"'We teach about Thanksgiving from a purely historical perspective, not from a religious perspective,' said Charles Ridgell, St. Mary's County Public Schools curriculum and instruction director."

Nothing like trying to ban the teaching of religion in a county named Saint Mary's.

"...the Pilgrims not only thanked the Native Americans for their peaceful three-day indulgence,"

What, the kids are being taught that three days of peace was so out of character for the Native Americans that it merited a national holiday of thanks? Somebody call Chief Dan George, NOW!

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d dy of October, A.D. 1789.

--G. Washington

If history conflicts with the secularist model then history must be revised. Another great aspect of secularism. At least they are rational, scientific about it. Don't forget the witch trials.

The religiousity of the two late-year holidays has been a sore point for the left for over a generation now. If they had their way, Thanksgiving would be a simple non-sectarian Harvest Fest, while if they thought they wouldn't be laughed out of the building, they'd much rather celebrate Kwanza than Christmas at the end of December (though not with all that capitalist gift-giving stuff - too commercial).

Why teach history at all. Just have each class make something up about how we became who we are after everyone takes a toque(sp.) from a joint.

As the one little evangelical boy wrote in his public school Thanksgiving essay:

"Then the Pilgrims went you know where to thank you know who for you know what."

If they claim to teach the history of Thanksgiving, they are abject liars if they elide Religion.

Mr. Ridgell must be an undercover operative for the Right.

The "thank the Indians" story is particularly hilarious when the subsequent history of the region is considered. Seriously, it is very easy for the teacher to subvert the secularization of Thanksgiving, as pointed out above, by fererring to original documents and sources.y

If the goal is to completely divorce government from religion, no matter how entrenced the custom may be and how remote it might be from relgion now, then why isn't there an outcry against government offices shutting down on Sundays? (and Saturdays, for that matter). Shouldn't they be open every day of the week so as not to offend peoples whose religions (or lack of religion) do not include "days of rest and worship"?

It may sound ridiculous now, but but all this would have sounded ridiculous a few decades ago, if you had predicted it.

Raoul:

Find a secular teacher who thinks she should be working Thursday & Friday.

Have you ever heard of St.Monday? Used to be that Sunday was a day, once the church obligations were over, to get drunk. Often people were so hung over that they would rather not work and used the phoney saint's day as an excuse. To counter this, reformers encouraged people to take off Saturday afternoons for "wholesome" rest. Which is where our present weekend comes from.