My daughter's scholl Christmas Party

[sunandmoon 450]

My daughter had her school Christmas Party on Friday. oops sorry, can't call it that. in her school district it has to be called a Winter Party. Geez, what's next?

[Alex+R 0]

So?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

My daughter had her school Christmas Party on Friday. oops sorry, can't call it that. in her school district it has to be called a Winter Party. Geez, what's next?

Political correctness makes me ill.

[Scott & Lai 12]

My daughter had her school Christmas Party on Friday. oops sorry, can't call it that. in her school district it has to be called a Winter Party. Geez, what's next?

I don't really see the point...is it just to celebrate that it's cold?

[mawilson 2,133]

Why can't we call it Christmas if it's the annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ on Dec 25?

If it's just a "Holiday Season", not Christmas, why not make it a holiday celebrated on e.g. the fourth

Monday of December and not specifically Dec 25?

[natty bumppo 297]

My daughter had her school Christmas Party on Friday. oops sorry, can't call it that. in her school district it has to be called a Winter Party. Geez, what's next?

Hope all went well and everyone had a great time

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Screw all you PC jerks! Oh, Merry Christmas too! 'tis the season...

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

My daughter had her school Christmas Party on Friday. oops sorry, can't call it that. in her school district it has to be called a Winter Party. Geez, what's next?

Political correctness makes me ill.

agreed. next we'll just call it snow shovel day.

[sunandmoon 450]

Merry Christmas.

a PC Christmas Poem

http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Chris.../xmaspoliti.htm

[one...two...tree 2,762]

American Center for Law and Justice

http://www.aclj.org/Media/PDF/ACLJ_2007_Sc...iday_Letter.pdf

School Holiday Celebrations Information Letter

Dear Concerned Citizens:

The American Center for Law and Justice wishes everyone a happy holiday season.

Undoubtedly, students in school districts all over the country are celebrating the holidays in a

variety of creative and entertaining ways. We are aware that some of these celebrations may be

hindered by questions of what is permitted or prohibited by the United States Constitution.

Consequently, the purpose of this letter is to assist local school district officials in addressing

what activities are permissible for schools to engage in, and to protect the rights of student

participation in Christmas or other holiday observances in public schools.

By way of introduction, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) is a not-for-profit

public interest law and educational group. Our organization exists to educate the public and the

government about the right to freedom of speech, particularly in the context of the expression of

religious sentiments. ACLJ attorneys have argued before the Supreme Court of the United States

in several significant cases in this area, including Locke v. Davey, 540 U.S. 712 (2004);

McConnell v. FEC, 540 U.S. 93 (2003); Lamb’s Chapel v. Center Moriches School District, 508

U.S. 384 (1993); and Board of Education v. Mergens, 496 U.S. 226 (1990).

Although holiday observances are constitutionally permissible, it is our concern that local school

districts may feel pressured to censor religious expression during Christmas. This letter will

attempt to provide answers to those questions which are most commonly asked regarding the

rights of students and teachers to participate in these observances.

I. Are students allowed to sing Christmas carols with religious themes at school

events or in holiday programs?

YES. The Establishment Clause does not prevent the singing of Christmas carols with religious

origins by public school choirs. A case that addressed this specific issue upheld the singing of

religious Christmas carols in public schools. In Florey v. Sioux Falls School District, 619 F.2d

1311 (8th Cir. 1980), the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that the

study and performance of religious songs, including Christmas carols, are constitutional if their

purpose is the “advancement of the students’ knowledge of society’s cultural and religious

heritage, as well as the provision of an opportunity for students to perform a full range of music,

poetry and drama that is likely to be of interest to the students and their audience.” Id. at 1314.

The Eighth Circuit in Florey found that religious songs and symbols can be used in public

schools if they are presented in a “prudent and objective manner and only as part of the cultural

and religious heritage of the holiday.” Id. at 1317. It is important to note that the decision in

Florey was based upon Supreme Court cases that permit the study of the Bible in public schools.

For example, in School District of Abington Township v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203, 225 (1963), the

Supreme Court stated:

It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and

historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible

or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of

education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.

Other court of appeals cases have confirmed the central holding of Florey. The United States

Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in Doe v. Duncanville Independent School District, 70

F.3d 402 (5th Cir. 1995), upheld a school’s longtime use of “The Lord Bless You and Keep

You” as its theme song. In its decision, the Court stated:

A position of neutrality towards religion must allow choir directors to recognize

the fact that most choral music is religious. Limiting the number of times a

religious piece of music can be sung is tantamount to censorship and does not

send students a message of neutrality. . . . Such animosity towards religion is not

required or condoned by the Constitution.

[Nagishkaw 510]

And we thought the Warren Commission used to scare us.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

All you poor, put upon American Christians. Boo hoo!

Not.

[mawilson 2,133]

All you poor, put upon American Christians. Boo hoo!

Not.

STFU. Let's rename Ramadan to Holidaze and Eid ul-Adha to Winterfest and see what you'll have to say then.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

PS - The American Center for Law and Justice is an evangelical non-profit founded by Pat Rebertson. I would expect them to do nothing less than defend Christianity against the heathens and unsaved masses who want their faiths to also be represented in public institutions. Freedom of religion is not only for Christians.

All you poor, put upon American Christians. Boo hoo!

Not.

STFU. Let's rename Ramadan to Holidaze and Eid ul-Adha to Winterfest and see what you'll have to say then.

What I say now and forever is keep religious myopia out of public institutions.

[mawilson 2,133]

What I say now and forever is keep religious myopia out of public institutions.

Sounds good!

But it doesn't mean we can't call Christmas Christmas and Hanukkah Hanukkah.

Dec 25 is still Christmas, public institutions or not.