Question about Christmas Music in my kid's public school!

[LiberalinNC]

I had to pick up my daughter at school today due to a doctor's appointment. As I was waiting for her I heard Christmas music being played on a CD player in the hallway - no words all instrumental. My question is this;

Should I call the school and complain or let it go? I am completely for Separation of Church and State (I've actually called the principal in the past about remarks a teacher made to my daughter about Jesus etc). Thanks!

[Maddy McCall]

1. Religious Christmas music?

Take it from a parent who has been there. Pick your battles carefully.

If I were you, I would wait until you hear that students are being forced to pray before lunch, or something on that level.

If you get labelled as a chronic complainer, they will just dismiss your complaints, and force you to escalate.

I've been there. I know how these southern administrators work.

[Ron Green]

2. Pick your battles. This one sounds a bit overly sensitve.

[bunkerbuster1]

3. Me-too post.

Music? just music? Honest, I'd say lighten up a bit.

And I'm the one who posted a message entitled "Can Georgians take a crap without being led in prayer," so please don't tag me as a fundy-pologist.

[proud patriot]

18. me three post

:D

[bobbobbins]

4. yeah, suck it up...no one likes a crybaby

[progmom]

5. I seriously don't see the problem

???

[ThorsHammer]

6. Let it go

IMO, this doesn't appear to be anything serious. Instrumental music is probably more for the seasonal mood, and not really meant as Christian propaganda. Your past complaint sounds completely legitimate, as that crosses the line, but the music sounds innocous.

[LiberalinNC]

7. I have to agree...

I figured I'd let it go, seeing that it was only Instrumental and not vocal.

It's a new principal, so I'm not too worried about being labeled a constant complainer...the comment that was made to my Jewish daughter that I couldn't let go was:

Teacher to my daughter: "You know, you can't get into heaven if you don't believe in Jesus Christ."

I felt 100% right complaining about that, but I figured I'd let the music go...and did think about running over and unplugging the CD player though! ;)

Thanks!

[Maddy McCall]

10. You WERE 100% right to complain about that.

Anytime your kid is singled out, complain. If your kid is forced to say "the blessing," complain.

Like I've said, I've been there. (And even if your principal is new, you can expect that she or he has been informed which parents complain. Still, don't let the label keep you from doing what is right for your child.)

[JHB]

11. Now THAT was out of line.

The music is a triviality. But dumping on a kid's religion demands a strong rebuke.

[proud patriot]

21. A teacher making this comment to a student is out of line

However if a student were to say this to another student
it's allowed . I worked at a day care once and a three
year old said this to another three year old (Japanese
American). I brought this up at a staff meeting the next
day because of my multi-cultural curriculum class I took.

The mother of the Christian child who happened to be
a teacher at that daycare said "I'm so glad you told
me I'm so proud of her" :puke: she did not like it
when I responded "I don't think a 3 year old child
should be put in a place of Judging others, and I find
what she said deeply hurtful to another valued student"

The conversation wasn't brought up again .

[eissa]

8. Let it go

It would just further the stereotype. It's only music, and it's only for a short time period. Your sentiments are right, but there are much bigger battles.

[9119495]

9. Courts have already ruled on this one. The music is art--regardless

of it's message. It can be treated as art.

By the way, this is how I get to teach the Rig Veda and other creation stories.

Besides, some of that music is beautiful. I'd hate for someone to say an African folk song couldn't be performed because it expressed elements of Animism.

[Diane L]

12. Do you celebrate Christmas at home?

If so, what is your problem? Christmas is part of being a kid - didn't you have christmas decorations and christmas songs all around you when you were a kid? Why does Christmas have to be about Church and State - well, it's not. Because, if it was, then we better get that awful Christmas music out of the department stores - because then we will have Church and Shopping. Lady - take a breath and enjoy Christmas for what it is - Santa Clause and kids. And stop trying to embarrass your kid at school. Good Grief!

[MadisonRush]

13. Did you not notice that the original poster is Jewish??

Laughing my head off!! Doh!

[BeeBee]

14. You beat me to it!

LOL!

[Diane L]

15. So am I.....not seeing anything that you are talking about posted

but it doesn't matter. I keep hearing how so many folks are offended by Christmas. To me - it doesn't even have anything to do with religion. In our religion, we do not recognize Christmas as connected to church - it is simply a society thing. And again, there is too much "ruckus" about church and state - in my opinion.

[BeeBee]

20. How dare you assume the poster is Christian?

In post #7 she talks about her "Jewish daughter."

