» The California State Superintendent of Public Instruction has responded to me, expressing his concern:

Dear Mr. McGee:

Thank you for contacting the California Department of Education (CDE) regarding Christmas carols at school.

While I share your concern on this matter, unfortunately, I am unable to provide assistance since this issue is not within my jurisdiction. The principle of local control exists in school governance, and the situation you describe is a matter that must be resolved at the local level. I encourage you to share your concerns with your school district and local school board.

Again, thank you for contacting the CDE.

Sincerely,

JACK O’CONNELL
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

» The attorneys of the Freedom From Religion Foundation will be writing a formal letter of complaint.  Mega-w00ts to them.

» I sent my letter of complaint with a formal request for a written response by 15 January 2010.

Readers’ assistance in this matter is still cordially requested.  The permanent link to this page is http://mcgees.org/2009/12/05/kathy-perini/: please redistribute.

Thanks, everyone!

Please address to “Temple City School Board”, care of the address above:

9700 Las Tunas Drive
Temple City, CA 91780
Phone: (626) 548-5000
Fax: (626) 548-5022

And this is surprising … how?  Atheists don’t believe in gods, therefore they can’t consider themselves to be in the right, or to be angered by injustice?

It is a good excuse for inconsiderate actions…

Oh, hello.  Do you really want to do this publicly?  Church stationery?  Pulpit?!  We can if you’d like.

Also, I’m looking forward to your driving ten miles out of your way to jump my dead battery.  Was it a “Zits” comic: I-hate-you-but-can-I-have-$20-to-go-to-the-mall?    Funny, but that’s not what this is — you know that, right?

The intention was, and is, to show that I am not a lone voice in the wilderness.  I don’t find it at all inappropriate.  Please consider if you have ever courted like-minded people to address an issue that concerns you.

It also shows a great deal of disrespect and lack of concern for the position into which it places his mother

This is an appropriate topic for my mother to address.

To organize a letter writing campaign against your mother’s boss IS an ATTACK not a strongly worded complaint.  If Josh wanted to do that he could have just written a letter himself.  It also shows a great deal of disrespect and lack of concern for the position into which it places his mother. (By the way: we’re divorced.)

all the way down to States that will not allow us to hold public office even now

… and there are seven: Arkansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania (!), South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.  Will these laws be enforced?  Well, probably not.  So, “silly laws”, right?  Like it being illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole (that one’s sometimes attributed to Atlanta, GA)?  Ha ha ha.  Now: what would be the response if it said “Blacks”, “Jews”, or “women”?

that is the very reason this woman chose to do what she did

For the record: given her record, I also believe that proselytizing is precisely why she did this, and why she will continue to do this without intervention.

Basically: no matter what Bill O’Reilly and Ann Coulter tell you, this is a secular nation founded by secularists on secular principles, and I want my fucking country back.

But if you still feel the need to flame — a link to this post is being RTed on Twitter, so this post is likely to draw crazies — maybe run a spell check first?  Given my sampling of anti-atheist Twitter activity … can I attach “please” to that?  There’s no need to look stupid and crazy, right?  kthx.

I must disagree.  First, there is nothing here that indicates an “attack.” It is a strongly worded complaint – nothing more.

Tolerance is essential; however, it goes both ways. For centuries we atheists, humanists, and other free-thinkers have been abused. From actual murder all the way down to States that will not allow us to hold public office even now.

This was a “holiday” celebration that should reflect and respect the beliefs of the attendees (both rational and unfortunately even the delusional). If it was titled “christmas with jesus” then it would be clearly and exclusively for the xtians. Even though Santa is essentially a xtian creation he has been diluted to the point where the character represents giving vs dogma.

I agree that adults who have chosen to not believe in superstition and mythology would probably not be effected by song lyrics. Children are another thing. When they are presented with information by trusted adults it sticks and is assumed true. There is psychological value to repetition of the mumbo jumbo however subtle and that is the very reason this woman chose to do what she did. She should be held accountable.  She is the one who chose the battle. It is generally with a patronizing smile (accurately described above) that we are told that the belief in an invisible deity trumps any other deity or even a more rational belief structure. Atheists are expected to quietly just accept and keep our mouths shut and we have for too long.

Prudent? Yes. Necessary? Yes. 
I say, bravo!

Oh, and you realize this is also illegal, right?  I would give leeway if it were a “holiday” celebration, or even if it were kept as a cultural, ceremonial Christmas.  But this was beyond the pale.

Christmas hymns have no more business at a public school than minarets and prayer mats, yarmulkes and wailing walls, and if an American does not recognize this, he or she is part of the problem.  What would be the right response if Muslim, and only Muslim, songs were played at a school-organized event?

Yes, it sucks that this woman is my mother’s boss.  But I am a man of principle, and I will not tolerate my tax dollars paying for this shit.

Do you know what?  Adults should register the lyrics.  They sure as hell would if they were anything other than Christian.  If they don’t — again, part of the problem.

But don’t you think you’re over-reacting just a little?  The governor?

And, do you really think it prudent to attack…and organize an attack….on your mother’s boss?

It was a Christmas celebration!  Most of the adults would not have registered the words that were playing…and, I venture to guess, none of the children.

When you were offended you did the right thing to leave.  Even to tell her you were offended.

But I think this is a little over the top….