OPINION:
“Jesus is the reason for the season, but we can’t talk about Him at school.”
This is what my third-grade son heard from his beloved public school teacher one Christmas season years ago when I was a young parent. Her answer confused my son and it confused me.
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Kids love celebrations especially when it comes to holidays during the school year. The more decorating, sugary treats, and fun activities the better. Exciting experiences with their friends of carving pumpkins at Halloween, dressing up as pilgrims at Thanksgiving, or making gingerbread houses at Christmas are all designed to merge with the school day engaging your child in the holiday celebration while improving their fine motor skills and their mental sharpness is a bonus for school learning.
On that particular December day, my son was engaged in the class activity of a Christmas quiz for the class to win prizes. The question from the teacher was, “What are words that describe Christmas?”
Other children raised their hands with answers like “Santa,” “presents,” and “stockings” and were given an approving nod and points for the competition. But when my son raised his hand and excitedly answered, “Jesus’ Birthday!,” his joyful face fell because he was told he was not allowed to say the name Jesus in public school and his answer didn’t count.
Wait – isn’t the Christmas holiday actually the celebration of the birth of Jesus?
According to the Pew Research Center, 90% of Americans — and 95% of Christians — say they celebrate Christmas. However, the role of religion in Christmas celebrations appears to be declining. Today, 46% of Americans say they celebrate Christmas as primarily a religious (rather than cultural) holiday.
What happens when two reasons to celebrate Christmas — faith and culture — collide in a public school setting?
As parents, it might sound like a small thing but I suggest not brushing it off. Standing behind your child’s faith walk is essential to their growth. Kids need to feel safe to consistently express their faith at home as well as in school. As partners with the school in their educational development, we need to communicate this importance and kindly educate teachers when inconsistency happens. Keeping a physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe environment for learning is a common goal of teachers and families which results in children growing and thriving.
Because my son was so young, I decided to schedule a time to talk to the teacher and kindly educate her with facts about the holidays. Facts presented to children need to be consistent at home and at school. Here is what I said to his teacher:
“I believe the best about you and I know you didn’t mean to confuse my son. But the fact is Christmas does celebrate Jesus’ Birthday — just like President’s Day celebrates George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrates Martin Luther King’s birthday. You can say their names and it is a fact. It’s not promoting a religion, which I know is not legal in public schools. I want to help you stay in your legal lane. The public school’s role is to protect religious freedom and not prohibit it. Unknowingly telling my child to leave out Jesus from a Christmas celebration is violating his religious rights protected by the U.S. Constitution.”
Kids do not need to check their faith at the door when going to public school or when it comes to holiday games. Even if it is not a religious holiday, like Valentine’s Day, kids can express their faith by putting their favorite verse on a Valentine to hand out to classmates. Greeting card companies have the freedom of speech to share their messages of love. Your child has the same freedom.
My child’s teacher was very thankful that I kindly educated her and she apologized that her response confused my child and infringed on his religious freedom. She didn’t know. It’s up to us, as parents, to educate ourselves first so we can kindly educate others. Our partner, Gateways to Better Education,has a helpful guide that outlines the religious liberties of students and educators in public school.
So, enjoy Christmas, celebrate Jesus’ birthday, and partner well with your child’s school by kindly educating others and protecting your child’s faith freedom.
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Kori Pennypacker is the CEO of Bible2School, where she oversees the mission and speaks to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for children in our communities nationwide. She has over 20 years of experience in children’s ministry and leadership.
Bible2School equips communities across the nation to provide free elective Bible classes to elementary school children DURING their public school day. Their vision is that every public school in the nation would have a dynamic Bible program taught during their school day as allowed by national released time court rulings.
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