6th-grader's teacher says Jesus can't be mentioned in holiday poem--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Posted: December 20, 200812:30 am Eastern© 2008 WorldNetDaily A public school teacher in Mississippi marked down an eleven-year-old's Christmas poem assignment and told the boy to rewrite it because he used the word "Jesus," which, the instructor explained, is a name not allowed in school. Liberty Counsel, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, reports that sixth-grader Andrew White of Hattiesburg, Miss., chose to write the poem on the assignment "What Christmas means to me." After White turned in his rough draft, however, his teacher circled the word "Jesus" and deducted a point from his grade. The teacher then explained that he needed to rewrite the poem without the offending word. When White's parents questioned the teacher, Liberty Counsel reports, they received a response email explaining, "[Andrew] and another child did a poem about Christ. I know we can't discuss these type [sic] of things in school so I asked the two of them to do another poem of their choice." Mathew D. Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University School of Law, expressed dismay that despite many legal clarifications on the issue, there are still educationl officials that mistakenly believe students can't speak of their faith at school. "Some educators need education that the story of Christmas is not banned from public schools," Staver said in a statement. Staver says he was "horrified that a sixth-grader was told by his teacher, 'we can't discuss these types of things in school.' I don't understand why some people don't get it. Christmas is a state and federal holiday. Schools are closed to celebrate this holiday. Obviously, Christmas is constitutional." The principal at White's Thames Elementary School agreed with Staver. After White's parents encouraged Andrew to turn in his first, unedited poem, Principal Carrie Hornsby changed the boy's grade to a 100 and conceded that there was nothing improper in using Jesus' name. Hornsby also coordinated a mailing to all the school's parents, explaining that students' religious expression is permitted under federal guidelines. White's parents, however, told OneNewsNow that the situation has caused them to consider homeschooling their son, concerned about other challenges to the faith Andrew may be experiencing apart from their knowledge. Andrew's original poem, "A Great Christmas," reads: "The best Christmas ever is when everyone is there. It is when everyone is laughing here and there. That is the Christmas I want to share. Christmas is about Jesus’ birth. About peace on Earth. This is what Christmas is about. It is when He lay in a manger. And the three wise men come to see. That's what it means to me."
No, Christ isn't allowed in Christmas
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From what I understand, christmas indeed has nothing to do with Christ. It is a pagan ritual.I do find it disturbing (but not surprising) though that any teacher would mark down a student for writing a poem about Christ.
(AusDisciple;66342)
From what I understand, christmas indeed has nothing to do with Christ. It is a pagan ritual.I do find it disturbing (but not surprising) though that any teacher would mark down a student for writing a poem about Christ.
I agree with Christ not being in poem part. We don't know the exact date of Christ's Birthday. I am grateful that He did have a birthday. We celebrate Christmas for "Christ's Birthday" and not the rituals... As long we don't do that...it doesn't hurt a thing.
From what I understand, christmas indeed has nothing to do with Christ. It is a pagan ritual.I do find it disturbing (but not surprising) though that any teacher would mark down a student for writing a poem about Christ.
I agree with Christ not being in poem part. We don't know the exact date of Christ's Birthday. I am grateful that He did have a birthday. We celebrate Christmas for "Christ's Birthday" and not the rituals... As long we don't do that...it doesn't hurt a thing.
(AusDisciple;66342)
From what I understand, christmas indeed has nothing to do with Christ. It is a pagan ritual.I do find it disturbing (but not surprising) though that any teacher would mark down a student for writing a poem about Christ.
Going to disagree here as Jordan did. Christmas does have to do with Christ, no we can't say he was born then, but we can still celebrate his birth and give thanks to God for it can't we? No it isn't surprising anymore, it is just sad :/
From what I understand, christmas indeed has nothing to do with Christ. It is a pagan ritual.I do find it disturbing (but not surprising) though that any teacher would mark down a student for writing a poem about Christ.
