Alex Apostle, superintendent of the Missoula County Montana Public Schools, received an anonymous letter complaining that the Christmas concert at Chief Charlo Elementary School is unfair, unconstitutional and is a form of bullying because songs include Jesus Christ.
For background, read God Censored at North Carolina School, Citizens Rebel and also read Nativity Banned at Florida School by Obama Dept. of Education as well as Christian Spotted in Alabama School, Obama Dept. of Ed. Investigates
-- From "Chief Charlo Elementary parents to MCPS: Holiday program too religious" by Betsy Cohen of the Missoulian 12/13/12
“With many of the children in our neighborhood up here being Jewish and Buddhist, as well as a few Muslim and atheist students, we were assured that this year it would be a secular program,” said the letter, which was signed by “concerned parents” but listed no individual names.
“One of the largest complaints last year were the young children singing about ‘their lord.’ This was concerning to many families and it was clear that several of the students were uncomfortable.”
The letter went on to say: “We have no problem with it being called a Christmas concert, it’s just the fact the material should be secular. Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. These are things that offend no one, but when the children are singing about their lord and savior, Jesus Christ ... public school is not the place.”
When contacted for more information about the matter, two of the concerned parents said they did not want to publicly share their names, as they were concerned about their children and families being further ostracized or singled out.
During the morning concert, in which the K-3 classes sang, the song lineup was as follows: “Joy to the World,” “Up On a House Top,” “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” “O Christmas Tree,” “O Come Little Children,” “Deck the Halls,” a Polish lullaby ( the words of which are sung to baby Jesus), a Hanukkah song, a pinata song, a Nutcracker rhythm piece, concluding with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
The afternoon programming, which the grade 4-5 classes performed included: “Season of Bells,” “Dreidel Spins,” “Good Christian Men Rejoice,” “Merry Merry,” “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” concluding with “Go in Peace.”
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Chief Charlo Elementary 2011 Christmas Program video:
Also read Missouri Votes to Bring Prayer Back to School, Countering Atheists
