December Dilemma

Here is some information to educate us about our professional responsibility as a public school when working with holidays. My expectation is that we have an inclusive environment and respect differences.   Subtle shifts at HP to be inclusive and respectful of differences include: The Giving Tree-Social action to support the county rather than a religious symbol Sing- a long- There is a balance of songs from differing beliefs and they are non- religious in nature (The music department updated this a few years ago) Snowman Bingo- Not Santa as it is not a part of everyone's belief system. Please see me if you have questions or concerns when planning learning and remember that learning is the focus in schools and keeping routines is comforting to students and supports above the line behaviors at school.

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As the 2014-15 school year approaches, we at the Anti-Defamation League—one of the nation’s premier organizations defending religious liberty—know that many school administrators and teachers face the challenge of planning curricula that demonstrate a respect for religious differences, both during the December holidays and throughout the school year. Such planning may encompass both classroom and other school-sponsored activities. In an effort to help you comply with the United States Constitution and create a school environment that communicates respect for diversity by valuing diverse points of view concerning religion, we offer the following guidelines for developing December holiday curricula: GENERAL CONSTITUTIONAL RULE: When a school does choose to acknowledge the December holidays, it is essential that the school must never appear to endorse religion over non-religion or one particular religious faith over another. Diversity includes religious diversity. In designing holiday lessons and programming, it is essential to keep in mind that the children entrusted to your care likely have widely divergent religious points of view. The way you approach the December holidays will determine whether those children whose religious views fall outside of the majority’s are made to feel welcome and comfortable in their school building, or whether they will feel as if they do not belong. Public schools must remain free from activities that could involve religious coercion. Because of their young age, students are particularly impressionable and susceptible to pressure to conform to the beliefs of the majority. Schools must take care to avoid endorsing the beliefs, practices or traditions of the majority religion. Although certain activities may be legally permissible, they may not be inclusive. For example, asking elementary school students to write a letter to Santa Claus is permissible, but the assignment would exclude children who do not celebrate Christmas. A more inclusive approach would ask students to write a letter to someone important to them. Schools must be careful not to cross the line between teaching about religious holidays (which is permitted) and celebrating religious holidays (which is not). Celebrating religious holidays in the form of religious worship or other practices is unconstitutional. Teaching about a holiday will be constitutional if it furthers a genuine secular program of education, is presented objectively, and does not have the effect of endorsing, advancing or inhibiting religion. Special school events, assemblies, concerts and programs must be designed to further a secular and objective program of education and must not focus on any one religion or religious observance. Religious music or drama—particularly in the classical choral music context—may be included in school events, but the reason for including that music or drama must be to advance a secular educational goal. Such events must not promote or denigrate any particular religion, serve as a religious celebration, or become a forum for religious devotion. However, to ensure respect for diversity, when special school events include religious music or drama, every effort should be made to present a balanced and inclusive approach. Furthermore, as a general practice (legally required in some states), public schools should excuse students who have a religious objection from performing in school events that present religious music or drama. Religious symbols are not appropriate seasonal decorations in public schools. The classroom and school premises are the place where children spend the majority of their day. It is important that all students feel comfortable and accepted in their school. Symbols of religious holidays may make some students uncomfortable and unwelcome because their holidays and traditions are not represented or because they do not celebrate religious holidays at all. In an effort to be inclusive it is not advisable to seek or rely on information about a religion from a representative child of that faith tradition. Students should never be asked to be a spokesperson for their religious tradition. Not only might it make a child feel uncomfortable, but one student’s religious experience can never be generalized to the entire group. Moreover, by asking a student to be the spokesperson for his/her religion, a teacher may inadvertently convey to others that the religion is too “exotic” for the teacher to understand or explain. Furthermore, in certain cases, the teacher may be opening the door for proselytizing activity by the student or parent, which must be avoided. ADL has a web-page devoted to teaching about the December holidays.  It includes: The ADL publication entitled, The December Dilemma: Teaching About Religious Holidays A recording of the ADL webinar entitled, The December Dilemma—Navigating Religious Holidays in the Public Schools The ADL publication entitled, Considerations for Inclusive Holiday and Observances The ADL publication entitled, Religion in the Public Schools, which provides a comprehensive look at the law of religion in the public schools in an easy to understand and use format.