ACLU Cautions Tenn. Schools Against ‘Unconstitutional’ Holiday Celebrations

You better watch out; you better not cry…

The Tennessee chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is being proactive in its war on Christmas this year.  According to the Associated Press, the Tennessee ACLU has warned school officials across the state that any holiday celebrations focusing primarily on one religious holiday amount to an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

A statement from the ACLU-TN warned that the Santa police are comin’ to town:

“The founders of the United States believed in the significance of religion.  But they also understood that decisions about when and how to practice religion are best left to individuals, families and religious institutions,” said Hedy Weinberg, ACLU-TN Executive Director.  “During the holiday season, it is especially important that we all embrace the constitutional guarantees of the First Amendment in order to ensure that religious freedom flourishes.”

The ACLU-TN letter cites several U.S. Supreme Court decisions, explaining that “While public schools can teach about religion and religious holidays, public schools may not engage in indoctrination.  Thus comparative religion courses can be taught but endorsing religious doctrine or sponsoring religious activities is unconstitutional.”

The letter further explains, “[ACLU-TN] welcome[s] holiday celebrations that teach children about a variety of holidays.  We believe, however, that holiday celebrations that focus primarily on one religious holiday can result in indoctrination as well as a sense within students who do not share that religion of being outsiders to the school.”