Obama lighting the National Christmas Tree just as a U.S. school bans the holiday creates something of an contradiction, considering the current issue at hand. That issue is the “Merry Christmas Law,” which is in place to protect freedoms relating to the celebration of Christmas. Presently, Christmas, its traditional décor, and its religious expressions have all come under attack by the PTA and principal of an elementary school in Texas who stand dead-set against any such celebrations or talk of “Christmas” in their “winter” party.
Last June, Governor Perry signed into law the Merry Christmas Bill, written by Rep. Pat Fallon to protect the constitutional rights of students, teachers, parents and principals to celebrate and freely express their religious freedom as they wish. However, reports have surfaced that the opponents of the Christmas celebration are the PTA group and Courtney Murphy, principal of Nichols Elementary School, in Frisco, TX.
The PTA emailed parents to tell them that Christmas trees and the traditional hues thereof are all barred from the school’s winter party. Moreover, said the emails, the students are prohibited from mentioning all of the religious holidays, including those celebrated by other faiths.
According to Fallon, this violates the constitutional rights of the students and the staff, which allow them to freely express themselves and their religious beliefs.
It is noteworthy that Nichols Elementary School appears to be the first, and only, school to violate the holiday law in the state of Texas. Even more baffling is that Nichols Elementary School happens to be in the same district as Rep. Fallon.
Fallon relayed to reporters that a very angry parent stated that she wants her child to honor Christmas at the school. Fallon then stated that, unfortunately, the holiday bill hardly solved the problem, but has the battle raging on, which is very distressing.
MyFoxDFW reported receiving a statement from the region not involved in breaking this law. The statement specified that the correspondence wasn’t an “official” PTA notice, further saying that students never were limited on attire, on what they may bring to class parties to share with others or on how people exchange greetings.
When Fallon spoke with him, the superintendent told him that the district granted principals allowance to make their own rules and policies regarding holiday and religious celebrations.
Apparently, Principal Murphy has sided with the PTA that brought on the unlawful ban, and money is at the root of it.
Fallon said that he received an email from Murphy. Supposedly, she had a meeting with the PTA and returned with the unanimous decision that there will be no Christmas trees, no traditional holiday colors and no mentioning of any religious holidays. This decision was reached because “they didn’t want to offend any families and since each family donates money they feel this is the best policy,” wrote Murphy.
Fallon called the ban “draconian in nature,” and this motivated him to put all school officials on alert, reminding them of their lawful “yuletide” rights.
Fallon wrote:
Texas law clearly permits Christmas-themed celebrations, events and displays. The district may also display scenes or symbols with traditional winter holidays (e.g. nativity scenes, Christmas trees, menorahs, etc.)
He then said how shocked he was at the slew of nervous principals and teachers that called his office asking for protocol. They did not know what to make of this ban, and were afraid of upholding the “Merry Christmas Law” lest any anti-Christian group come after them with lawsuits.
As Obama lights the National Christmas Tree, and this U.S. school bans the holiday, a pertinent question has arisen: what about all of the families who celebrate Christmas and give money just as equally. Do they have no rights?
For the record, the inception of the National Christmas Tree dates back to 1923, beginning with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Every president thereafter has given the grand illumination of the lights on the National Christmas Tree the highest of honor, with formal remarks during those ceremonies.
So, here is a suggestion that might put an end to this issue. As Christmas, and the meaning therein, gets bashed by the anti-Christmas PTA group and the school principal who backs them, state officials should count the number of parents, teachers, principals and students throughout the entire region who celebrate Christmas. If they outnumber the attackers of the traditional holidays, grant the respecters of Christmas the right to continue to enjoy their lovely year-end holidays. For, as Obama lights the National Christmas Tree, and this U.S. school bans the holiday, the message should be clear that even certain people won’t always get their way.
Op-Ed
By Christina L. Ibbotson
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5 Responses
Our beautiful UNITED STATES OF AMERICA has always been and will always be based on Judeo-Christianity roots. Christian families who celebrate Christmas have every right to not ONLY celebrate it amongst the Christianity community, but as well as, in schools, since the beginning.
For something like this to even be considered is truly a disgrace. Whether it be by the PTA themselves that brought it to the District or the District bringing it to the PTA. Either way it is wrong and should NOT be something on the table to even be considered upon.
Families who celebrate CHRISTMAS and who give money just as equally, NOT ONLY have every right to NOT only celebrate, but have decorations and the proper greetings that go along with celebrating the BIRTH of our LORD AND SAVIOR ! If other families wish NOT to partake in it that is their choice, but just like others celebrate their “belief system beliefs”, us as CHRISTIANS have every right to as well celebrate the TRUTH and ONLY TRUTH wether a person believes it or NOT !
I see something far more greater going on here behind the scenes and it’s not fooling anyone. A story such as this hasn’t been the first I have heard of. Those who reject Christianity and Christmas have no right to tell others how to celebrate and enjoy there’s especially in schools. If anything people need more of OUR HEAVENLY FATHER LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST in schools, Christmas to liven their spirits and their hearts to the TRUE meaning of what Christmas is and for what this means for the whole world.
Texas is a beautiful state with wonderful people, but a lot has been happening in texas by other groups trying to push away CHRIST, and that will NOT ever be accepted or tolerated no matter what and it will NOT ever happen no matter what anyone says or tries to do. NOT ONLY IN TEXAS, but in other states and around the world. CHRIST has always been and always will be for all eternity into everlasting life !!!!!!! 😀 XO <3
Wether majority outnumber the attackers or NOT Christians have every right to NOT only celebrate, but decorate and share with other's in the LIGHT OF TRUTH. I can not stress that enough !
Very interesting article. My love and prayers I send to Texas school.
MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!!! 😀 XO <3
This just isn’t true! This school, their students, faculty, parents & PTA are wonderful! People say Merry Christmas in that school all season! The PTA can’t do anything without approval from the district. They have no right to make any decisions without district approval. And the district has been clear that these allegations are FALSE. Why do people continue to report incorrect information putting these children and their school in the spotlight? These PTA volunteers are just trying to give these kids a fun party. They are VOLUNTEERS and CHILDREN in a very close knit community. They don’t deserve these lies & the way they are being treated by strangers across the country.
Ariana, thank you for pointing that out. Clearly, it was a mistake in my editing. The correct statement should have read this way:
“For the record, the inception of the National Christmas Tree dates back to 1923. Beginning with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every president thereafter has given the grand illumination of the lights on the National Christmas Tree the highest of honor, with formal remarks during those ceremonies.”
Christina Ibbotson
“For the record, the inception of the National Christmas Tree dates back to 1923, beginning with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.”
Funny how he wasn’t president at the time…