Christmas is built entirely around the birth of Jesus, but one middle school is hoping to wash its hands of all religious references for its upcoming winter concert.
David Allen, the parent of a child from Robious Middle School in Midlothian, Virginia, told WWBT-TV that his son recently informed him his school’s administrators decided to scrub from the concert any songs that reference the Son of God.
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Looking for some clarity on the issue, Allen sent an email to the chorus teacher.
“We had a few students who weren’t comfortable singing a piece I have done many times in the past, but it is of a sacred nature and does mention Jesus,” the teacher wrote back, according to the news station.
The teacher also noted the school decided to avoid singing any songs with overt religious messages in hopes of being more sensitive toward students’ increasingly diverse world views.
Allen also received a notice around the same time, informing him about the increased diversity in the school’s population.
“It just seems like more and more everywhere you look everyone’s afraid of stepping on someone’s toes,” Allen said, adding, “I’m trying to rationalize how you can encourage diversity and yet be exclusionary in one specific area.”
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The perplexed dad even said he would have no issue with his son singing songs from another religious tradition, because that’s part of learning.
“They all can get a feel of each individual religion, ethnicity and nationality have to offer,” he explained. “It’s a school, it’s a learning educational experience. … I wouldn’t object to my children singing a Hindu songs during their celebratory period of time.”
(H/T: WWBT-TV)