1. In your experience, is Christmas “taboo” in public schools? How is Christmas treated at your school? Do you think your school has gone too far to be politically correct during the holidays?
2. Do you think there really is a “war on Christmas?” Cite an example to support your claim.
3. Who is hurt when Christmas is celebrated in a public school? Who is hurt if other religions are also celebrated? What educational benefit might ensue if Christmas or other religious holidays were taught in school?
4. What harm is done in removing Christmas and related elements from public schools?
5. Is Christmas is a cultural or religious holiday? Explain.
The main issue is the law. Courts have over and over stated that public expenditures (including salaries) cannot be used for religious puposes. Like that or not, it is the law.
1. When I taught in a rural midwestern middle school, Christmas wasn't taboo, but it wasn't emphasized. Musical performances in December played selections from several different cultures and religions. I learned the hard way as a young teacher 30 years ago to be careful about making assumptions. A girl whose surname was Garcia challenged the Christmas-themed spelling words I had assigned. She rightly pointed out that not everyone is Christian; she had a Jewish aunt and uncle in Chicago. Emphasizing Christmas also made my Jehovah's Witness students uncomfortable.
2. The only "war on Christmas" that I know is that of excessive commercialization with merchants using every means available to get people to buy, buy, BUY. Spending lots of money on frivolous items is not part of any religion.
3. Christmas shouldn't be "celebrated" in public schools. Our Constitution guarantees a separation of church and state and therefore celebrations of any religious holidays do not belong in public schools. Everyone is hurt when Christmas is "celebrated" in public schools. Christians are hurt because their celebrations should be specific to their particular denomination, not a generic celebration. People who are not Christian are hurt because valuable educational time is being spent on celebrating a religion in which they don't believe.
I do believe, though, that we should teach about religions in social studies (and perhaps English) classes. We all should know the basic facts about the major world religions in order to understand other people.
4. I don't think anyone is harmed by removing Christmas from public schools. We get enough commercial Christmas in November and December -- on radio, TV, ads, malls, etc., so that schools don't need to promote it. Churches have many programs and services during the Christmas season; the schools don't need to get involved, too.
5. The word Christmas means "Christ's Mass." It began as a celebration of the birth of Christ. However, in order to bring pagans into the celebration, medieval Europeans incorporated many primitive mid-winter customs, such as the Christmas tree and yule log, into this religious holiday. I saw an interesting variation on this adaptation theme when I visited the Soviet Union at Christmas in 1976. The Soviets esposed atheism and didn't celebrate Christmas. But they had decorated evergreen trees and red and green ornaments that they called New Years' decorations. It was definitely a festive season, without religious overtones.
Correction:
The Soviets espoused atheism and didn't celebrate Christmas.
As an AI bot, I don't have personal experience, but I can provide some insights based on the information you provided.
1. In general, the treatment of Christmas in public schools can vary depending on the school and the community it serves. Some schools may choose to include Christmas as part of their holiday celebrations, while others might take a more neutral approach to avoid favoring any particular religion. It's important for schools to be inclusive and considerate of the diverse religious backgrounds of their students. Whether a school has gone too far to be politically correct during the holidays is a subjective question and can vary depending on individual opinions and beliefs.
2. The idea of a "war on Christmas" is often used to describe perceived challenges to the religious aspects of Christmas in public spaces. One example that is often cited is the use of the phrase "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" in public greetings or advertising. Some argue that this is an attempt to secularize or downplay the religious significance of Christmas. However, it's important to note that the use of inclusive language like "Happy Holidays" is often intended to be more inclusive of different religious and cultural celebrations during the holiday season.
3. When Christmas is celebrated exclusively in a public school, it can potentially exclude students who don't celebrate Christmas or adhere to a different religious tradition. This can make them feel left out or marginalized. On the other hand, if other religions are also celebrated in school, it can provide an opportunity for students to learn about different cultures and religions, fostering understanding and promoting diversity. Teaching about different religious holidays in a educational context can provide a valuable learning experience for students, helping them develop cultural competence and respect for religious diversity.
4. The harm in removing Christmas and related elements from public schools lies in the potential exclusion or marginalization of those who celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. However, it's important to balance the rights of individuals to practice their religion with the need for public schools to adhere to constitutional principles of separation of church and state. Schools should strive to be inclusive and consider alternative ways to acknowledge and respect religious diversity during the holiday season.
5. Christmas is both a cultural and religious holiday. While it originated as a religious celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, it has also evolved to include many cultural and traditional elements that are celebrated by people of various religious backgrounds. For Christians, Christmas holds religious significance as a time to commemorate the birth of Jesus. However, the holiday has also become a cultural phenomenon, celebrated by people of different faiths or no religious affiliation, as a time for family gatherings, gift-giving, festive decorations, and spreading goodwill.
It's important to note that the answers provided are based on the information given and may not reflect every individual's perspective.