News Release

Glendale, WI - The Glendale-River Hills School District has expressly prohibited any song close to the Christmas holiday from having any religious "motive or theme." While banning Christian Christmas songs, the district permits secular holiday songs as well as songs celebrating Hanukkah.

In 2003, when the district's music programs excluded religious Christmas songs, Barbara Wheeler, whose nine-year-old daughter attends school in the district, complained about the absence of religious Christmas carols. School officials said they would get back with her. They never did. Last year, Mrs. Wheeler voiced complaints to the district in mid-November, but school officials said the songs were already set.

This year when the school's music program contained Hanukkah and secular songs but no religious Christmas songs, Mrs. Wheeler again objected. This time the school pointed to its policy, which states: "Music programs given at times close to religious holidays should not use the religious aspect of these holidays as the underlying motive or theme. No songs should be sung which contain dogmatic religious statements." In defending this policy, Frances Smith, the district administrator, says that the Hanukkah songs are more cultural than spiritual.

On behalf of Mrs. Wheeler, Liberty Counsel has written a demand letter to the district, stating that the school's policy is unconstitutional. Liberty Counsel has also sent its Friend or Foe Christmas memo which addresses the legality of celebrating Christmas, from the display of nativity scenes to the singing of Christmas carols. The letter requests that the district immediately change its policy and include religious Christmas songs. Failure to respond favorably will subject the district to a lawsuit.

Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, stated: "The intent of the school district's policy is clear - "Frosty the Snowman" is in, "My Dreidel" is in, "Silent Night" is out. How much more ridiculous can it get when 96% of Americans celebrate Christmas, but the school district pretends like Christmas is merely a ghost of Christmas past."

Dr. Jerry Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Chancellor of Liberty University, has endorsed Liberty Counsel's Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign and is urging churches to run the Friend or Foe ads in their local newspapers. The ad and the Friend or Foe legal memo can be downloaded free at LC.org. Churches may call 434-582-2432 to have the National Liberty Journal's graphics department place the church's name on the ad free of charge.

Thousands of public school teachers and administrators with Christian Education Association International and Fellowship of Christian Teachers are distributing Liberty Counsel's legal memo in their schools and communities.

A Great Christmas Gift

The New England Primer is a good example of early American education. Introduced in the Boston public schools in 1690, for the next two centuries the New England Primer was a required textbook from which every first grader learned grammar and spelling. This little book taught first graders the alphabet using religious references. For the letter "A", the students learned, "In Adam's Fall, We sinned all." For the letter "C", the students recited: "Christ crucified, For sinners died."

To obtain a copy of this wonderful little book, call us at 1-800-671-1776 or go to our online store.

Tevebaugh and Associates
Financial & Estate Planning from a Biblical Perspective
A full-service financial planning firm dedicated to serving followers of Christ
"Informing, Instructing and Equiping Believers in Biblical Stewardship Principles"
2020 Hwy A1A, Ste. 108, Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937
tel: 321-777-2990 e-mail: [email protected]

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