School May Ban 'Silent Night' From Concert Some Parents Not Happy With Issue

NBC Channel 4 Television (New Jersey) ^ | www.nbc4.tv

[LibertyRocks]

A South Jersey elementary school wants to ban "Silent Night" from its holiday concert, over some parents' objections.

Officials at the Slaybaugh School in Egg Harbor Township said that they may not allow kindergarteners to sing the song

[LibertyRocks]

There are only a few more paragraphs at the web site. There is a link to a slideshow on the page as well.

This is getting ridiculous if you ask me. I'll say what I've said before. In junior high choir we had a Christmas Concert...We sang several jewish songs about Hanukkah, as well as several religious Christmas carols, and of course several secular winter songs as well. I don't remember anyone complaining about the majority of us Christian children singing about a dreidl and lights... We did it to make our Jewish friends feel more welcome, and I didn't all of a sudden want to be Jewish just because I sang a song about Hanukkah! Granted this was back in the mid-80s so I guess times really have changed!

Why do these school administrators feel that it's OK to ban religious songs? Why not just add to their repetoire? If their real motive is to encourage tolerance it doesn't make sense to ban songs. Besides, I'll bet these kids have been practicing this song for a while now. What kind of message are we sending to these kids if we say - Oh, we know you've worked hard, but we don't want you to sing that song... This is just sad.

[goodnesswins]

I, also, am tired of the SCREAMING IDIOTS running our world.....enough! Sing the SONGS!!!

[Ellesu]

"a" Jewish resident.

[Borges]

This is so sad. Silent Night is one of the most beautiful songs ever composed.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

Perhaps you would like a traditional Ramadan song included as well?

[AppyPappy]

To purposefully exclude a Ramadan song because someone MIGHT be offended would be wrong.

[odoso]

Parents Not Happy - May Ban F'n Idoits Running The School!

[beethovenfan]

There IS no Ramadan song. Don'tcha know that music is EVIL?

[JesseHousman]

over some parents' objections.

There should have been a groundswell!

[Bluegrass Conservative]

I just don't blame a school's administration for avoiding the chance of a lawsuit and keeping the program secular.

[Publius6961]

How about every mother who wants a normal child to take him/her to the parking lot on school grounds with a portable electronic piano and a program of traditional Christmas carols.
Get arrested, handcuffed and booked; men women and children.

I guarantee National media coverage.
It is called civil disobedience, and it has been endorsed by heaven and hell uniformly.

[shadowman99]

If they ever pull this PC crap at my kid's school they will not be performing in the 'winter program'.

[Adder]

Great.
So the school does what the lefties want because they are afraid they might be sued.

Thats how such intimidation works.
Maybe some of the parents who WANT the kids to sing the song should sue.

The school's position is thereby negated.

[AppyPappy]

I just don't blame a school's administration for avoiding the chance of a lawsuit and keeping the program secular.

So you support suppression of speech based on the slight probability of a lawsuit? What about the possibility the school might be sued for restricting the speech rights of students? Would you be willing to roll over for that one as well?

[Polybius]

This is getting ridiculous if you ask me. I'll say what I've said before. In junior high choir we had a Christmas Concert...We sang several jewish songs about Hanukkah, as well as several religious Christmas carols, and of course several secular winter songs as well

Your school is acting in accordance with the First Amendment.

The school in this article is violating the First Amendment.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ... ...

[Bluegrass Conservative]

How is this suppression of free speech?

[verity]

School boards fear the hired gun slingers from ther ACLU!

[Bluegrass Conservative]

What's their basis for suing?

[Polybius]

I just don't blame a school's administration for avoiding the chance of a lawsuit and keeping the program secular.

See Post 16.

This nonesense will end when schools are slapped with lawsuits for violating the clear language of the First Amendment.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ... ...