Directive to destroy Christmas /in the public schools
T o : All Principals The purpose of this bulletin is advisory. W e are told, by the State de partment in charge of enforcing the anti-discrimination statutes, that there is a growing feeling in various parts of the state with respect to the celebration of Christmas by special observances and exercises in public schools. While this is not yet a situation which could be characterized as a problem, it is one that is growing and which will require our atten tion in the near future. It might, therefore, be wise to be somewhat beforehand in this respect with the end in view of lessening the impact in this community if, when and as the situation becomes critical. At this time, no specific action is ind i cated but it may be wise to consider, beginning at once, how the Christmas program to be offered in your school could be replanned so as to de-emphasize the sectarian reli gious aspect thereof and to emphasize instead the folklore values. As an illustration, it may be possible to substitute such folksongs as “Deck the Halls with Holly” for one of the more religious type songs which are generally used. It is the opinion of your Superintendent that within the forseeable future, say the next three to ten years, it will be required by the courts that the specifically religious aspect of the celebration be de leted from public school programs and that it will become illegal to use some of the hymns and anthems that are now quite common and that it will become necessary to avoid pageants involving the nativity, angels and s imi lar props. It is suggested that it might be well to begin to replan this program in this direction so that the change-over is so gradual as to be unnoticeable to the general public over a period of years. Signed: R. S. Pollack, Superintendent H ow this directive was stopped
The above directive was issued on December 6, 1955 by the superintendent o f th e Sayreville Public Schools, Sayreville, N. J. The scheme backfired only because aroused citizens and the Board o f Education o f Sayreville demanded the letter’s withdrawal. This is a graphic ob ject lesson for every Christian. There are many in America today who want to strip Christmas by any means available o f its Christian meaning. It is squarely up to individual Christians to see that this never happens.
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