have any problem with students having a Chanukah celebration, putting on a play like, "Fiddler on the Roof" or any other minority ethnic celebration. The trouble is that "Fiddler on the Roof" IS produced in public schools, but anything with a Christian theme is banned.

The public schools bend over backwards to please the minorities at the expense of the majority. The squeaky wheel always seems to get the grease. Perhaps people who complain about Christmas ought to realize that we have a free country where they can practice any religion they wish, primarily because this country was founded by Protestants who were not antagonistic to other people practicing their religion. Go to a country like Israel today, and ask the religious minorities if they feel they have freedom of religion. Then try Iran, Afghanistan, The Peoples Republic of China, the Sudan, etc.

Minorities in this country should be happy that this country was founded by Christians who believed in the open expression of religion. They should not try and curtail the expression of the one religion on this earth that has truly given freedom of religion to everyone. The laws regarding the separation of church and state are subject to Supreme Court review. One or two more conservatives on the Court, and we will get a new point of view.

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I could probably be swayed either way in my opinions on this subject. I am a Catholic Christian and 74 years old. I believe that this is a Christian country that was formed by Christians using Christian principles. Separation of Church and State means to me that the state cannot force anyone to be a Christian. A person may practice any religion they may choose as long as that religion does not endanger our citizens or our country. However, our democracy is certainly based upon Christian understanding, which has allowed the United States of America to be the longest surviving republic in world history.

There are many new countries in the world that have based their governments on principles other than those of Christianity. Those countries could not exist without our constant help. I do not know how we can teach our young people about America without Christianity entering the picture. I believe that we should continue to celebrate the birth of Christ in our public schools, but also have religious classes that expose the children to other religions. We can also celebrate these other religions in our schools so that our students have a more complete understanding about them. I have no fear that Christians will be converted in great numbers to the other religions, and Christians may gain some new recruits. Understanding brings friendship and cooperation.

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In reading the two questions regarding Christmas in public schools, I am struck with just how far we have drifted to the left, particularly with your responses. For example, your comment to the teacher who was told by her principal not to have Christmas carols in her Christmas show, about including songs from all other ethnic groups and religions, is absurd. The very word Christmas has the word Christ in it. Do you think the holiday is about celebrating the harvest of the coconuts in Fiji? Wake up! It's about celebrating the birth of Christ. The fact that every other organization is trying to butt in on this celebration is what is really obscene, and objectionable. From the greed of retailers turning the holiday into a shopping frenzy to the absurd creation of Kwanza in the 60s, it makes one want to scream.

I am at a loss as to why this teacher should try to "pass muster" with a "selection" from Handel's Messiah, as you suggest, by sneaking it in and hiding it in a pile of other ethnic, religious songs having no significance whatsoever to the Christmas celebration. How ridiculuous! It's Christmas, for heaven's Sake! Can you think of a better embodiment of the birth of Christ than Handel's Messiah? Let's stop once and for all with this politically correct rubbish.

If the Jewish woman in the first question has a problem with celebrating a "religious event" in school, many of whom bend over backwards to help celebrate Hannukah as well (a holiday even the Jewish religion considered a minor one, until goaded by liberal zealots to feel obligated to give it more importance), may I suggest she move to a more tolerant country where all religions are equally celebrated, or perhaps, more atuned with her wishes, celebrating no religions at all? I'd like to know where that country is. Surely, it's not on this earth. This great country of ours is the last, best hope for freedom of expression and speech and, yes, religion. Yet each day we watch the erosion of this freedom as group after group professes diversity, yet only seeks to squash any ideas not in tune with their own.

Would it not be better for the Jewish lady to encourage Christians to celebrate their holidays and for Christians to encourage other religions to do the same, rather than forming armed camps? We need only harken back to the Holocaust to see what religious bigotry can produce. Surely this is not preferable to singing Silent Night once a year at a school gathering. She doesn't need to sing, just be respectful, as I would be, and have been, to my Jewish friend's celebrations.

Christmas is a time of joy, whether you choose to celebrate the season as a secular one or a religious event. Let us not destroy its spirit by practicing hatred and bigotry.

