Larvatus Prodeo

Andrew Bolt gets in early to fire the first shot in the war against the so-called progressive secular agenda of the war against Christmas.

I agree that sensitivity to the religious beliefs of non-Christian students is wise and considerate. But I also think Christmas is an important cultural festival in Australia, even more than a religious one to many, and teaching culture is not something schools should apologise for too much, nor non-believing parents should really object to.

And what is Bolt on about?

An Education Department memo sent to government schools issues advice about how to celebrate Christmas. It says schools need to be mindful of the secular nature of the government school system.

“It is not appropriate to promote adherence to a particular religion or denomination of a religion,” it says. “Accordingly, students must be allowed the opportunity to withdraw from planned events.”

The memo also reminds schools to provide “appropriate opportunities” to celebrate the festive season. But it states it is up to school communities to decide the precise nature of celebrations.

And the bloody lights aren’t even up yet. Only 48 more shopping days to go of complaints by Bolt and his ilk charging city councils, mayors, retailers, school boards, and civil libertarians with an improper observance of the happy holiday and a distinct lack of Santa’s, lights, trees and nativity scenes in our public spaces and streetscapes.