ADF: Schools Simply Misinformed on Christmas Observances
by Jim Brown
December 14, 2005
(AgapePress) - - A legal group is calling on an Arizona elementary school to eliminate its phobia of Christian Christmas songs.In the Yavapai Elementary office in Scottsdale, there is a pine tree, snowmen, a Menorah, reindeer, Spanish greeting cards that display "Feliz Navidad," a Kwanzaa brochure, a sign that says "Peace," and a stuffed Grinch. However, according to the Arizona Republic, the school bans religious Christmas carols in the building.
According to that newspaper, Yavapai Elementary is not alone in its treatment of religious-oriented activities and decorations surrounding the Christmas season. The Republic reports that Las Sendas Elementary School in Mesa has banned Nativity scenes.
Mike Johnson, an attorney with the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund, says similar "government censorship" is occurring all across the country. And that censorship, he says, is largely based on people being misinformed about the law.
"What we see, rather than a tolerance for all religions, [is] really an outright hostility towards one particular faith; and that, typically, is Christianity," Johnson states. "There's no reason to censor [representations of] the Baby Jesus from Christmas celebrations, even on school campuses -- and we all need to remember that."
Johnson calls the ban at Yavapai Elementary "political correctness run amok," and is urging parents and students to fight it. "We're hearing examples [of similar bans] from all across the country -- red states, blue states, every place in between -- and it's unfortunate," he laments.
What does the attorney recommend? "You know, in the private sector we can take our consumer dollars elsewhere and send a message -- and that has effected great change," he says. "But in the public sector, we can take them to court when necessary. And we're certainly willing to do that."
Johnson says the Alliance Defense Fund is monitoring the school and may intervene with a federal lawsuit.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