Please take a moment to carefully read the U. S. Constitution. It does NOT profess the separation of church and state, as suggested by your Jewish writer. It prohibits the state from creating a religion or declaring one as the state religion. It encourages the practice of religions, ALL religions.

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There is such a thing as a secular Christmas. What about Santa and Rudolph? I've taught school for 35 years and have celebrated Christmas in school every year. Never in all that time have I mentioned it being a Christian holiday or discussed its religious significance. However, at the same time I have been pressured to include Hanukah and explain its religious background. Do you not see a contradiction here? Any child who has religious beliefs that won't allow them to participate in Christmas and other celebrations (birthdays, etc)is given alternative assignments. Now I include Christmas with Santa and elves, Hanukah and Kwanzaa. The only one that requires the mention of religion is Hanukah.

I am retiring at the end of this school year and I'm very glad to be doing so. It saddens me greatly to see little children being robbed of the wonderful, magical holiday season. We have already made childhood a time filled with stress and depression for many children. Let's try to leave them at least a little bit of their childhood. I once bought a button that said "Give childhood back to our children". Keeping the warmth, spirit and love of the Christmas season in the schools might be a way to start.

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Secular humanism is what got this country into the sad state of affairs that it is in today. This country was founded by God-loving men and women. The Mayflower Compact in 1620, the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution are strong evidence of our love of God and our respect for living beings and things. Our whole society was grounded in the Holy Bible, which encompasses ancient Judaism and Christianity. The Moslem religion is even an offshoot of Christianity and many of its teachings are similar in the Koran. It seems that the problem lies within the individual who does not want to live within God's Law or any law for that matter. All of mankind has worshipped "God" through the ages whether there are those who want to believe it or not -- from the petroglyphs to pyramids to Stone Henge and additional cave drawings -- God would not be denied.

There are many beautiful festivals over the entire world that celebrate a supreme being, regardless of the name God, Jehovah, Yahwee, Buddha, etc. Art forms of past centuries have shown mankind's love of God and His universe.

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For years all we have heard from people who do not want to acknowledge the existence or the presence of God, Jesus or Holy Spirit, is "separation of church and state". It is amazing the lengths people will go to avoid the subject of sin, forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. People who want to separate church and state do not want to be held accountable to a higher authority and in the name of "diversity" appear to be flexible only in matters that do not involve God. On the other hand they appear to be really narrow minded on matters that do involve God.

It appears that in some minds "separation of church and state" has evolved into some kind of law - perceived by some to be an absolute truth and perceived by others to be an integral part of the U.S. Constitution. It is evident however that most people who stand behind this phrase have no clue where it came from and most would have to admit that they have never read the words "separation of church and state" in the Constitution (because they are NOT in there!)

It was actually taken out of context from a statement made by Thomas Jefferson. Article I of the Constitution of the United States states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." When you analyze it, how can anyone interpret the words "make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" to mean we cannot sing Christmas carols in school or read the Bible in school or teach creationism in school or pray in school? Article I was included in the Constitution to make sure that the Government did not establish some kind of State or Federal religion and force that religion on everyone.

Nowadays all those who continually want to throw God out of school, the work place and the town halls are trying their best to "prohibit the free exercise(of religion)". The United States was founded, formed and governed by Christians. The USA came into being because people fled from England where there was a "state religion" and people were forced to belong or be an outcast. 90% of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were devout Christian leaders. It seems ironic that since God was thrown out of school in 1972, we have seen more teen suicides, more teen abortions, more drug use, more premarital sex, more divorce, lower SAT scores, more violence, more teenage alcoholism and less discipline. When you separate church from state you reap what you sow.

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I am a Senior in a Connecticut high school. For the past four years, I have enjoyed giving Christmas presents and cards to my teachers. They enjoy this ritual even if they aren't Christian! For me, Christmas, in schools, is a time of year when we students can remember a time of great joy and peace. Back when Sweet Baby Jesus was born, people of all nations and religions came together to celebrate this wondrous birth. I will be leaving high school this spring, and I will greatly miss the Christmas celebrations we have shared at school over the past four years. I wish you a Merry Christmas in all religions.

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My chorus teacher once added a "Jewish" song to the holiday program that was really a Passover song called "Oh, Elijah". The funny thing was, we were a private, non-religious school and about 65% of the population was Jewish. We were given only a half-day off for Good Friday, but we had Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur off.

