Source: Catholic League
[catholicleague.org/research/decceleb.htm]
On December 12, 2002 Catholic League reported that "December presents public schools with the opportunity of acknowledging the diverse religious beliefs of their students while avoiding the kind of divisiveness that some activist organizations foster by misinterpreting the constitutional mandate regarding freedom of religion. Teachers, administrators and parents should try to promote greater understanding and tolerance among students of different traditions by taking care of First Amendment rights which guarantee the right of religious expression. Public Schools cannot prohibit legitimate acknowledgment of Christmas as an important cultural and religious celebration. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion to all Americans, including young schoolchildren. It forbids the government or public school authorities from imposing arbitrary, coercive and prohibitive regulations that directly threaten to interfere with the right of students to acknowledge the Christmas season."