Religion in Schools

When I was growing up, I remember Christianity not being allowed in schools. So we would automatically think that Judaism and all other relgions would not be allowed in the schools either, right? Wrong... At Christmas time, we were not allowed to say "Christmas" we had to either say "holiday" or "x-mas" in order to not offend our non-Christian classmates. We could not sing Christmas carols (except for the ones that had nothing to do with Christ). However, we were required to sing Channukah songs as well as Kwanza songs! Does this seem odd to you?

Obviously neither my sister nor myself had said anything to my mom at the time because when we told her a few years later she said if she had known that she would have asked that Christmas songs be sung as well or that we did not sing Channukah and Kwanza songs in order to be fair to all relgions. That's my mom for you. It does not have to be "equal", but it must be "fair" :)

If your children go to public schools is this still the case? How would you have handled it if it were the case?

Blessings in Christ,