For those who doubt that secularization has gone too far, or that Christianity is being actively discouraged in public schools, I have this excerpt:

It was the snowflake that broke the reindeer’s back. When her children’s school forbade the wearing of Halloween costumes, Lisa Lowry was mum. When her children said they were discouraged from saying “Merry Christmas” lest they offend someone who doesn’t observe the holiday, she was frustrated. But when her flute-playing daughter came home with music for the middle school December band concert and it included a medley of Hanukkah music--but the only nod to Christmas was “Let it Snow” and “Winter Wonderland,” Lisa Lowry knew she had to do something. “It was political correctness to the point of ridiculousness,” Lowry, a mother of three, said. “I was just getting tired of it.” Apparently, other parents in her town of Scarborough, Maine, were tired of it, too. “For me, it is not about religion,” said Doreen Duval-Flaherty, another mother who joined Lowry to help bring Christmas back to Scarborough public schools. Duval-Flaherty describes herself as spiritual but not religious and says she doesn’t even attend church except to see friends’ children in Christmas pageants. “It’s a free speech and fairness issue. If you live in fear of offending the kid sitting next to you, you will never get to know them or understand them and you won’t be able to celebrate their culture as well as yours.”When Lowry, Duval-Flaherty, and several others took their concerns to school administrators, they received support from a spectrum of local parents, including those who are not Christian, or even religious. After several meetings during the fall, the parents are happy with the results. A rabbi and a minister were invited to an assembly about the December holidays, children now read Christmas as well as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa books, and Christmas trees are now welcome additions to school decorations that have long included a menorah and a Kwanzaa symbols.

Source: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/158/story_15819_1.html

This is an example of yet another misinterpretation of the First Amendment, but fortunately the problem was at least partially solved in this case. There are countless others like it though, and I think that we on this site can all agree that true freedom of religion includes the freedom to be religious and yes, to be a Christian, which secularists don't always respect.

If a school only promotes Christian holidays, then that is wrong. All holidays of all the major religions should be promoted not just to appease those who aren't Christian, but to educate students about the culture of others.

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WARNING: In the unlikely event of an accidental agreement with any or all points made in the above post, contact a clinical psychologist immediately.

The views expressed in the above post are not necessarily those of Joker and/or any of his affiliates.

. "You have found the secret message. Do you have too much time on your hands? ...Let it go."

If the Christian faith is the only one not represented, while 95% of the town is Christian, something is seriously wrong. That's exactly what happened in my town, and still does. I remember singing Kwanzaa songs and Hannukkah songs during the "Winter" concert, though there are only a scant amount of Jews and African Americans. The vast majority of the town is Catholic or Protestant Christian, yet it's tabboo to mention anything about the Christian police. The PC police are tearing apart our constitution, and people are letting them.

I understand your anger, and I agree what occurred in your school is wrong. But it equally wrong to favor Christian culture over all others. It is the job of public schools to educate students. I believe part of that education should be introducing them to new and perhaps unfamiliar cultures and beliefs. Schools should sing Christmas songs during their winter concerts. They also should sing Hannakah, kwanzaa, and yes, even Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu songs during their holidays. Not because it is politically correct, but because students should have a worldly education.

__________________
WARNING: In the unlikely event of an accidental agreement with any or all points made in the above post, contact a clinical psychologist immediately.

The views expressed in the above post are not necessarily those of Joker and/or any of his affiliates.

. "You have found the secret message. Do you have too much time on your hands? ...Let it go."

I think students should be allowed to express their religions in school all they want, as long as they keep it civil and not disruptive. Teachers, coaches, administrators, etc. are employees of a public school and have no business expressing religion (other than acting based on personal moral values, if you count that) to students. None at all. Express yourself when you're off the clock.

I know of a Sikh woman who taught in a public school who was forced to remove a religious emblem that Sikhism requires one to wear at all times. Hence she was forced to abandon the rules of her faith or lose her livelihood. That is a true violation of freedom of religion.

It would take years to sing the songs of every religion, thats why they stick to singing Christian songs, because most people are Christian, and even those who are not are still able to participate if they please.

I did note that actions based on moral values should not be fought. A teacher can wear a symbol. She can even explain what it means if someone asks. That might be educational. But she can't involve the children in a religious ritual or advocate a religion to the children.

Okay, JavaBlack, since you made that qualification, I agree with you.

Any good Winter Solstice or Wiccan songs at this performance?