Free Republic

At a time when Americans of many faiths – and even no faith – gear up to celebrate Christmas this year, a first-grade teacher in Sacramento Co., Calif., says she's been ordered by her principal not to utter the word "Christmas" at school. The 24-year education veteran, who wishes to keep her name and the school anonymous at this time, claims she and two fellow instructors were told that use of the word "Christmas" in the classroom or in written materials was now prohibited.

To: Governor Gray Davis To: Mrs. Delaine Eastin, State Superintendent of Public Instruction It has come to our attention that the Byron Union School District ('BUSD') has instituted a mandatory course in Islam for its seventh grade students, which has led to a number of complaints by parents about violations of the parents' and their children's First Amendment freedoms. We are alarmed that this course forces students to participate in Muslim worship, including: -Mandatory prayer "in the name of Allah the Compassionate the Merciful" and chanting praise to "Allah, Lord of Creation" -requiring students to dress up as Muslims and ...