ACLU in Tennessee warns schools across state about holiday celebrations

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee has warned school officials across the state about holiday celebrations.

In a letter to the 137 public school superintendents, the group reminded administrators that holiday celebrations focusing primarily on one religious holiday amount to a school's unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

The ACLU said in a news release that it was responding to numerous complaints from families about such school activities. Hedy Weinberg, ACLU executive director in Tennessee, said it is especially important for people to embrace the constitutional guarantees of the First Amendment in order to ensure that religious freedom flourishes.

The letter cites several U.S. Supreme Court decisions about the matter.