When I was a child, my mother, who was doing long-term substitute-music-teacher work in a city elementary school, designed and had the kids perform the school's first-ever combined Christmas/Hannukah program. Ma wasn't trying to be "revolutionary," she just knew she had Jewish children in her classes, and it just "made sense" to include music from their traditions in the "Christmas Concert." It is terribly sad to think that that might not be allowed any more.

I think taking Christmas out of schools is silly, when many of the children in every public school classroom celebrate the holiday at home. There should perhaps be discussion in September of the Jewish high holy days, more important in their tradition than Hannukah. Kids should learn about Ramadan. We can learn about diferent cultures without losing our own.

When we decide that every single holiday is "discriminatory" and therefore celebrate none, it will be a sad day in the American culture. Children - and adults, for that matter - should learn about other cultures and religions' traditions. How can we understand that of which we know nothing?

Without understanding, how can there ever be peace?