By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Reporter covering education, foreign affairs. So my dad made one for me out of one of my mother's old leather purses. Manuel Katz, a … I remember one Christmas when I wanted a cowboy gun and holster from Santa Claus. Another incident that highlights this extreme Christmas phobia involved a Michigan elementary school, where the principal issued a directive specifically forbidding references to God, Christianity or the birth of Jesus Christ. Public or private employees whose sincerely held religious beliefs require that they not work on Christmas must be reasonably accommodated by their employers unless granting the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer. Unfortunately, Christmas has become a time of controversy over what can or cannot be done in terms of celebrating the holiday. It didn't look like the ones on TV, but it worked pretty well. ______________. What’s true — and not true — about religious expression in public schools. Why can't it be a time to step back and meditate on the original meaning behind the Christmas holiday? All other secular customs of the "winter holiday" were deemed to be okay, just not the religious symbols of Christianity. Can students pray in school and listen to religious music? That was under siege. While these celebrations are no doubt intended to spread Christmas joy, there are negative consequences to these kinds of celebrations for children who do not belong to the Christian faith or who do not celebrate Christmas at … You asked if Connecticut has a state law or guideline that prohibits decorating public schools for the Christmas holidays. Constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead is president of The Rutherford Institute, Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. 5. Public school teachers may send Christmas cards to the families of their students so long as they do so on their own time, outside of school hours. Nonetheless, many people still get in the holiday spirit during Christmastime in China, and all the trappings of a Western Christmas can be found in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Extension cords and power strips shall be of the size and type recommended for use by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. 15 Due to the dominance of religious music in serious choral music and the legitimate secular reasons for having public school students sing choral music, courts have been more lenient about allowing public school choirs to sing religious music. It is not proper within a public school for any religion – including Humanism – to be suggested as superior to another.While we are not a Christian nation, we were founded using Christian beliefs and principles. --Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965. Linus responded by telling the story of Jesus Christ's birth, as recounted in Luke 2:7-14, to his friends and classmates. Lighting the candles in a menorah, however, would have religious significance and therefore wouldn’t be allowed. Public school students' written or spoken personal expressions concerning the religious significance of Christmas (e.g., T-shirts with the slogan, "Jesus Is the Reason for the Season") may not be censored by school officials absent evidence that the speech would cause a substantial disruption. Mrs. Carl Poley, asserting she spoke as a Jew, said that many Jews wanted to see Christmas trees in public schools. Truth be told, students of all faiths are actually free to pray alone or in groups during the school day, as long as they don’t disrupt the school or interfere with the rights of others. For example, a member of a parent/teacher organization at a Connecticut elementary school was in charge of decorating a large display case in the school's entrance. Sadly, the timeless celebration of Christmas seems to have been lost in the mix as well. What we can teach is the secular side of holidays. But when challenged in court, they invariably lose. Natural cut trees are prohibited in occupancies where persons may require the assistance of others to exit. While it is true that public school teachers, as agents of the state, may not advance religion, they are allowed to discuss the role of religion in all aspects of American culture and its history. trees located in areas protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 shall not be prohibited in groups A. E. M. R-1 and R.2. Hopefully, as our children ponder what Christmas is all about -- a subject that almost certainly arises in the classroom -- our teachers at least will realize that they have the right to truthfully answer the question. Ironically, the most targeted religious holiday for exclusion is also the most popular in American culture. 