Don't ban Christmas, schools told Australia

If the plane ticket wasn't so expensive, I think I would move there tomorrow...

EVERY Victorian school and kindergarten has been officially told: don't ban Christmas celebrations.Premier Steve Bracks yesterday gave his official encouragement for nativity scenes, carols and other Christian traditions.

Jingle Bells can ring in classrooms around the state again after several schools banned nativity scenes and carol singing last year for fear of offending non-Christian children.

Mr Bracks told the Herald Sun the Government would send a message to every primary and secondary school reminding them not to ban Christmas.

"All schools and kindergartens should be able to have nativity plays and Christian celebrations," Mr Bracks said.

"Those who don't wish to participate don't have to, and those who wish to celebrate in their own way can do so.

"But even those from other faiths, of course, accept Christian celebrations and the Government is keen to ensure there are no bans on any of these sorts of activities."

Mr Bracks said he wanted to encourage tolerance of all faiths.

His intervention comes after several schools last year refused to stage Christmas celebrations.
Some kindergartens and childcare centres also banned nativity scenes in favour of end-of-year parties with no mention of Christmas.

Mr Bracks said census figures showed Victoria was essentially a Christian society and Christmas traditions should be celebrated.

The latest census figures show Australia-wide there are about 10.9 million Christians, 357,000 Buddhists, 280,000 Muslims and 84,000 people of Jewish faith.

Mr Bracks said he would today ask Premier and Cabinet department secretary Terry Moran to write to the Education Department to pass on his message to Victorian schools.
Religious leaders yesterday welcomed the move.

Among them was the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne's Vicar General, Monsignor Les Tomlinson, who said bans on nativity scenes and Christian themes were political correctness gone crazy.

In a world living with the constant threat of terrorism, Monsignor Tomlinson said tolerance and respect were needed more than ever.

"The Christian message is so important. The message of compassion for the suffering of others, of tolerance, of respect, of pursuing peace through justice -- they only enhance human society," he said. Rabbinical Council of Victoria Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant strongly supported the Premier's move.

"I believe it is vital that we teach our children to respect each other's right to have, practise, freely express and celebrate our own different religions and particularly when it comes to expression of religious beliefs and celebrations that promote goodwill amongst all people," Rabbi Kluwgant said.

The Islamic Council of Victoria could not be contacted yesterday, but Muslim leaders have criticised the promotion of a secular Christmas instead of religious celebrations as political correctness gone mad.

While Mr Bracks wants to see more Christmas cheer in schools, many councils across the city are abandoning traditional yuletide celebrations.

Port Phillip Council is happy to play the role of Scrooge.

It will spend just $3000 for a cherry picker to decorate a tree with fairy lights outside St Kilda Town Hall.

Bayside City Council will dress up two pine trees at Dendy Park for its annual Carols in the Park.

But chief executive officer Catherine Dale said the council had not bought any Christmas decorations to display in its municipality.

Other councils are restricting decorations to shopping strips in an attempt to boost trading over the festive season.

But in Maribyrnong, the council has decided to display new star decorations in its shopping precincts at a cost of $60,000.

Chief executive officer Kerry Thompson said the star design was chosen because it was "simple, affordable and can be used in a number of design options and is recognised as a festive image".
The spirit of Christmas is alive in regional centres with Bass Coast Shire Council backing celebrations in all main townships.

It will spend about $20,000 on banners and lights and will provide additional decorations to Cowes and Wonthaggi to provide "maximum impact and unify townships". In the historic towns of Stawell and St Arnaud, the Northern Grampians Shire Council will launch new, bright Christmas banners and decorations with a distinct Australian flair, designed by a local graphic artist