A military veteran in New Hampshire told the media that the local school superintendent went too far with political correctness when he demanded that the word “Christmas” be removed from all school flyers for an annual tree-lighting event.
John Fletcher, an air force veteran and commander of American Legion, explained that he spreads word about his annual event by posting flyers across schools in the locality, following which the community gathers in the center of the town to light a Christmas tree every year. Fletcher and his wife also dress up as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to hand out donuts, hot chocolate and gifts to children during the event.
Even though the tree-lighting event is not organized on any school property, Fletcher said that he received a letter from the superintendent of Marlborough School District, Robert Malay, who wanted him to make revisions to the flyers advertising the Christian event.
“Even though it’s not a school function – which it says right on the flyer – I was informed that unless we took the word ‘Christmas’ out we couldn’t put them up in the school,” Fletcher told Education Action Group Foundation. “My wife spent two days with white out, erasing the word ‘Christmas.’”
In a letter of complaint to a local newspaper, Fletcher recounted Malay’s “unreasonable” demands while stressing that the United States is built on values like freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
“It seems to me that our new superintendent, Rob Malay, doesn’t understand this,” Fletcher wrote. “I can’t believe the [school] board approved this. I respect all rights; always have. But, do not take away our rights because you may offend someone else. … I’m tired of the political correctness. It’s gotten out of hand.”
Fletcher said that he gave in to Malay’s demands only because he wanted all the children in the locality to know about the event and attend it. Clarifying that many locals offered him support, Fletcher went ahead with his event on December 6.
Now, a conservative legal firm has sent a letter to the school district, stressing that the superintendent had no right to decide whether or not the term “Christmas tree” should be replaced with “holiday tree”. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) explained that the use of “Christmas” cannot be considered illegal on any ground and a ban on its usage would in fact be deemed unconstitutional.
“Calling Christmas trees what they are, is not unconstitutional,” wrote attorney Jeremy Tedesco. “But it is unconstitutional to censor private speech simply because it is religious in nature.”
The ADF got involved in the spat after the parent of a student approached the legal firm with concerns over Malay’s decision.
Stressing that Malay has a fundamental misunderstanding of the Constitution, the ADF’s letter further reads, “Simply put, using the word Christmas in a flyer advertising a Christmas tree lighting and the appearance of Santa Claus is only sensible and plainly not unconstitutional. .… We are asking the district to amend its policies so that they no longer restrict religious expression in an unconstitutional manner.”
While the school district defended itself by saying its decision was in keeping with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, both Malay and Fletcher have been working on a solution so such a misunderstanding does not arise in the future.
Photo Credits: The Union Leader
