TRI In The News
What Schools Should Know at Christmas Time
From One News Now
Original article available here
In response to the constant pressure on schools to be politically correct during the holidays, The Rutherford Institute has issued its "Twelve Rules of Christmas."
Rutherford Institute President John Whitehead says many schools overreact and ban nativity displays, candy canes, and Christmas trees as the holiday approaches. They even rename Christmas programs "winter holiday" productions and forbid students and teachers from wearing red and green.
"The most recent [case] we received was a sixth grade class was asked … in a public school to make holiday cards to send to the troops, but they were told they could not use the words 'Merry Christmas' in the cards; they couldn't write that," Whitehead reports.
The legal firm posts The Twelve Rules of Christmas every year in an attempt to "clear up much of the misunderstanding" and bring common sense back to public schools during the Christmas season.
"No court has ruled that you cannot celebrate Christmas in the schools," the Institute president points out. "You can say 'Merry Christmas,' you can wear T-shirts with the slogan 'Jesus is the reason for the season,' [and] teachers can wear [Christmas] clothing and jewelry, as we show on our 12 rules."
The list also points out that public schools may teach students about the religious significance of the holiday, teachers are allowed to send Christmas cards to students' families, and schools can include Christmas music with religious themes in their choral programs.
