>Tamar,
>
>>DN >>Why does my daughter have to learn Christmas songs in the school then?
>>>
>>DD >Why would my child be forced to abandon the songs she/he would like to sing?
>>
>>No one would force your child to abandon those songs. The issue is whether the teacher in a public school (who is a representative of the state) can make singing them part of class. Outside of class, kids can sing whatever they want (within the bounds of school rules about making noise in various places, etc., that apply to all singing). However, the teachers and principal and other adults in a school are authority figures - when they say "We're now going to sing 'Silent Night'," the child whose religion prohibits him from singing it and who simply is uncomfortable singing it is put into an unreasonable position. "Teacher says to do this; Mom and Dad say not to. What do I do?"
>
>So, then instead of your child asking that question you now force my child to ask the same question?
>

Sorry, but I don't see how your child would be asking the same question. For Tamar's child (mine too), teacher says "Sing these songs" and I say "Don't." If teacher doesn't say "Sing" what question is your child asking? S/he can certainly sing them at home, at church, in the park, and in the playground at recess. I don't even have strong objections to religious songs as part of a concert given at the school (although I find the inclusion of the random Chanukah song as more condescending than inclusive). It's when the singing of essentially religious songs becomes a class activity in which my child is expected to participate that I take great offense. I don't object to the use of public facilities for religious activities that are not "required." Allowing the Newman Club to use a classroom for meetings is, at least to me, the same as allowing the Chess (I wish it were bridge) club to use the room. I also believe that if the Newman Club is allowed to use the room, so should the local Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Bhuddist, Rasta, Atheist, We are descended from seeds planted by visiting alien, etc. groups be allowed the same access.

A different set of circumstances. My wife's family lives in rural Nebraska. We went to a cousin's high school graduation. Several of the speakers, including the validictorian, gave testimony to the effect Jesus had on their lives. I'm uncomfortable; but this is after all a personal expression of faith and I don't have objections to it. But when the minister gives the invocation (which I don't feel is appropriate but I can live with) and ends the prayer with "In Jesus Name" I am highly offended. When the valadictory address includes a "let us pray" I wonder how the audience would react if a Jewish student included a Hebrew prayer. I'm pretty sure I know how you would react and I admire you for it. But I've seen enough anti-semitism in my life to know that large numbers would react differently.

A third situation. A couple of years ago the Republican candidate for governor of Iowa managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory primarily, I believe, due to his overly (even for Iowa) conservative positions. I hope I'm not mis-stating his position, but as a strong advocate of prayer in schools he felt that a clear majority of people in the school district should be able to enforce their preference. In one forum at a Des Moines synagogue, he was asked how he would react if his neighborhood became 80% Bhuddist and his answer was basically "That couldn't happen."