School Throws Out Santa

Washington, DC – Principal Michelle Zundel of Bellview Elementary School in Ashland, Oregon, has banned Christmas trees and Santa Claus from her school. Principal Zundel removed a “holiday giving tree” from the school over Thanksgiving break and replaced it with two snowmen. She said earlier a few parents had complained about the tree, which displayed tags suggesting gifts to donate for needy children, but now this swap has upset dozens of parents who say the tree was celebrating the Christmas season and helping those in need.

Principal Zundel said: “The Christmas tree, while a secular symbol according to the Supreme Court, does symbolize Christmas, and if you are entering a public school and your family does not celebrate Christmas, then it feels like a religious symbol.” Zundel continued, “A snowman is created by children at play in the snow, and so it doesn’t have a particular religious bent.” Zundel plans to discuss guidelines later this week that permanently ban Christmas trees and Santa Claus.

It is because of absurd actions like those in this Oregon school that Liberty Counsel launched its Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign, which is designed to educate and, if necessary, litigate to make sure religious viewpoints regarding Christmas are not censored. Liberty Counsel has issued a letter to the principal to educate her about the law.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “Banning Christmas trees and Santa Claus is the epitome of political correctness. It is frankly absurd to ban Christmas trees and Santa Claus. The principal has crossed the line, because her actions are hostile toward religion.”

This article is excerpted from a Liberty Counsel press release.