Editorial: Father concerned over not being able to say ‘Christmas’

A father and mother sat quietly in the back of the school board meeting on Oct. 13 for about an hour and a half, with two squirmy, red-headed children well under control.
When it was time for public comment, Hunter Muckle got up and said he was in favor of building a positive and inclusive culture in the schools, as had been discussed at the meeting. He said he went to the Van Buren Public Schools 20 years ago and he learned about another culture in the fifth grade at Tyler. He said they put on the play “Fiddler on the Roof” and it impacted his life. He even still has a dreidel and his daughter plays with it. He said he is a Christian but that music education in the fifth grade helped him.
He said he wants a multi-cultural education for his children and he is disappointed that they are not allowed to say the word “Christmas’ at Savage Elementary. He said he talked to the principal and she refused to give him an answer on why there was this new policy.
The board seldom answers anyone’s questions, but board president Amy Pearce said she will look into this and that superintendent Pete Kudlak will call him in the next day or two. She said she might call him, too, and he should leave his number.
The father showed no anger in his remarks, but said he just wants to know why this policy was made. Good question.