What ever happened to the Christmas Pageant at School?

[ChurchandState]

I got this from another thread. The writer make a good point. Are American values a thing of the past?

Is there a Christmas tree or wreath in any of the schools
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how about a little menorah , angels singing silent night maybe---I guess not. To bad. No Christmas carols just frosty the snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and other bland Holiday music

WELL AT LEAST WE HAVE GANGS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL

[bmer]

Many school display the menorah, Christmas trees, etc. the real question is, why is the menorah allowed and not the manger? The menorah is a religious symbol...according to the Catholic church, the Christmas tree is NOT a religious symbol, but the manger is...what's going on here?
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[Patriot]

They have one at my kids school but he says they keep it inside a classroom where it "really cant be seen, except through the little window on the door".
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[Rudolph]

Just thank all your left-wing educators and parents who spend more time looking for ways to ruin those special 'things' we as kids experienced.Mom....clean your house. Dad....come home at 5pm and stay there.Educators....worry about ABC & 123 and not 'political correctness'....GOD! I hate that expression....Finally...I'd love to fing a local school board with a pair of balls that would just say....NO!

[Santa]

A guy on my school board once pointed out the irony that the state lets itself slide every year on the late budget but holds the line on stuff like this. Caused quite a stir. You hear this mentioned from time to time, but there isn't much local latitude here. The place we need some balls is in Albany and in the courts.

[ho ho]

who do you think gots bigger balls paturkey or santa

[commonsense]

If this discussion were going on in the rural heartland, it would make more sense. We aren't the descendents of pioneers, we are the children of immigrants ourselves! Most of our relatives came here around the turn of the century! Look around you, EI is a really mixed place, a colorful suburb of New York City not a plain vanilla WASP small-town a hundred miles from anywhere (you would hate it out here). Variety is the spice of life!
So why can't we celebrate all the winter holidays at school? Why does it have to be "one or the other", how about "and/both".
It appears the agenda of the right-wing is to make Christianity (the born-again kind) the National Religion, and thank God that the Constitution and Bill of Rights are there to protect us from government sponsored religion. They would have us celebrate Jesus exclusively if given the chance. We must defend the separation of church and state.
But religions are real, and our citizens-to-be, our kids, who very soon are gonna be out here with us in the "Adult-World", need to know about the world beyond their doorstep and experience how the holidays are celebrated around the world by different peoples. Look around you, these so-called different peoples are our next-door neighbors, not strangers far away. This is how I was taught at East Islip Schools, I think they did a pretty good job. They didn't teach me to believe in the other religions. At school I learned about the rest of the world and it made me a better citizen.
I just don't see why we have to exclude anyone during the Winter Holidays. Isn't there any room at the inn?

[a blissful world]

filled with illegal aliens, gangs, terrorists, tax cheats, left wing ideologs who see diversity as a great thing despite balkinizing the country, corporate executives who see dollar signs everytime our nation's soverignty is violated

yeah I want the Christmas tree back in the schools along with Christmas carols and to sing Hanahka songs around the menorah is nice to

you leftists unatural fear of the Christian right and keeping GOD out of everything is actually helping to push more people over to the fundamentalist Christians myself included

[Teach Tolerance]

The point here isn't Christmas to the exclusion of other holidays.

[Teacher]

In 1962 the Supreme Court Decision Engle v. Vitale uphelfd the Constitution first amendment protect: Separation of Church & State. It happened right here in New Hyde Park While it is a joyous season, Religious symbols have no place in public schools. There are more religions being practiced these days and recognition of Judeo-Christian heritage can be exclusionary. Not observing religion i public school is not indicative that here is an absence of moral values being taught. Some of the most immoral people in this country profess to be be the most religious. I am tired of all those "leftist" accusations. Liberals are not all godless communists. You can thank "liberals" for working over the years to ensure your right to believe and practice what you wish. I fear for a country where people say "If you do not share my beliefs, you are going to hell". By the way the religious significance of a Menorah ( Hanukkah is a minor holiday, actually a festival) is nothing compared to a Nativity Scene. My husband of over thirty years and I are of different faiths, my house is decorated with symbols of both. That is ecumenism, but religion should not be promoted by our government.
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[teach tolerance and teach]

The issue is not diversity or political correctness. The issue is the Constitution's separation of church and state. The religious right is just as dangerous and intolerant as the Muslims of which you speak. The left as so many of you like to speak have not controlled this country since the mid sixties. Why so many groups who choose not to assimilate into this country (as my grandparents did) are allowed in I do not know. But once again you miss the point. I am not talking about tolerance or diversity I am talking my Constitutional right to have my government not promote any religion, That's really funny I guess because Bush actively promotes his and would like to push his belief down our throats.

[Christian]

Social Relativism has become the State sponsored religion of the USA under the continued intolerant rule of the left. Chrisitans are just looking for equal time - not as a religion, as a culture. The New Hyde Park decision is a shame on all of America.