[fryguy]

26. "christmas is part of being a kid"

no it isn't. while christmas may, by virtue of the rampant commercialism, now be construed as some sort of "american" holiday it is not. need i remind you that it commemorates the birth of christ. and as christ is the one who began christianity it is, fundamentally and intrinsically a christian holiday (setting aside the whole pagan underpinnings of the means by which it is celebrated now). so that means, by playing christmas music it is celebrating the holiday that commemorates the birth of christ. most americans might view it merely as a shopping day, but lets not loose sight of what it in fact it is.

it is perfectly reasonable for a public school to celebrate the holiday season with recognition of the myriad of holidays during this time of you, but it is a problem if done in a way that is designed or intended to support and/or recognize one religion over another. imo, the first amendment wasn't a suggestion that church and state be separated - it was a directive. so, if a public school, which is an extension of the state, is piping in christmas carols that infringes on other religions and should not be permitted.

i recognize that in many parts of the country the schools, and towns, may in fact be so homogeneous that no one there may be offended. but is it ok for someone to disregard the tenets of the constitution just because there is no one there to take issue with it? reverse the scenario and imagine the outrage christians would have across the country if they were told there was a school in an overwhelmingly jewish town that was playing hannukah music exclusively, or a predominantly afircan-american school that was celebrating kwanzaa without mention of anything else?

the constiution is not a set of suggestions that ought to be followed, unless no one minds otherwise....

on edit: i'm not saying make a federal case out of it or even stir the issue with the school at the risk of ostracizing her child, but rather not to be so dismissive as by saying, in effect, that everyone celebrates christmas because its an american holiday so what's the big deal....

[Mz Pip]

16. Christmas music

is pretty inocuous. Making a fuss over that would be pretty Scrooge-ish. We have bigger things to be worrying about.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Bridget Burke]

17. Irving Berlin wrote White Christmas...

Instrumental music is just music--notes!

That teacher's remark is the sort of thing that demands action.

[Ian David]

22. It depends on the music

If they're playing Silent Night and other stuff about Jesus being the messiah, it's a lot different from Rudolph The Rednose Reindeer and Here Comes Santa Clause.

IMHO, I still wouldn't "complain" if it's all instrumental. I'd tell the principal that I don't have a problem with purely instrumental music, but that I hope they won't cross over into songs that sing vocally about Jesus or messiah or Savior.

And then I'd compliment them on finding a sensitive way to convey the holiday spirit.

Heck, you might even bring them some Chanukah music to add to the mix. Who can complain about The Dreidel song?

It's always usually good to be non-confrontational and end on a compliment.

[MissB]

19. Depends on whether she strives for any balance.

I wouldn't complain about the Christmas music.

My son's class at our local elementary is very small (less than 15 kids). In the past two weeks, they've discussed Kwanzaa and Hanukkah and Christmas.

There are two Jewish kids and one Muslim kid in the class. The parents aren't complaining about the Christmas music being sang in the class, because there are discussions of other holidays as well.

[high density]

23. LIBERALS WANT TO BAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!

I swear we just want to shoot ourselves in the head.

What is so offensive about Christmas music? It's music. It's not tring to convert you into Christianity or whatever you're afraid of. I hear music I don't like all over the place and I'm not going to waste my time trying to shut it down.

[Killarney]

25. I agree with this.

If the principal was jabbering about Jesus during the morning announcements, that's one thing. But Xmas music? I really don't see that as pushing religion on the kids. It's cheery and the kids probably enjoy it. It's stuff like this (trying to get Xmas music banned from schools) that feeds Bill O'Reilly and he's fat enough. ;)

[fryguy]

28. I agree and disagree

yes, it might well be that the music isn't trying to convert people to christianity or is per se offensive, but that's not the point.

the point is that the music and carols - many of which are hymms or with other liturgical underpinnings - are celebrative of christmas which, while perhaps lost in american consumerism, celebrates the birth of jesus christ.

true it will be spun by conservatives as liberals trying to ban christmas music, but the first amendment doesn't say "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion as long as it doesn't offend anyone or you're not trying to convert people" and its not an issue of fear, its an issue of not imposing one's beleifs (i.e. that christ was the son of god and need therefore be celebrated with a day comemorated to him) on others in public institutions....

...and here's another thought, why was the school playing music? seems to me that could be disruptive to the learning process. but that's for another time.....


on edit: i'm not saying make a federal case out of it or even stir the issue with the school at the risk of ostracizing her child, but rather not to be so dismissive as by saying, in effect, that everyone celebrates christmas because its an american holiday so what's the big deal....

[immoderate]

24. All music is good!

Maybe you could find exceptions.:shrug: I don't think this is it. This from a Jewish atheist.

--IMM

[UdoKier]

27. I live in far-left San Francisco

and the kids at my son's school are singing "Jingle Bells" and "Must Be Santa" at their Christmas show. They are not specifically religious songs and it does not bother me. He also learned the Dredel Song. Didn't bother me either.

I am a strict church/state separatist, too and an atheist. Why should it bother you if it doesn't bother me?

[Im_Your_Huckleberry]

29. let it go.

[sandnsea]

30. Well if you have to ask

Then probably not. I would think you'd automatically know if the music offends you. However, since someone said you are Jewish, you might ask about including Hannukah music at the school.