Posted on 12/06/2004 5:50:24 AM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
When children who attend the McHenry County school gathered in the gym last week to brighten friends and parents with holiday cheer, they sang of lighting candles for Hanukkah, gave their rendition of a Jamaican folk song and even did their lists for Santa.
But their songs never mentioned Christ or the Christmas story--an omission that drew swift criticism from Christian groups pushing public schools to remember the meaning of Christmas.
"The reason for the season is Christmas," said Dave Smith, senior policy analyst for the Illinois Family Institute, a Christian organization. "At least some equal time would have been nice."
Officials at Spring Grove Elementary School said they were just trying to be more inclusive of all holiday traditions and cultures during concerts Wednesday and Thursday nights. Any overlooking of Christ and Christmas was inadvertent, they said.
"There wasn't anything to slight anybody," Principal John Druszczak said.
But a parent apparently disagreed and contacted the Illinois Family Institute about the holiday programs presented by the McHenry County elementary school, Smith said.
Smith put her in touch with Chicago lawyer Andy Norman, who said Friday that he has been involved in a nationwide fight to "save Christmas from" the American Civil Liberties Union.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
AMEN!
This is nothing new in this part of the world. My niece is 22, and when she was in grade school her public school -- in north central Illinois -- allowed kids to sing Hunnakah and Kwaanza songs, but banned Christmas carols.
And this is exactly why my children will never grace the doors of a public school. I am sorry, but this is so offensive to me. My oldest is only in Kindergarten, my younger not even in the school yet, but I am already eyeing potential Catholic high schools that are within reasonable driving distance. I had a monm approach me about this, her daughter attends public school and she is calls mother, she can help with the party, but under nno uncertain terms can "Santa Claus" be mentioned. Appalling. Thnakfully, in Good Shepherd Acamademy, Sants is talked about and displayed openely and Merry Christmas is not looked at as some sort of vulgar statement.
Why would a parent know what was going to be in the whole school's Christmas program? Sometimes one grade does one thing and another grade does another thing. Why would the parent of a first grader know or care about the songs that the fifth graders are performing? Until the night the whole production is put together?
I have no clue what songs are in the various musical productions that our children are doing in school. I have asked one of them, but she just smiles. I'm not at all concerned either. Last year's "holiday" program had all kinds of songs. You could tell which ones weren't traditional Christmas/Santa songs. Nobody knew them well.
Yet they gladly take a paid holiday in the spirit of religion quick enough. I'm sure it's in the Union Rulebook.
Better for a fool to keep her mouth shut, than to open it and remove all doubt. Oops, we've all noted it's too late.
Christian parents need to get enough guts and energy to pull their kids out of participating in noninclusive public Christmas programs. Then the schools can get a better look at who is left to "entertain the public" by playing and singing Frosty the Snowman and Hannukah songs.
This Christmas seems so much worse than ever. I have decide to take a stand, and not let my kids be used as props during the Christmas season in semi-multicultural secular "feel good" promotions.
No, this country is at least 76% Christian, could be up to 80% now.
Let the minorities juggle their holidays.
Christmas is for the majority of the population, and I'm tired as heck of bending over backwards for the minorities that don't like the way things are.
We shouldn't have to change the way it is. It will just be something else they don't like, and we'll have to kowtow again.
Ridiculous. I'm all in favour of inclusion of other peoples' traditions and religiions - Hanukka etc (although I've got my doubts about the made up holiday of Kwanza), but shutting out the traditions and religion of the majority is silly. I grew up in a place (Nova Scotia, mostly) and era (born in '67) where the culture was pretty homogeneous and there was never really any question about the appropriateness of having a Christmas pageant with the Christmas story and songs, including the religious ones. Certainly I never heard my father say anything against it, and he was quite agnostic. But today we've got all these twits who are determined not to offend anyone of a different belief, despite not having any idea what they might find offensive or not.
Nicely done!
LOL
My posts are most sensible.
Article title: "School's inclusive Christmas excludes Christ"
From the article: "When children who attend the McHenry County school gathered in the gym last week to brighten friends and parents with holiday cheer, they sang of lighting candles for Hanukkah, gave their rendition of a Jamaican folk song and even did their lists for Santa."
My point stands.
Dan
Well, I am able to get the program ahead of time. The point is, if a parent is concerned that a school is banning certain Christmas songs, they have an opportunity to address it. This story sounds like the school did not prohibit such yet the parent went running to some organization to complain.
Fight now before it is too late. Look what happened to the Jews in WWII. It started with small things, as it always does, and if those are tolerated then it escalates.
Just FYI, my daughter attends public school and typical songs presented at this time of year include Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World, in addition to the Santa songs and such.
Oh, yes there was, Mr. Druszczak. You slighted Christians, and it had to be done on purpose. That's obvious.
Try that with Muslims and see how far you get. Next thing you know, you would wind up in a gutter with your head sawn half off and a Fatwa letter impaled into your chest with a dagger!
As does mine. The school did not say they banned mention of Christ and so to cast this in with stories of schools that prohibit such does not seem right to me.
I was thinking that parents could tell their kids that gifts are postponed for a week. Sugar-coat this by telling them that they could get more because items would be on sale after Christmas. Then we celebrate Christmas with church services and, as Jesus lived, by giving the gift of service to others, whether it is our job or helping in 'soup kitchens, etc.
Wouldn't this make a mess of heathens who want to celebrate Dec 25th without Christ? They would be giving gifts on a religious holiday without any religious reason. What happens to the Christmas stories and songs that emphasize gift giving? If this caught on, what would happen to the retail market? Total confusion?
This would REALLY put Christ back into Christmas --- the reason for the season. Sadly, I'm NOT a salesman nor leader.
Yes, the door is wide open to anyone who wants to leave this country. No one is forcing them to stay here.
Merry Christmas to you too!
It's my constant refrain now in stores, and to those who man the Salvation Army collection buckets.
No Happy Holidays for me this year, or the last few years in fact.
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