Going to disagree here as Jordan did. Christmas does have to do with Christ, no we can't say he was born then, but we can still celebrate his birth and give thanks to God for it can't we? No it isn't surprising anymore, it is just sad :/
tim_from_pa
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Officially, I am the first to say that Christmas does not really have anything to do with Christ, and it just became Christianized, but from a freedom of religion perspective I do get quite annoyed when atheists pick that time of year to post signs and whatnot just to give a jab in the side of Christians. What harm did anyone ever do to them? In addition, I was watching on FOX channel about this one district that banned reindeer as a religious symbol. Huckabee joked and said that there's not too many informed Christians that think the reindeer has anything to do with the birth of Christ. It's a secular symbol which just goes to show how they ignorantly protest and don't understand the first thing about it (just for the sake of pushing their agenda). Huckabee then went on to say that atheists should have their own holiday and we'd let them alone and wouldn't bother them the way they do us. He recommended they keep April 1st.
(tim_from_pa;66364)
Officially, I am the first to say that Christmas does not really have anything to do with Christ, and it just became Christianized, but from a freedom of religion perspective I do get quite annoyed when atheists pick that time of year to post signs and whatnot just to give a jab in the side of Christians. What harm did anyone ever do to them? In addition, I was watching on FOX channel about this one district that banned reindeer as a religious symbol. Huckabee joked and said that there's not too many informed Christians that think the reindeer has anything to do with the birth of Christ. It's a secular symbol which just goes to show how they ignorantly protest and don't understand the first thing about it (just for the sake of pushing their agenda). Huckabee then went on to say that atheists should have their own holiday and we'd let them alone and wouldn't bother them the way they do us. He recommended they keep April 1st.
I also agree with it has nothing to do with Christ as well, but it is still can be good to use for the Lord's sake.
Officially, I am the first to say that Christmas does not really have anything to do with Christ, and it just became Christianized, but from a freedom of religion perspective I do get quite annoyed when atheists pick that time of year to post signs and whatnot just to give a jab in the side of Christians. What harm did anyone ever do to them? In addition, I was watching on FOX channel about this one district that banned reindeer as a religious symbol. Huckabee joked and said that there's not too many informed Christians that think the reindeer has anything to do with the birth of Christ. It's a secular symbol which just goes to show how they ignorantly protest and don't understand the first thing about it (just for the sake of pushing their agenda). Huckabee then went on to say that atheists should have their own holiday and we'd let them alone and wouldn't bother them the way they do us. He recommended they keep April 1st.
I also agree with it has nothing to do with Christ as well, but it is still can be good to use for the Lord's sake.
tim_from_pa
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(Jordan;66368)
I also agree with it has nothing to do with Christ as well, but it is still can be good to use for the Lord's sake.
Yes Jordan, I agree with you. People have to understand that I am approaching this from a Constitutionalist perspective. This is supposedly greatest free nation in the world, and it bothers me if some people's freedom of religion or speech is curtailed for any reason.I don't think these characters that do that really believe in freedom of worship or speech. There's only freedom when it's their freedom and to heck with all the others (like a spoiled brat that sees things from only their own perspective). Heck, even Sadam Hussein used to believe that much--- as long as you agreed with him. But this goes over their heads like a lead balloon and they don't see that they themselves are acting like these dictators.
I also agree with it has nothing to do with Christ as well, but it is still can be good to use for the Lord's sake.
Yes Jordan, I agree with you. People have to understand that I am approaching this from a Constitutionalist perspective. This is supposedly greatest free nation in the world, and it bothers me if some people's freedom of religion or speech is curtailed for any reason.I don't think these characters that do that really believe in freedom of worship or speech. There's only freedom when it's their freedom and to heck with all the others (like a spoiled brat that sees things from only their own perspective). Heck, even Sadam Hussein used to believe that much--- as long as you agreed with him. But this goes over their heads like a lead balloon and they don't see that they themselves are acting like these dictators.
tomwebster
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How can you possibly say that December 25, "Christmas," has nothing to do with Christ? December 25 is the date of Christ's conception. God came to dwell on earth in the flesh on December 25.
(tomwebster;66381)
How can you possibly say that December 25, "Christmas," has nothing to do with Christ? December 25 is the date of Christ's conception. God came to dwell on earth in the flesh on December 25.
