School Board changes mind - 'Christmas' will not be on their calendar

August 31, 6:10 PMAtheism ExaminerTrina Hoaks

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As reported last week, the Freedom From Religion Foundation intervened when they heard a Michigan school district was planning to change the wording on their school calendar to say "Christmas break," rather than "Winter holiday break." It was reported that "...during a closed session, the school board voted unanimously to change the wording of the school calendar ."

Since that time, the Petoskey Public School system received several e-mail complaints about the change. In response to the attention, the School Board had another meeting to discuss last week's decision. They have issued a statement saying that they will not change the calendar after all.

The statement says:

The School Board of Petoskey Public Schools will not continue with its plan to change the name of Winter Break to Christmas Break. In reviewing the legality of this change in light of Mr. Waldvogel's email of August 10th, 2009 it is the opinion of this Board, along with legal counsel, that the School Board would not be successful in court if challenged. The ability or right to change the wording is not at issue. It is well settled that schools have the right to refer to the break as Christmas. Christmas is a federal holiday and the vacation period can be named as such as has been traditionally accepted. However, it is also well established that government actions (including Public School Boards) must have a secular purpose for their actions (Lemon v. Kurtzman 403 U.S. 602 (1971)). To change to 'Christmas Break' cannot be initiated or driven based on a religious agenda. This Board does not wish to expend the District's limited resources on legal issues in which in all likelihood would not be successful.