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In many parts of the U.S., schools have begun to include activities like "Christmas around the world" ... this allows for teaching of cultural awareness and also for some gentle reminders that not all children celebrate "Christmas" as they have grown up knowing it, but that there are common themes and teachings that exist no matter how one celebrates the season.

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Teaching about religion in schools is acceptable. Teaching religion is not. Where Christmas celebrations are a part of the culture of the people, it is acceptable to carry those celebrations on in schools, even to the point of singing religiously oriented songs that have found their way into popular culture -- songs such as Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Schools have a responsibility to stay within that defined range of popular culture and to not teach Christianity as a part of any kind of celebration. Teachers and schools that cross the line, i.e. those who teach religious themes as truth and as religion and not as "this is what Christians believe" are in violation of applicable laws and should be dealt with accordingly. However, to cease Christmas celebrations totally is an overreaction.

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A study of religions, agreed, but only as an academic pursuit -- not to drench the school with a "celebrate Christmas" motif every year for weeks at a time, overwhelming everything else.

Of course, you can't expect children to leave their faiths at the doorstep of the school, but neither does the public school have to promote the essential symbols of one religion (Christianity) in such a way that it "steamrolls" children who have other beliefs.

The diversity of the population of this country is expanding, yet once again, as in other realms, public schools have not kept up with the changes. This is just one example of the growing number of dissonant tones now being struck as parents and students encounter public school cultures that predominantly reflect the cultures of their workers, not that of their clients. The fact that public school educators can't see that celebrating Christmas as a total school holiday while at the same time giving short shrift to other belief systems, is a form of proselytizing Christianity, speaks volumes in and of itself. Public schools ought to be secular. If you desire religion in your children's education, by all means enroll them in a parochial school catering to your particular belief system.

Most Christian parents, however, would like to have the best of both worlds, not have to pay for a parochial education and still have their religion propagated and furthered in the school via school sponsorship and promotion of their most sacred religious holidays.

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I am not a Christian, by choice. However, I very strongly disagree with any advice to parents or educators not to celebrate religious holidays simply because they clash with personal ones. In order to teach tolerance of all faiths and beliefs, we must all be accepting of each the others' beliefs, first. This country was founded as a nation based on primarily Judeo-Christian ethics and mores. We as a society should not throw out the baby with the bath water!

Christmas was first a celebration of the winter solstice, and not the birth of Christ. December 25th was an adopted date for the birth of Christ by the early Christians after the acceptance of our current calendar. Other faiths also have major holidays at this time of year. Judaism, Islam, and most other faiths and ethnic groups all seem to have major holiday celebrations at this time of year.

As an American I rejoice with my fellow citizens and wish them all well and much joy at this most auspicious time of the year, and I fervently hope that we may find it in our hearts to sing songs, dance dances and celebrate. May all light and joy of our Creator's making find its way into our homes, hearts and our schools, and may we adults stop trying to take the joy of this season away from our children.

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Ms. Bruno, your advice serves to break down past traditions. So much of our culture is losing its traditions and Christmas carols are some of the best music in western civilization. Should we deny the vast majority the joy that carols bring to family, and the prospect of communities singing about peace, brotherhood and unity? It does take a village, but the politically correct agenda you propose destroys the village and demands artificial rituals and traditions borne of litigious sentiments to replace the old ones.

I know that my high school students lose out because they have fallen victim to the breakdown of cultural norms and now wander in a pop-culture desert. Their roots are shallow and they lack the cultural literacy to recognize much of what has gone on before. I say that we should include carols and introduce some new songs along with the carols to create more diversity. But don't abandon the carols wholesale. Communities singing in unison -- what better symbol of the victory of Gandhi's ideal?

Add a Hebrew ballad or a Japanese folk song, but let the people sing their beloved carols. I have Jewish friends who love to sing carols; I know a Korean Buddhist folk song about unity. The ideals of Christ are not to be dismissed as offensive; they served to build the recognition of women's rights, of abolitionism, of freedom and compassion. The concern of our Founding Fathers regarding separation of church and state was the unfair and particular regard for any one religion, not the abandonment of all religious symbols and sentiments from the public square.

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Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.