Holiday Decorations at Benicia High Have Some Students Unhappy

Holiday decorations at have some students, including the school's ACLU Club, wondering if some religious traditions are being favored over others at the school.

The school’s Student Leadership class put up a tree in the school quad and other decorations celebrating the holiday season. There are even signs that proclaim "Happy Holidays," but some students who were not raised in Christian households are saying their religions are being left out.

The tree that seemed to spark the controversy has been taken off the quad because the wind kept blowing it down. It was in the Leadership Council classroom Thursday.

“The push is to expand the holiday decorations, not take them down,” said , the teacher supervisor of the ACLU Club at Benicia High. “There is a lot of tolerance at this school.”

“The leadership class put a tree in the faculty room that has paper decorations on it,” Finn said. “Each decoration has a suggested gift that a teacher or one of their classes can purchase. The gift is then given to the leadership kids who will present all the gifts to local charity's, Adopt-A-Family Program.”

School administrators have been in meetings all morning and were not available for comment.

Benicia Patch will update this story throughout the day as more information becomes available.

Update: 

Students are split on whether the decorations around the school constitute religious symbols or are all inclusive.

“Who would have known a Christmas tree could cause so much controversy,” said 17-year-old senior Wianna Lane, a member of the Holiday Committee In the leadership class.  “I did it. I absolutely love it. The point is to bring holiday spirit and joy this time of the year.”

Junior Maria Hill said, “Our intention was to make people happy and brighten people’s days. We never said, ‘This is a Christmas tree.’ It is a holiday tree. People can hang up anything they want as long as it is not religious.”

The Leadership class wants to include everyone, not leave people out of the holiday celebrations.  

Senior Danica Sheets  said, ”The Christmas tree started as a Pagan tradition. People who tend to mix religion with an Americanized Christmas are ridiculous and ill informed. People are going to make an issue no matter what to further any agenda they have.”

William Blackmer, a 17-year-old senior who is member of both the ACLU club and the leadership class sees it a little differently.   “I publicly stated that I do not think it should be there. I think that it is a religious symbol. I am standing up for those that might be offended but can’t stand up for themselves,” said Blackmer.

At least one student thought there was a relatively easy solution. “If it is causing so many problems and making others uncomfortable, they should take it all down,” said senior Jessica Levine.

“I like them, I celebrate Christmas too as long as there are no crosses or a manger, there is no problem, I kind of think that if they put a menorah it would get made fun of,” said senior Lindsay Gallorado.  “A Christmas tree is just a decoration.”

Gary Jensen, BHS Principal said, “I need to talk to the leadership class before I comment on this. However we should do everything we can to include the traditions of all cultures and religions.”

Benicia High School Senior Mirna Umbenhower contributed to this story.