Mom Tried to Have "Rudolph" Banned From School Performance

December 15, 2008

The kindergartens of North Carolina's Murrayville Elementary practiced a rendition of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in music class to prep for a PTA holiday performance until one mother objected to what she thought were religious overtones in it. The woman felt the words "Santa" and "Christmas" in the lyrics should not be taught in public school and petitioned that the song be removed from the program. The school board ruled that it was an appropriate tune and allowed the children to perform it. What's your opinion?

47 Comments

3 years 10 weeks

My comment is this, that woman is nuts. The holidays are the one time on this planet that we come closest to having peace on earth. We should embrace every aspect of the holiday season, the joy, the happiness, the faith and good will we have for mankind....it is the best time of the year, and if we could keep the spirit of Christmas and Hanukkah the whole year through, then this world would be better off for it. There is nothing wrong with singing about a Holy Night, or about a little boy with a drum, or even Rudolf who happened to be born with anomaly that made him different, he had to fight against predudice and in the end saved the day by helping Santa! I can remember two little girls who did not celebrate any holidays at all, not even their own birthdays...but, they knew who Santa was and loved him, even though they had no exposure to Christmas in their own homes. They knew something exciting was happening, it was the holidays and their eyes glowed with the prospect of waking up on Christmas morning as all children do. Celebrate, sing, dance, and live, and the Scrooges of the world who want to suck the very spark out of what it is to be a child need to be visited by the spirit of Christmas themselves.

3 years 21 weeks

This is ridiculous, I am non-religious but I still think that schools should be allowed to have Christmas and any other celebration they want. Public Schools are not a place where people should war about their social, religious or politcal values. The school is for education but there also needs to be room for fun aswell. Growing up in a community where the majority of people are Christian and having to witness Christmas carols and the Religious Education plays have not made me any worse of a person. Alot of people in the world need to lighten up and just accept that not everyone can agree. There is no point striving for extreme political correctness in a place where many different kids from different backgrounds will go, there is no way for everyone to agree. Religious differences doesn't necessarily mean people can't get along, religion is a personal thing. I personally believe it doesn't matter which religion you are involved in. They are all trying to connect with god. Having a connection with god is more important than the moral values.

3 years 47 weeks

ALL songs about ANY religious holiday should NOT be in PUBLIC school. People do not grasp this simple concept because they don't want to. If this woman thinks that adding a Chanukah song makes it "better", then she's just as clueless as those who refuse to drop the Xmas songs. And you can test what most peoples' agenda is when you say "Ok, you sing your Xmas song, and I'll sing one to my Lord & master, Satan." Funny how the whole "free exercise of religion" thing takes a nosedive after that....

bittlerelly 4 years 22 weeks

I'd like to propose that while Santa and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer are not part of the by-the-book original Christmas in a religious sense, they are a part of our society's contemporary Christmas observances. I don't think anyone can deny that Christmas is a primarily Christian holiday. (albeit celebrated by lots of non Christians around the world) Because Christmas is a Christian holiday, Santa and Rudolph symbolize a Christian holiday, and because Christianity is a religion, Santa and Rudolph symbolize a religious observance. Having said that, I do not object to my daughter singing along with "secular" Christmas songs. I will not be comfortable with her singing songs like "Silent Night" or "Away in a Manger". She has always been taught at home that Christmas is a holiday that we don't celebrate at home because we aren't Christians, but that we respect others rights to celebrate whatever they want.

bittlerelly 4 years 22 weeks

crazytrainXD 4 years 22 weeks

first off, santa is NOT a religious icon. and what happend to the first amendment and the freedom of religion? singing a hanukka (srry cant spell it) song is religous! HEY LADY, DONT CRY WOLF ABOUT SOME THING RELIGIOUS WHEN YOUR GONNA MAKE A WOLF ACTULY BE THERE! gosh... TAKE A CHILL PILL LADY! i bet they sang rudolph when you where a kid...

facin8me 4 years 22 weeks

"lol, ever seen a santa or rudolph in your church?"I've seen Santa at church too. The church I used to go to had windows on the ceiling near the altar and you could see the chimney out those windows. Every year my dad would put a cutout of a Santa with a bag of toys on the chimney. The Santa was looking over his shoulder and making a "shh" sign with his finger over his mouth. When kids would walk up with their parents to be blessed during communion, the kids would see Santa and get jazzed about it.

facin8me 4 years 22 weeks

"lol, ever seen a santa or rudolph in your church?" I've seen Santa at church too. The church I used to go to had windows on the ceiling near the altar and you could see the chimney out those windows. Every year my dad would put a cutout of a Santa with a bag of toys on the chimney. The Santa was looking over his shoulder and making a "shh" sign with his finger over his mouth. When kids would walk up with their parents to be blessed during communion, the kids would see Santa and get jazzed about it.

LadyLiLa83 4 years 22 weeks

What's the big deal? If she doesn't want her child in the program, don't let her child be in the program. Don't ruin the program for everyone else, lady!