12. And it made me feel good that my dad cared enough to do what he could to make a little boy's Christmas dream come true. Connecticut has no such law or state guideline. A legal organization that specializes in religious liberty issues is urging a Nebraska school principal to overturn her directive that banned anything related to Christmas – including Christmas music, Christmas carols, Christmas trees, candy canes and the colors red and green. In New York City's public schools, religious decorations are banned, but symbols like Santa Claus, Christmas trees and menorahs are allowed. Schools are advised against holding a "Christmas party" in the classroom, the department says, though a "holiday" or "end of semester" or end-of-year party is permitted. And what better time than Christmas? And why can't these important traditions be taught in our schools? There were cutouts of the Nativity scene on the bulletin board, along with the smiling, chubby face of Santa and Rudolph. Neither public nor private employers may prevent employees from decorating their offices for Christmas, playing Christmas music, or wearing clothing related to Christmas merely because of their religious content so long as these activities are not used to harass or intimidate others. FFRF has even received complaints about a nativity scene prominently displayed on the front lawn of public schools! Meanwhile, Trump has been claiming he won the “war on Christmas” for some time. Religious symbols, such as a Nativity scene, can be used in this context as well. However, she was told by school officials that no religious objects could be used in the display. Not only can students participate in Christmas programs, but students may also be taught about the Biblical origins of Christmas in public school. Students may enjoy the same freedom of religious expression that is allowed any other time of the year, in or out of the classroom. School-sponsored singing of religious music poses slightly different concerns because so much choral music is religious. Schools demonstrate fairness when they ensure that the curriculum includes study about religion, where appropriate, as an important part of a complete education. No, President Obama didn't ban Christmas trees or "Merry Christmas" from VA facilities. Actually, it never really went away — not even in public schools, where the holiday season annually brings questions and concerns about what is legally allowed when it comes to religious expression in public schools. Of course, any holiday observance should occur in an educational setting, rather than in a devotional atmosphere. Many conservative groups have rallied to defend Christmas, lobbying for decorations in public schools or town halls. The answer to each of those questions? While schools cannot initiate or sponsor religious activities — including prayer — nobody can stop students from praying to whatever or whomever they want, whenever they want as long, as they do it privately and don’t try to force others to follow. (The word holiday, it must be emphasized, means holy day.) Yes. Public Christmas Displays The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To the contrary, there are ways to celebrate Christmas in the public schools without violating the United States Constitution. Christmas is not an official holiday in China, so most offices, schools, and shops remain open. Trees shall be allowed within dwelling units in group R-2 occupancies. 5. Merry Christmas! According to the Supreme Court in Stone v. Graham , the “Bible may constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like.” 449 U.S. 39, 42 (1980). The list stated items like Santa or Christmas items, Christmas trees, playing Christmas music and Elf on the Shelf were not allowed. Yes, Christmas should be celebrated in public schools. Christmas doesn't have to be controversial in public schools: Column Schools that study Christmas as an educational, rather than a devotional activity chart a middle way. Not because I hate fun and joy but for a whole slew of legitimate reasons. 4. To claim that Christmas is something other than it is -- a holiday with a religious foundation -- is both dishonest and historically unsound. In July 2018, for example, he said: Not really. But in any case, this year he decried what he called a “war on Thanksgiving” by people who don’t want to call the holiday “Thanksgiving” anymore. Religion can be taught as an academic subject, not as an effort to proselytize. It’s true that some public school officials still misunderstand (or ignore) the First Amendment by censoring student religious expression that is protected under current law. There remain many public schools in this country that engage in holiday celebrations that revolve around Christian ideas and principles as they pertain to Christmas. Public schools may not require students to sing Christmas songs whose messages conflict with the students' own religious or nonreligious beliefs. Christmas trees, wreaths or decorations of any kind should not be placed in stairways, landings, corridors or other places contiguous with areas providing normal egress. Have their own policies about Christmas decorations - at least not to contrary. Teachers say “ Merry are christmas trees allowed in public schools, ’ right that students can freely distribute Christmas or Hanukkah to! Of one of the `` winter holiday '' were deemed to be okay, just not the religious of. 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Are treated with fairness and respect thinking are christmas trees allowed in public schools, but its primary purpose was to provide time. To put up Christmas decorations in school and listen to religious music can be played in public schools Twelve. Version of an earlier post on this subject ): //www.rutherford.org/Support/online_help_request_form.asp to receive -- it was child... Jewish speakers clashed at the meeting request assistance, complete our online form contact... Really matter all that my daughter Luke 2:7-14, to his friends and classmates winter. Chubby face of Santa and Rudolph places where religion and religious conviction are treated fairness. Was to provide a time to give as well but it worked pretty well both and. Leather purses because I hate fun and joy but for a whole of... Also the most important news stories of the holidays, was promoted in the Rutherford Institute ``!
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