November 29, 2008 1:16 PM
Christmas in public schools? Yes, we can!
My article in the 11/30 Purcellville Gazette:
Close to Home
By Barbara Curtis
Christmas in school? Yes, we can.Several years ago, my daughter's teacher gave this assignment: Make holiday posters.
Only one guideline: No religion allowed.I guess it wouldn't be Christmas without the fear of a lawsuit, would it?
But this skittishness about religious expression in schools is unfounded. I know because I've been researching and reporting on this subject since 1998, when a couple of my kids were attending a small elementary school in dairy farm land an hour north of San Francisco.
My wake-up call came at the "Winter Program" where families sat through songs about Santa, chimneys, and reindeer, plus five Chanukah and one Kwanzaa - this though the school boasted only one Jewish family (non-practicing) and not a single African-American.Ninety musical minutes with nary a note about Jesus.
But while I have no fear that Christianity will survive whether censored out of public schools or not, that's not the issue.
The issue is the First Amendment. Are schools supposed to support freedom from religion or freedom of religion?
There's a big difference.
Which is why I share my California experience: it shows what can happen when schools become overzealous in their efforts to avoid promulgating a certain religion.
Because - let's face it - the religion we're always worried about not promulgating is Christianity.
It's this worry which leads some teachers to err on caution's side, nixing potential conflict by controlling the creativity and spontaneous expression of students.
I understand their dilemma, I really do.
But for those of faith - and I speak here of several faith traditions - December marks a holy season. Some parents have worked hard to raise children whose faith is a vital, integral part of who they are as individuals - not just a label or a rote activity. If such parents have succeeded, teachers should not be surprised that what bubbles up creatively from their children reflects their faith rather than glittering generalities or superficial, materialistic aspects of the season.
This is a good thing - kids with convictions. And I promise not to be offended by your child's Menorah, if you promise not to be offended by my child's Manger.
But we don't need to hash these things out on a case-by-case basis. The answers are already in place. Some years ago, President Clinton, concerned that some educators and community members had incorrectly assumed that schools must be religious-free zones, asked U. S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley to issue guidelines. The result is a remarkably concise, clear and sensible document titled Religious Expression in Public Schools: a Statement of Principles.
The guidelines affirm that while teachers may not encourage or join in students' religious activity, the school's official religious neutrality requires that:
"Teachers and administrators are also prohibited from discouraging activity because of its religious content, and from soliciting or encouraging antireligious activity." (my emphasis)The Virginia Board of Education is more specific. The 1995 Guidelines Concerning Religious Activity in Public Schools, under "Student Assignments" state:
"Student art projects often center around seasonal themes. Where the season has both secular and religious connotations, some students may prefer to depict a secular aspect of the season, while others may prefer to depict a religious aspect."So long as the expression is germane to the assignment, teachers should not discriminate against students who prefer a religious theme or viewpoint over a secular one (or vice versa). Example: Where different students depict a manger scene, a menorah and "Frosty the Snowman," the teacher may display them all on an equal basis, or on the basis of their artistic merit, but may not discriminate in favor or against any of them on the basis of the religiosity or secularity of their themes. Students have a right to express their religious values and viewpoints in their classwork, assignments and work products to the same degree that students may express secular viewpoints. A student's grade or evaluation must never be affected by his or her creed or religious belief or non-belief."
In addition to allowing student religious expression, the law is clear - on federal and state level as well as in courts - that teachers may teach in historical context the biblical origin of Christmas, just as they may teach that Chanukah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple.
As for Christmas carols, not only have courts ruled consistently that they may be sung in public school programs, but teachers who neglect religious-themed music limit themselves and their students not only quantitatively, but qualitatively. Carols, spiritual anthems and choruses are among the most beautiful pieces of music ever written.
That is because the best art is inspired by that which we hold dear. Dear teachers - because our children hold you dear as well - please honor the connection between creativity and faith, and do not dam the flow of your students' inspiration with barriers built from fear.
(c) Barbara Curtis 2003
Note to my readers: you are welcome to ask your own local papers to reprint this free of charge - just include my copyright, please.
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Comments
Where I live the schools (particularly Primary and Junior schools) teach the meaning of Christmas. Nativity plays, hymn singing etc. But a few years ago my daughters class was asked to make a picture of what Christmas meant to them personally. My daughter drew baby Jesus in a manger. The teacher was thrilled but most of the kids made fun of her. One girl actually said "whats that got to do with Christmas?"!!
Posted by: Sue T | November 30, 2008 2:47 PM