Greggie 4 years 22 weeks

"lol, ever seen a santa or rudolph in your church?" Yes at our Catholic Church Santa came and visited the children on Sunday before mass, then stayed and sat with them in the two front pews.

Greggie 4 years 22 weeks

"lol, ever seen a santa or rudolph in your church?"Yes at our Catholic Church Santa came and visited the children on Sunday before mass, then stayed and sat with them in the two front pews.

momma tikita 4 years 22 weeks

um kind of stupid lady. Why not take YOUR kid out and let the other kids have their fun?!

Sarana 4 years 22 weeks

I wish people would stop being so difficult. I went to a school without any religious ties (in my country we have different schools for everything kind of religion and 1 type for no religion at all) and we still celebrated Saint Nicolas and Christmas and it was never a problem. What is this woman afraid of happening to her child by singing or hearing a song about another religion? Will it hurt him? NO, so what's the problem?

Sarana 4 years 22 weeks

Trixie6 4 years 22 weeks

Some people have too much time on their hands. This idiot woman needs to get over it. What's next? Banning Christmas altogether?

snowysakurasky 4 years 22 weeks

""I personally feel that if a public school is going to put on a holiday pageant kind of thing, they should include Hanukkah songs."" do you mean songs from all cultures represented in the USA or just, if xmas songs, then Hanukkah songs too? it would be hard to draw the line as to what is an important holiday to get festive about at school, and also have time for the school work too! if there is any problem with pubic schools it is the lack of quality education and safety :( if they did keep everything religon/culture- neutral at public schools, it could still be okay, because children could do the holiday activities (singing carols, cutting out snowflakes, making gingerbread cookies, etc) associated with their family's culture/religion at home, with relatives,at the daycare their parents choose, etc. In principal this is a secular state, and some groups seem to feel sick of the christianity being shoved down their throats. i like christmas carols, but i am biased because its my cultural background. and if it was overly jesusy that might be hard to take, because i hope to raise my son an agnostic, like our whole family. So i can see why some people want rudolph gone. At the same time, although i am not religious, i dont know if the world will be a better place without religion. the USA is one of the most religious countries is the western world and if it is going totally secular, well, obviously the world is changing!

snowysakurasky 4 years 22 weeks

""I personally feel that if a public school is going to put on a holiday pageant kind of thing, they should include Hanukkah songs.""do you mean songs from all cultures represented in the USA or just, if xmas songs, then Hanukkah songs too? it would be hard to draw the line as to what is an important holiday to get festive about at school, and also have time for the school work too! if there is any problem with pubic schools it is the lack of quality education and safety :(if they did keep everything religon/culture- neutral at public schools, it could still be okay, because children could do the holiday activities (singing carols, cutting out snowflakes, making gingerbread cookies, etc) associated with their family's culture/religion at home, with relatives,at the daycare their parents choose, etc. In principal this is a secular state, and some groups seem to feel sick of the christianity being shoved down their throats.i like christmas carols, but i am biased because its my cultural background. and if it was overly jesusy that might be hard to take, because i hope to raise my son an agnostic, like our whole family. So i can see why some people want rudolph gone. At the same time, although i am not religious, i dont know if the world will be a better place without religion. the USA is one of the most religious countries is the western world and if it is going totally secular, well, obviously the world is changing!

lickety split 4 years 22 weeks

lol, ever seen a santa or rudolph in your church? none in ours. my girls go to catholic school and at our christmas performance there are NEVER any songs about santa or rudolph; they are about Jesus! silly that little children can't sing about a cartoon character without someone hiring a lawyer and demanding equal time for something that isn't equal.

lickety split 4 years 22 weeks

MissSushi 4 years 22 weeks

white as in colorless, lacking depth of any kind, etc, btw.. not caucasian

psterling 4 years 22 weeks

I grew up in the 80's and I clearly remember singing silent night and the dreidel song at my holiday pageant. No biggie, everyone's happy.

MissSushi 4 years 22 weeks

Im tired of all of this ridiculous banning crap. Most schools dont even celebrate anything, becuase they cant just call it christmas anymore, and even "holiday celebrations" are slowly being banned. No class parties, no fun things anymore. Ignorant adults are ruining all of the magic and fun for our children. Its such a bummer. We are slowly turning into all of those movies set in the indeterminate future where everything is white, controlled, and insufferable.

RenSis 4 years 22 weeks

I'm just waiting for the Easter bunny to be banned! I can see it now... "Parent claims Easter bunny moved the stone from Jesus' tomb. Petitioning to have the Easter bunny banned from American culture!"

RenSis 4 years 22 weeks

I can see a parent being concerned if the children were reenacting Jesus in the manger but Santa? Huh? I grew up next door to an agnostic family and they celebrated CHRISTMAS as a holiday to appreciate family and friends with the Christmas tree, lights, presents, songs, cards, etc...they just left religion out of it. Which is what schools should do, and is what parents should accept! I just don't understand why some people are so hostile...chill out, relax...Just let the kids be kids (and enjoy it)!!

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