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Published: 2008-12-09 20:28:00
Updated: 2008-12-09 22:02:09

'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' causes stir at school


Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
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"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" caused a stir at a New Hanover County school.  A parent complained about the song's religious reference and got it pulled from her child's kindergarten Christmas show at Murrayville Elementary School.

The song was pulled “because it had the word Christmas in it,” said Rick Holliday, assistant school superintendent.

A Jewish mother, who didn't want her name published, objected to what she called "religious overtones" in the song. So the principal agreed to pull it from the program.

School administrators said they were then flooded with complaints from other angry parents.

“I would say it's not a very religious song. It's about Santa Claus,” parent Anne Vanslyke said.

School board members, administrators and attorneys listened closely to the song's lyrics and decided the song was secular.

“Rudolph is a secular song. It was about a flying reindeer, not a religious symbol,” Holliday said.

Many parents shouted out with glee when they heard the song was back in the program.

“I think it's great that they let the kids sing because all the kids love that song,” Vanslyke said.

Any student who objects to singing a Christmas song or attending a program can decline participation and will not be penalized, according to school administrators.

“We do try to be cognizant of everyone's feelings,” Holliday said.

School administrations also decided that for future concerts, religious songs can be included, as long as other faiths are represented as well.

  • Reporter: Mike Charbonneau

222 Comments


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To add to the uproar: if you have a decorated Christmas tree in your home you are in direct violation of the preachings of the great prophet Jeremiah who expressly forbade it as PAGAN. Git that thang outta the house!!!!

There is always going to be stupid people making frivolous complaints as this Jewish mother did. However one would think a school principal would have enough brains to dismiss such a complaint. The only real story here is why the school principal has not been sacked for displaying a propensity for irrational thought and unsound judgment.

"I was married to a Jewish person who took offense to everything Christmas, but enjoyed the presents on Christmas Day. Have the person with non-Christian beliefs move to where his/her kind are...and stop complaining. BTW..No longer married to the non-Christian." ---MOM AND LOVIN IT

..... Is that some of that famous xian tolerance I keep hearing of here?

I was married to a Jewish person who took offense to everything Christmas, but enjoyed the presents on Christmas Day. Have the person with non-Christian beliefs move to where his/her kind are...and stop complaining. BTW..No longer married to the non-Christian.

jaredg, I think you hit the nail square on the head.

If this wasn't taking place in the school in the first place, there would be no argument. This is a diverse country, and out of respect for that diversity, celebration of what many consider to be a religious holiday should be left for people to do in their homes and/or places of worship.

It's not like the kids are deprived of celebrations to begin with.

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