by Archana Subramaniam by CNB
Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: SATURDAY, February 27, 1993 TAG: 9303010189 SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ASSEMBLY ENDORSES SCHOOL-BREAK NAMES
The General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a joint resolution encouraging local school districts to include references to Christmas and Easter on school calendars.Two Montgomery County legislators did not support the resolution, which also encourages the school systems to recognize significant anniversaries like the birthdays of Martin Luther King and George Washington.
"While we understand the concerns of those whose histories have been neglected, we are, nevertheless, in danger of losing the meaning of our various ethnic and religious values," a section of the resolution read.
The resolution, which is a joint expression of opinion and not a law, also encouraged that children have the opportunity in school to learn about such holy days as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Ramadan.
Del. Joan Munford, D-Blacksburg, voted against the measure that passed 86-10 in the House. The resolution passed on what the Senate clerk recorded as a unanimous voice vote, but Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, said he didn't support the resolution.
"Frankly, I have no problem with the use of the terms `spring break' and `fall break,' " he said. "I don't believe they are intended to infringe on anyone's religious rights.
"I'm more interested in the quality of our children's education than I am about the terms used to describe vacation periods."
The issue of whether or not to include references to Easter and Christmas on the school calendar has caused quite a stir in Montgomery County in the past few months.
In December, about 300 county residents crowded into a county Board of Supervisors meeting to protest after discovering belatedly that the School Board had changed the names of the "Christmas" and "Easter" holidays to "winter break" and "spring break."
School Board Chairman Daniel Schneck resigned after the supervisors, who have no direct control over school policy, unanimously passed a resolution in support of the religious designations for the school holidays.
Del. Tommy Baker, R-Dublin, voted for the bill and said he was happy to see it pass by such a wide margin.
"I think Christmas has a place on the calendar; that's just the way I was brought up," he said. "I think the folks in Radford, Pulaski and Giles agree with the way I vote."
Sen. H. Russell Potts, R-Winchester, said he sponsored the resolution after the Frederick County school system faced a controversy similar to the one in Montgomery County.
"This whole awe of political correctness is eroding the great traditions of this country," he said. "The point I was trying to make is that it isn't winter break, it's Christmas break."
Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle, supported the resolution, but said he had no strong feelings on the subject.
"I don't think these resolutions really mean anything," he said. "It's a decision that needs to be left at the local level."
Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, was a co-sponsor of the resolution. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
Staff writer Robert Freis contributed information to this story.
\ YEA OR NAY\ ON USING RELIGIOUS NAMES FOR SCHOOL VACATIONS\ \ IN FAVOR: Dels. Steven Agee, R-Salem; Ward Armstrong, D-Martinsville; Tommy Baker, R-Dublin; Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton; Creigh Deeds, D-Warm Springs; Willard Finney, D-Rocky Mount; Thomas Jackson, D-Hillsville; Joseph Johnson, D-Abingdon; Lacey Putney, I-Bedford; Roscoe Reynolds, D-Martinsville; Victor Thomas, D-Roanoke; Clifton Woodrum, D-Roanoke.\ \ OPPOSED: Dels. G.C. Jennings, D-Marion; Joan Munford, D-Blacksburg.