Need your opinions on this occurrence at my school. [View All]

[pagandem4justice]

(I am xposting at the Ancient Wisdom and Pagan Spirituality Board for maximum comment.)

Last week, my public elementary school presented a holiday program on Tuesday evening for PTO and parents. I thought nothing of it other than the fact that my choir students (about 1/4 of my 5th grade class) would have to be there late that evening, and that I regretted not being able to see them perform. I figured it was the typical holiday fare, watered down "Jingle-Bells-ish" songs and so forth.

Yesterday, on the last day of classes, we gathered in the cafeteria during school hours for a reprise of the program...which was (to my surprise and chagrin) a Christmas Posada. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Hispanic culture, a Posada is a traditional Mexican/Spanish Christmas Nativity play, complete with Mary, Joseph, innkeepers, and the Baby Jesus. The choir sang "Do you hear what I hear?," "Away in a Manger," a couple Spanish language holiday songs -- also religious in theme -- and a modern song that sounded like a country-western type thing about "this baby boy" and "in Bethlehem."

This is, I know, totally wrong for a public school. My Jehovah Witnesses students had to withdraw froma program meant for the entire student body. I, as a Pagan, was very put off and felt almost assaulted by the presentation at which I -- as part of my job in supervising my classroom as a captive audience -- was required to attend. But, in going to AU and ACLU, I can't find any information specific to Christmas pageantry at public schools.

The music teacher and those who put on this spectacle were very careful to disguise it in a "culture" lesson, having student narrators read a historical background of the Posada tradition in Hispanic culture, but it was really nothing but a religious Christmas play.

What should I do??

Thanks in advance.