Can public schools have Christmas trees? What’s true — and not true — about religious expression in public schools. - The Washington Post

Can public schools have Christmas trees? What’s true — and not true — about religious expression in public schools. - The Washington Post

Can public schools have Christmas trees? What’s true — and not true — about religious expression in public schools

(Note: This is a revised version of an earlier post on this subject)

When Donald Trump was running for president, he complained that liberals were waging a war on Christmas. Nobody says “Merry Christmas” anymore because it wasn’t “politically correct,” he complained, and then declared: “We are going to start saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again.” Since then he has taken credit for making it a popular salutation again.

Actually, it never really went away — not even in public schools, where the holiday season annually brings questions and concerns about what is legally allowed when it comes to religious expression in public schools.

Can students pray in school and listen to religious music? Can teachers say “Merry Christmas” to their students? Can a Christmas tree ever be allowed? Can teachers and students talk about religion in class?

The answer to each of those questions? Yes.

Confusion began after the Supreme Court, in a landmark 1962 decision, banned school-sponsored prayer in public schools. Some parents, teachers and school officials read that as barring any type of religious expression in a public school — but that is not what federal courts have said. Schools can do plenty when it comes to religious expression:

• While schools cannot initiate or sponsor religious activities — including prayer — nobody can stop students from praying to whatever or whomever they want, whenever they want as long, as they do it privately and don’t try to force others to follow.
• Religious groups can meet at public schools.
• Religious music can be played in public schools when the overall focus of the activity is not CONTINUE READING: Can public schools have Christmas trees? What’s true — and not true — about religious expression in public schools. - The Washington Post