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We three kings of Orient are no more thanks to three judges in Philadelphia. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a New Jersey school district’s ban on Christmas carols.
“Certainly, those of us who were educated in the public schools remember holiday celebrations replete with Christmas carols, and possibly even Hanukkah songs, to which no objection had been raised,” the court said in its ruling.
Santa Claus and Rudolph are more than welcome but the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes is not.
Click here for the Philadelphia Inquirer story.
The controversy surrounds a 2004 decision by the Maplewood-South Orange School District to ban religious-themed carols. It also banned the high school gospel choir from performing at a school assembly.
A school brass ensemble was not allowed to perform instrumental versions of religious holiday songs. And, according to court documents, printed school materials were not allowed to include holiday images like Christmas trees.
Michael Stratechuk filed suit arguing the ban violated his children’s First Amendment rights.
But the appeals court sided with the school district, writing:
“Since then, the governing principles have been examined and defined with more particularity. Many decisions about how to best create an inclusive environment in public schools, such as those at issue here, are left to the sound discretion of the school authorities.”
In other words, folks, the times they are a-changing.
Todd Starnes is a network news reporter and best-selling author. For more on his book, click here.
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If you dont like the religious-themed Christmas carols don’t listen. Public schools are for all. When I attended public school we sang Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs, and it was no problem.
The way things are going this day and time, we will be lucky if we still have churches to go to. There is going to be a time when we will not be a loud to praise the Lord or worship in any way or form. We as people need to put an end to all of the DEVILS doing and get our stuff back!!!! God Bless to All!!!!!!
I believe public schools are excluding a great deal of real facts about the founding of this country and it's original Christain based values.
Christmas was a reason for living. A season for giving. We were all happy. I don't see much celebration for being atheistic or agnostic. No wreaths there. And if you want to scrape the bottom of the barrel, no 'holiday' bargains for them, either.
Public schools are a place I don't want my children in. They are creating a group of children who will grow up far to liberal and with a lack of moral values. This is a country that is based on Christian based values and should remain so. Send your children to private schools for a good education.
This smells like censorship – against religion, culture, call it what you will. It is a sad day when a nation founded on the principles of freedom of worship and speech becomes one in which courts judge for curtailing freedom of worship and speech. I hope the judges in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reconsider, or else decide to leave decision-making to other judges. In other words – tend in your resignations.