More public schools are abandoning Christmas…and now they’re throwing out Santa Claus, too.

After all, the concept of Santa is based on a real Christian do-gooder named Nicholas.

Ironically, our “tolerant” society simply can’t tolerate this in the name of diversity.

In continued efforts not to offend anyone, numerous public school officials have crossed a new bridge this year.

They’ve decided that not only the religious aspects of Christmas, but anything that may be associated with Christmas, must go.

So Santa is “getting the boot” along with candy canes and red and green wrapping paper.

Christian law firms across the country are once again busy defending parents and students against schools and school districts that continue to be ignorant of religious rights in regards to Christmas.

Here are some examples of new 2009 incidents:

• Byam Elementary School in Chelmsford, Massachusetts has had a long-standing “Gift Room” fundraiser for donating and purchasing gifts. This year, the policy has been changed to ban candy canes, Christmas stockings, Santas and other “religious” items – and in fact have banned anything related to the Jewish Hanukkah as well.
• The Alliance Defense Fund is representing students’ families in this case.Their Press Release states that Byam’s superintendent defended the school’s decision as “taking a conservative approach to separation of church and state.” ADF’s representative, Jordan Lorence responds in the article: “Ignoring the 95 percent of Americans who celebrate Christmas is not tolerance.  It’s also not necessary because the idea that gifts related to Christmas would be unconstitutional at this sale is patently false.”
• In 2006, due to the previous several years’ hailstorm of public school snubs toward Christmas, the ADF contacted over 11,000 schools and 5,500 mayors explaining it is constitutionally sound to allow various activities associated with Christmas at school. Yet, the misunderstandings continue.

• New York’s East Syracuse-Minoa School District school has also banned references to Christmas from any school sponsored event. According to Christian Newswire, a letter was sent to parents stating that no specific holiday shall be recognized in any school event:
  “This is a busy time with many diverse cultural and religious traditions. Our school district honors this diversity…we must balance that commitment with respect for all students’ heritages and beliefs….” (see whole letter here).
• Contrary to this paragraph on valuing diversity, the letter goes on to say that programs involving singular beliefs may not take place at school during school hours or with any school sponsorship; i.e., no school holiday program can involve any regard for God. The Parent Teachers’ Association scheduled Santa to appear one evening at 6:00 pm.
• When approached by parents about this situation, the Deputy Superintendent explained that Santa Claus originated from the story about St. Nicholas. Parents are fighting these restrictions and have started a petition.

• One school bans, then brings back Christmas under pressure:
  In November, Bellview Elementary School in Ashland, Oregon announced it was not allowing any references to Christmas or Santa. The Christmas tree at Bellview had previously been re-named a “holliday tree,” but then Bellview Principal Michelle Zundel removed it completely and replaced it with snowmen.

A report at Accuracy in Academia states Zundel acknowledged to parents that the Christmas tree has even been ruled as a “secular” symbol by the Supreme Court; but albeit, that the tree does also symbolize Christmas, and it feels like a religious symbol to families who don’t celebrate Christmas. So anything that feels like a religious Christmas symbol is taboo.

But Zundel reversed her decision after a community meeting, dozens of communications from around the country and a letter from Liberty Counsel explaining the childrens’ true religious rights in public schools.

There is nothing wrong with Christmas in Public School. Here are some resources for parents:

• Liberty Counsel has a “Help Save Christmas Action Pack” and has joined the Christian Educators Association International in a “Friend or Foe” Christmas Campaign.
• The Christian Law Association offers a CD, “Keeping Christ in Christmas.” And numerous Christian organizations have gotten together at this “Defend Christmas Resources” Web site to offer information that can be brought to school boards and principles.