12/1/2008 - December 2008 SLI Educational Update - In the Public Schools - Where Christmas is Not Christmas
AN EDUCATIONAL UPDATE FROM
THE SOUTHEAST LAW INSTITUTE™, INC.
To: SLI Supporters
Date: December 2008
From: A. Eric Johnston
Re: In the Public Schools – Where Christmas is Not Christmas
Each Christmastime we get telephone calls about public school students who are not allowed to sing Christmas carols, distribute religious Christmas cards, or celebrate the Christian meaning of the season. For the most part, those issues are favorably resolved and have decreased in recent years.
This is not to mean that there are still not problems. We encourage you to contact us if you are having problems, or refer persons to us whom you know are having problems with religious liberties in public schools. We are glad to receive your telephone calls and provide advice as necessary, including writing letters and discussing issues with school officials. There are no charges for these services.
One of the things we have discussed in recent years is the policies of merchants to avoid using the word “Christmas” or even wishing “Happy Holidays.” There have been many phone calls and letters to merchants about ignoring the most important aspect of the Christmas season. Many of the merchants have begun using the words with religious connotations and it will be interesting to see again this year how they present themselves.
Because of our interest in Christmas activities in public schools, we decided to do a survey of some of the major school districts in the state to see if they were also turning away from the real reason for the season. Below is a list of the schools. You will observe that out of the 26 named, 11, or only 42%, acknowledge that it is Christmas.
|
School District |
Superintendent |
Email Address |
Name from Calendar |
|
Bessemer City Schools |
Dr. Deborah T. Horn |
mfoster@bessk12.org |
Winter Break |
|
Birmingham City Schools |
Barbara S. Allen, Interim Supt. |
bsallen@bhamcityschools.org |
Christmas Holidays |
|
Blount County Schools |
Mr. James E. Carr |
jcarr@blountboe.net |
Christmas Holidays |
|
Dothan City Schools |
Dr. Sam Nichols |
snichols@dothan.k12.al.us |
Christmas Holidays |
|
Etowah County Schools |
Michael A. Bailey |
mike_bailey@ecboe.org |
Christmas Holidays |
|
Florence City School System |
Kendy Behrends |
bdickerson@fcs.k12.al.us |
Winter Break |
|
Gadsden City Schools |
Dr. Ed Miller |
emiller@gcs.k12.al.us |
Christmas Holidays |
|
Homewood City Schools |
Dr. Bill Cleveland |
bcleveland@homewood.k12.al.us |
Mid-Winter Holidays |
|
Hoover City Schools |
Mr. Andy Craig |
acraig@hoover.k12.al.us |
Winter Holidays/Winter Break |
|
Houston County Schools |
Tim Pitchford |
tpitchford@hcboe.us |
Christmas Vacation |
|
Huntsville City School |
Dr. Ann Roy Moore |
armoore@hsv.k12.al.us |
Winter Break |
|
Jefferson County School System |
Dr. Phil Hammonds |
nspangler@jefcoed.com |
Mid-Year Holidays |
|
Lauderdale County Schools |
William L. Valentine |
william.valentine@lcschools.org |
Christmas Holidays |
|
Lee County Schools |
Stephen Nowlin, Ed.D. |
nowlin.stephen@lee.k12.al.us |
Student Holidays |
|
Leeds City Schools |
Dr. Billy J. Pack |
bpack@leedsk12.org |
Christmas Break |
|
Madison County Schools |
Dr. Terry Davis |
tdavis@madison.k12.al.us |
Winter Intersession/Holidays |
|
Mobile County Public Schools |
Dr. Roy D. Nichols |
phholley@mcpss.com |
Winter Break- Holidays |
|
Montgomery Public Schools |
John Dilworth |
john.dilworth@mps.k12.al.us |
Winter Holidays |
|
Mountain Brook Schools |
Dr. Charles Mason |
masonc@mtnbrook.k12.al.us |
Winter Holidays |
|
Opelika City Schools |
Mark D. Neighbors |
mark.neighbors@opelikaschools.org |
Christmas & New Year |
|
Shelby County Schools |
Randy Fuller |
rfuller@shelbyed.k12.al.us |
Christmas Holidays |
|
Tarrant City Schools |
Dr. Martha Rizzuto |
rizzutom@tarrant.k12.al.us |
End of 1st Semester |
|
Trussville City Schools |
Dr. Suzanne Freeman |
suzanne.freeman@trussvillecityschools.com |
Schools Closed |
|
Tuscaloosa City Schools |
Joyce Levey, Ed.D. |
jlevey@tusc.k12.al.us |
Winter Break |
|
Tuscaloosa County School System |
Frank Costanzo |
fcostanzo@tcss.net |
Winter Holidays |
|
Vestavia Hills City Schools |
Dr. Jamie Blair |
blairjr@vestavia.k12.al.us |
Christmas Holidays |
We have included the names of school superintendents and their email addresses. If your school system is not on the list, check its website. We suggest you contact your superintendent. If his or her system is celebrating Christmas, thank him or her. If it is not, you may wish to inquire about whether he or she will be worshipping, exchanging gifts, having a Christmas tree, and doing other things of a “Christmas” nature, or will he or she simply be having a break. We find it disgusting that public schools cannot even acknowledge one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. Not a one of us forgets the wonder and beauty of the Christmas season and all that it means to us. As children, we looked forward to the lights, the celebration, the gifts, and all that went along with it. As we grow older, we look forward to the hope and the fulfillment which the Christmas season brings.
Maybe, if these superintendents get enough phone calls, they will consider changing back to the Christmas Holidays. It makes you wonder whether they may not be telling the children that it is even Christmas at all. The superintendents, and to whatever authority they answer, give a new meaning to “Scrooge” or “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.”
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