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Don't ban Christmas carols in
public schools
By Brock Anderson
November 28, 2005 | It's time to start thinking about
hanging up the mistletoe, unraveling the strands of
lights, and dusting off the reindeer lawn decorations.
That's right. The Christmas season is here. Retail stores
have stocked their shelves and are anxiously awaiting
the hustle and bustle of shoppers. People's hearts turn
towards giving, rather than receiving during this special
time of the year.
With the season, hundreds of Christmas carols come
back to life after they have been retired for a year.
Unfortunately, in public schools some Christmas music
is likely to create controversy among parents and students,
rather than bring the cheer and hope that should accompany
it. Every year there seem to be complaints or lawsuits
from students and parents concerning religious Christmas
music in public schools, particularly songs performed
in choral concert settings. I believe religious Christmas
music should not be taken out of public schools just
because people's values differ from that which is expressed
in the lyrics of a song.
By merely examining the word "Christmas" one can easily
see its origin. The holiday was originally observed
to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, not to celebrate
a jolly man in a red suit, flying reindeer and dancing
snow men. Christmas has become more of a commercial-based
holiday rather than the sacred celebration it once was.
The values on which this country was based are being
attacked right and left. It seems that anything containing
a religious reference is being scrutinized. Even The
Pledge of Allegiance, because it mentions God, is under
fire in public schools. This country was based on Christian
values, and yet, that foundation is weakening. We cannot
do away with the standards and traditions that have
been vital to American life for over two centuries.
Some may argue that only non-religious Christmas songs
should be allowed in public schools. However, even seemingly
non-religious figures, like Santa Claus, are rooted
in Christianity. Santa Claus was originally known as
St. Nicholas, a Christian saint who lived around 300
A.D. So, even though songs are sung today of a highly
commercialized, unreligious man, he really is a religious
figure.
While this is a highly populated Christian community
and state, there have been conflicts between schools
and students about religious music sung in concerts
and other venues. In 1995 Rachel Bauchman, a West High
School student, filed a lawsuit against the school because
of religious songs performed in the annual Christmas
concert. Bauchman, a member of the school's A Cappella
choir, said the program for the concert was filled with
too many religious-based songs, which conflicted with
her beliefs. The judge dismissed the lawsuit, saying
music taught in schools has more importance than the
words and teaches culture and history.
According to The National Association for Music Education,
learning and performing religious music in an educational
environment is an essential element of music education.
Removing religious songs from school music curriculums
would deprive students from obtaining a wide-ranging
music education.
I agree with The National Association for Music Education.
Religious music such as Christmas carols plays an important
part in music education. By limiting music sung in choral
concerts to non-religious music, we will be denying
students the opportunity of learning classical pieces
that date back centuries. Bach, Handel, Mozart -- almost
all of the early composers and artists were religious.
Their works are masterpieces. Such brilliant music,
or any other music of artistic merit, should not be
kept out of public schools just because the composers
were of a certain faith or background.
Can't people appreciate music for its beautiful melodies
and rich harmonies, rather than analyzing the lyrics
and checking to see if the composer was Buddhist or
Catholic? If we want future generations to respect and
accept diversity, instead of hating and rejecting it,
we can't compromise things like religious Christmas
music in our schools. We must preserve positive educational
programs in public education.
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