The majestic strains of Handel's “Hallelujah” chorus trumpeting from a slide
projector seemed out of place.
Amid the legions of public school board members and superintendents — 1,000
from throughout Nebraska — the religious masterwork sounded a discordant note —
somewhat like the aroma of beef stew wafting through a PETA convention.
Bent over the projector was Lincoln attorney Neal Stenberg, preparing to
deliver some timely advice: Allowing religious music at school programs is OK,
as long as you abide by simple rules to keep from running afoul of the U.S.
Constitution.
“I think there's a need to remind people it's lawful,” he said.
Every winter, America's educators wrestle with how to deal with the First
Amendment's Establishment Clause — commonly interpreted as requiring the
separation of church and state — while recognizing the traditions on which the
holidays are based.
Although most districts have found a way to balance those interests, fear of
lawsuits and confusion about the law have driven some school boards and teachers
to cut religious songs unnecessarily from school settings.
Last year, school officials in North Carolina pulled the song “Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer” from an elementary school winter concert after a parent
complained the song contained the words “Santa” and “Christmas.” Widely
ridiculed for their decision, school officials then reversed themselves.
In a backlash against such bans, a Redding, Calif., substitute teacher
is gathering signatures on a petition that would require the state's public
schools to let students listen to or perform Christmas music.
Despite confusion about the use of religious music in schools, Stenberg said,
courts have upheld its constitutionality.
When schools use religious music, however, the objectives must be secular, he
said.
“It's important to understand the distinction between teaching religious
music for a secular purpose and trying to inculcate some religious value through
the use of music. The former is lawful, the latter is not,” he said.
(It is too bad and sad that leaders in the government schools must worry about what they can or can't do. This might be another reason to put your children in faith based schools or educate them at home. The Bible today is not allowed in these schools along with the true message of Christmas. So could that be why we have drugs, crimes against students and teachers taking place at higher and higher rates. Read more on this issue by clicking right here.)