[Teacher]

Dear Christian, I would appreciate it if you could explain how Christianity is a culture, I am unaware of this description. As far as Engel v. Vitale, You have the right to pray anywhere anytime, but you don't have the right to force others to join you. Our founding fathers believed that religion is important, but no one particular religion should be promoted by the government. Pray in your church, in your home, in your car, but not in our schools. Asa lifelong student of history (which I also teach) religion has not always made this a better world or created better people. Religion is personal.
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[student]

Teacher

Well put in your points

However let me ask you do you refuse to use US currency because it says In God We Trust on it

[Jerry Springer]

WHOOP! THERE IT IS! WHOOP! THERE IT IS!!!!

[Teacher]

There is a difference. God is a pretty general term It is not promoting any one religion (i.e. In Allah we trust) Prayer in school is another matter. I was born in 1950 and I remember the Prue - Engel v. Vitale days. The prayer they said at assemblies ( in NYC schools yet) didn't bother me and I couldn't understand why the atheists were making such a big deal. As a teacher of history and looking at the current climate in this country I say that the founding fathers trusted in God, but they were wise enough to keep it out of government. There are people out there who are gaining much influence over our government and they are intolerant of others who do not believe what they do or follow their religion. That scares the hell out of me. History has had its inquisitions, witch trials, pogroms etc. We have come so far in respecting people's rights I hate to see us step back wards. It was only a generation ago that people who took part in a lynching on a Saturday Night, sat in Church the very next morning.
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[grinch]

Christmas isn't part of American culture??? Wow! Having this slant in the American Social Studies classroom is gonna help me with my mission a ton! Thanks Teacher. You're the best. The rest of you are just a bunch of silly humbugs.

[student]

Teacher

In your point you miss one thing. In doesn't say in Allah we trust on the dollar bill. It says in God we trust. It is not being used in a generic way but is in reference to the Christian figure of God. The founding fathers who came over here were not Muslims

[Teacher]

I see your point, but let me clarify. The beliefs of the founding fathers were based on a Judeo-Christian heritage. Allah means god in any case. Only a hardcore atheist might have an issue with the phrase, I am not saying it is unconstitutional to acknowledge God, but prayer and religious symbols do not belong in government institutions i.e. schools and government buildings
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[student]

Teacher

Good points and yes religious symbols do not belong in govt buildings or in schools. We have to see how far the pendulum swings but we dont need it going as far as they do in France.

However if you really are a teacher I cannot believe what you say about prayer. I can only say (from experience) that on every test ever given prayer becomes a big ally for any student and is used often in public schools.

Enjoy

[Teacher]

AMEN (but studying helps more)
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[grinch]

A Christmas tree, Star, Dreidle, or Santa would be bad for our boys and girls. We need them to come up morally straight without the nasty influence of religion twisting their innocent minds. LIGALY posters are the only moral messages they should see on the walls of their schools. Especially little CindyLouWho.

[Nativity]

Time to start flexing our muscles like everyone else during our Christmas Season which all can celebrate if they wish.

[Teacher]

The Nativity Scene is a highly religious depiction, it has no place in public schools. People can celebrate whatever they wish, but putting such a religious depiction would be in violation of the Constitution's first amendment.
________
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[miss crabtree]

The placing of a nativity scene does not violate the establishment clause of the Constitution. The Government is not establishing a religion. No one is forced to accept the scene as the "State Religion". The same holds true for Municipal displays of nativity Scenes and Menorahs. You are looking for something that is not there.
________
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[Nativity Scene]

Whether the leftists in the country like it or not people are more than just tired with their demagogery attack on religious beliefs and factual events.

The Nativity Scene did take place. How you want to interpret the event is your business or faith as many would call it. Since it is an event that people rejoice over and our government celebrates it by giving people off from work because of it, there is no reason why it can't be depicted on public property.

Our country was founded on these beliefs and Jews and Christians helped to keep these beliefs when forming our form of government. Ten commandments should be in every public building and especially schools. When you lose your religious beliefs you lose your ability to govern humanely and honestly.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKA TO ALL

[miss crabtree]

AMEN . Peace on earth to all people of goodwill.

The others deserve what they receive.
________
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[ChubbsyUbbsy]

The establishment clause was never intended to be misused in this way. Christmas a is huge part of the American melting pot. Like the butterfly that stirs a breeze in Hong Kong eventually affects the weather in New York City, so is the strong cultural influence of holidays, foods, and traditions, many of which come from our religions. Trying to force one religion or another underground because you disagree with it, only blurs your understanding of your fellow man. Funny how it is always the liberals who claim to be inclusive who always end up behind the move to suppress. Go ahead and try, the spirit and promise of Christmas cannot be buried by mortal man.

[Under The Blade]

In Longwoods defense..There was a Santa Claus play this year and the calender mentions Christmas Day

[eggnog]

"Our country was founded on these beliefs and Jews and Christians helped to keep these beliefs when forming our form of government."

Who among our founding fathers was Jewish?

[nutmeg]

The TEN COMMANDMENTS are in the OLD TESTAMENT.

I rest my case.

[eggnog]

I understand, but where were the Jews when this country was being built? All your saying is it was built by Christians, who also believe in the Old Testament.

:idea:

[We will pay]

Think about it, Islam the fastest growing religion in the USA.

How many Muslim kids wear their religion in public schools and are never questioned on it ?

Yet where did the Christmas tree and the Menorah go come December ? :cry: