With the holidays just around the corner, the “December dilemma,” or the controversy over whether Christmas should
be celebrated in public schools returns. 

I think Christmas should be celebrated in public schools while still respecting the other holidays that our student body
celebrates.

Constitutionally, public schools have a right to talk about religions. The First  Amendment protects our freedom of
expression, yet includes the establishment clause in that no one religion will be the designated religion. This gives schools the right to talk and decorate for Christmas and other holidays, with the exception that a certain religion is not being forced upon students.

For example, in an article published by PBS on Dec. 9, 2015, it states in the case of Allegheny v. American Civil Liberties Union (1989), “the [Supreme Court] wrote that Christmas trees have the standing of cultural icons and not religious practices.” Therefore, Christmas trees in classrooms are allowed, as long as they don’t promote Christianity.

Personally, I’ve always loved when schools decorate for the holidays, whether it’s the Christmas decorations teachers put up, the Christmas music in the halls or wearing Christmas sweaters to school. In the past, I’ve noticed these longstanding traditions teachers do as part of the holiday spirit, but not for the sole purpose of promoting the Christmas holiday. However, lately teachers are more concerned about the December dilemma, so Christmas is less talked about in classrooms.

I also think whether students celebrate Christmas or other holidays like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Eid, many of my fellow
classmates enjoy the holiday season. 

In fact, an article published by Pew Research Center on Dec. 21, 2015, reports 96 percent of Christians and 81 percent of non-Christians celebrate Christmas in the U.S. This brings to light that a majority of our country celebrates this holiday for either religious or nonreligious purposes. By not celebrating Christmas, it affects a huge majority of our country’s beliefs and/ or traditions.

Some students may feel that celebrating Christmas in public schools will offend those who celebrate other holidays.
However, as public schools are primed to be a safe environment for students to share their opinions, Christmas and all other holidays should get the same attention by the student body.

The California Three Rs Project sums this up nicely. They work for their mission of achieving the rights, responsibility and respect for citizens outlined in the Bill of Rights.

When celebrating Christmas in public schools, I think it is fine as long as it doesn’t put down other holidays or
promote Christmas. As a student body, we must maintain respect for other students’ religions and their holidays that may or may not be Christmas. In the end, this December season is a time for holiday peace and joy, not conflict.