That is a reasonable answer considering the fact that Christ is most likely born in September.
How can you possibly say that December 25, "Christmas," has nothing to do with Christ? December 25 is the date of Christ's conception. God came to dwell on earth in the flesh on December 25.
That is a reasonable answer considering the fact that Christ is most likely born in September.
tomwebster
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(Jordan;66384)
That is a reasonable answer considering the fact that Christ is most likely born in September.
Yes, He was born the end of September.
That is a reasonable answer considering the fact that Christ is most likely born in September.
Yes, He was born the end of September.
Important edit - please read [url="http://www.christianityboard.com/christmas-t9922.html?p=66422#post66422]THIS[/url] (and my reply) before reading my words below. I no longer hold the belief I mention below and have been humbled and corrected. (It would be dishonest for me to delete these words though and pretend I never said them!)It seems there are varying points of view on the celebration of christmas, even amongst dedicated Christians. Who am I to criticise anyone if they have a different view to me?I choose personally to not celebrate the birth of Jesus on christmas day based on my belief from the study I have done and guidance I have personally received from the Holy Spirit. Admittedly, I have far more study to do and am far from having read the Bible through completely even once but I am not aware of any scriptural reference to the exact birth date of Jesus, nor am I aware of any scriptural reference to the yearly celebration of His birthday or whether He would even condone such celebration on one day.I believe every day should be the same regarding our dedication to the glorification of God and the sharing of the gospel.At the same time, I would be a hypocrite to criticise anyone who chooses to celebrate the birth of Jesus on christmas day.It seems there are as many variations of belief about christmas as there are about the Sabbath. Even with scriptural reference to the Sabbath in the OT and NT, it is still debated about the exact way to 'remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy'.God bless.
(AusDisciple;66407)
It seems there are varying points of view on the celebration of christmas, even amongst dedicated Christians. Who am I to criticise anyone if they have a different view to me?I choose personally to not celebrate the birth of Jesus on christmas day based on my belief from the study I have done and guidance I have personally received from the Holy Spirit. Admittedly, I have far more study to do and am far from having read the Bible through completely even once but I am not aware of any scriptural reference to the exact birth date of Jesus, nor am I aware of any scriptural reference to the yearly celebration of His birthday or whether He would even condone such celebration on one day.I believe every day should be the same regarding our dedication to the glorification of God and the sharing of the gospel.At the same time, I would be a hypocrite to criticise anyone who chooses to celebrate the birth of Jesus on christmas day.It seems there are as many variations of belief about christmas as there are about the Sabbath. Even with scriptural reference to the Sabbath in the OT and NT, it is still debated about the exact way to 'remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy'.God bless.
The earliest age Christ was mentioned in the bible was what? 12 years old, however the bible did not speak of His private life due to people protecting Him in His time.
It seems there are varying points of view on the celebration of christmas, even amongst dedicated Christians. Who am I to criticise anyone if they have a different view to me?I choose personally to not celebrate the birth of Jesus on christmas day based on my belief from the study I have done and guidance I have personally received from the Holy Spirit. Admittedly, I have far more study to do and am far from having read the Bible through completely even once but I am not aware of any scriptural reference to the exact birth date of Jesus, nor am I aware of any scriptural reference to the yearly celebration of His birthday or whether He would even condone such celebration on one day.I believe every day should be the same regarding our dedication to the glorification of God and the sharing of the gospel.At the same time, I would be a hypocrite to criticise anyone who chooses to celebrate the birth of Jesus on christmas day.It seems there are as many variations of belief about christmas as there are about the Sabbath. Even with scriptural reference to the Sabbath in the OT and NT, it is still debated about the exact way to 'remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy'.God bless.
The earliest age Christ was mentioned in the bible was what? 12 years old, however the bible did not speak of His private life due to people protecting Him in His time.
Yep, sounds like a pretty dumb decision on the teacher's part. Same as if a child had mentioned Allah.Regarding the actual date of Jesus' birth: Does it matter? The matter strikes me as a curiosity at best, unless it determines the meaning of some other passage I'm not aware of.
