It’s really a simple question. Or at least I thought it was until I was talking with my daughter on the phone the other day, and she told me about an incident that happened at my grandson’s school.

He’s eleven years old and is in middle school.

His class was having a contest to decorate their classroom’s door with a Christmas theme. So, the kids divided up in little groups to see which group could come up with the best design for their door.

Lo-and-behold, when the children had finished and they all voted on which team had come up with the best design portraying Christmas, his team won!

Sorta. Now, wait for it.

The teacher informed him and the other boys that their design was disqualified and couldn’t be used on their classroom’s door because it didn’t really depict what Christmas was all about.

The boys were stunned. They asked, “What’s wrong with our design? All the other kids thought it was great and voted for it.”

He told them that it had to be disqualified because it had baby Jesus in it.

He said, “You’re joking, right? Jesus is what Christmas is all about! That’s why it’s called Christmas.”

The teacher looked at the boys and said, “No. Not really. It’s about gift giving, candy canes and singing.”

They couldn’t put anything on the door or teach things that depicted Jesus or religion or stuff like that. It wouldn’t be appropriate to others who don’t believe in things such as that.

He objected and said he was wrong because they had been taught about a couple other religions and about diversity and inclusion, so what was wrong with having Jesus in Christmas and putting him on their door.

Makes sense to me. Right?

He was sent to the principal.

Once there he was told that he was too young to really understand what Christmas was all about.

The principal said, “Your brain isn’t fully developed.” And he was sent back to his classroom.

But before leaving my eleven year old grandson said, “We’ll just have to agree to disagree.”

I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of that kid!

I’ve been hesitant to share this until I was sitting here in my recliner today and A Charlie Brown Christmas came on TV. That was when it hit me. How to best describe what Christmas is all about to the teachers in that school.

I’ve seen this show a dozen times over the years, but it really hit home this time.

There’s a point in the show one of the kids asks the question, “What’s Christmas all about?”

That’s when Linus walks to the center of the stage and says, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Perhaps my grandson’s teacher should watch a few cartoons now and then. I’d suggest he begin with A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Pray for our children.

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Rick Algood
December 20, 2025