Christmas Trees and Santa Thrown out from Bellview Elementary School in Ashland, Oregon, USA

Washington: December 09, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

A public school principal has banned Christmas trees and Santa Claus from Bellview Elementary in Ashland, Oregon. Principal Michelle Zundel removed a "holiday giving tree" from the school over Thanksgiving break and replaced it with two snowmen. The tree displayed tags suggesting gifts to donate for needy children, but now the swap has upset dozens of parents who say the tree was celebrating the Christmas season and helping those in need.

Principal Zundel defended her decision by stating: "The Christmas tree, while a secular symbol according to the Supreme Court, does symbolize Christmas, and if you are entering a public school and your family does not celebrate Christmas, then it feels like a religious symbol." She plans to discuss guidelines later this week that permanently ban Christmas trees and Santa Claus.

Absurd actions like those of this Oregon principal prompted Liberty Counsel to launch our Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign, which is designed to educate and, if necessary, litigate to make sure religious viewpoints regarding Christmas are not censored.

We have issued a letter to the principal to educate her about the law.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: "Banning Christmas trees and Santa Claus is the epitome of political correctness. It is frankly absurd to ban Christmas trees and Santa Claus. The principal has crossed the line, because her actions are hostile toward religion."