Good grief! Atheist group disgruntled with 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
Alliance Defending Freedom assures school district that students can view play based on iconic TV special
Attorney sound bite: Matt Sharp
“Schools should not have to think twice about whether they can allow students to watch a classic Christmas production simply because a Bible verse is mentioned in it,” said Legal Counsel Matt Sharp. “‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ has become an iconic Christmas story and tradition. Are atheist groups going to start demanding that students be blocked from attending other classic productions just because they contain religious references? An overwhelming majority of Americans agree that it’s okay to celebrate Christmas in schools and in the public square.”
After being contacted by a parent, the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers lodged a complaint with the Little Rock School District because Terry Elementary School is providing a voluntary opportunity for students to attend a matinee production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” being staged at a local church on Dec. 14.
In a letter sent home to parents, teachers explained that the trip to see the production is optional and that students who do not attend will be able to attend another class so they won’t be deprived of an educational opportunity. The letter explained that the purpose of the trip is to “expose your child to the amazing world of theater productions and enhance your child’s creative imagination in the area of dramatic arts.” The letter further explained that the play includes a discussion of the Christian origin of Christmas “through some of the songs and scenes.”
“There is no violation of the so-called ‘separation of church and state’ by allowing children to learn about theater through observing a stage version of this beloved program that contains the same religious elements as the television version,” the Alliance Defending Freedom letter explains. “Given that schools themselves may organize and sponsor Christmas programs and performances (including a performance of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”) and study the historical origins of Christmas, schools may likewise organize a field trip to see a third-party theatrical performance where students hear Christmas carols and learn the historical origin of Christmas.”
The letter offers free legal assistance to the school district if anyone files suit to challenge the opportunity the school has offered for students to see the play: “We hope that you will resist the demands of the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers who seek to deprive students of the opportunity to participate in this educational (and constitutional) trip to see ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.’”
A December 2010 Gallup poll found that 95 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas.
Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly Alliance Defense Fund) is an alliance-building legal ministry that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
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ABOUT Matt Sharp
Matt Sharp serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he is the director of the Center for Public Policy. In this role, he leads ADF's team of policy experts as they craft legislation and advise government officials on policies that promote free speech, religious freedom, parental rights, and the sanctity of human life. Since joining ADF in 2010, Sharp has authored federal and state legislation, regularly provides testimony and legal analysis on how proposed legislation will impact constitutional freedoms, and advises governors, legislators, and state and national policy organizations on the importance of laws and policies that protect First Amendment rights. He has twice testified before the U.S. Congress on the importance of protecting free speech and religious liberty in federal law. Sharp also authored an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of nearly 9,000 students, parents, and community members asking the court to uphold students’ right to privacy against government intrusion. Sharp earned his J.D. in 2006 from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. A member of the bar in Georgia and Tennessee, he is also admitted to practice in several federal courts.