Even the December dilemma is making an early appearance this year.
With tonight marking the first night of Chanukah, the Anti-Defamation League wants to get a jump-start on the holidays by educating school officials on appropriate ways to “acknowledge” seasonal events.
So the San Francisco-based agency recently mailed a two-page letter to some 200 school superintendents throughout Northern California with guidelines for “respecting differing points of view concerning religion.”
The ADL letter, which is similar to a message being sent out nationally, contains a general rule that “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.”
The ADL is bracing for a seasonal flurry of complaints that usually accompany this time of year.
“This is a real sensitive time,” observes Jonathan Bernstein, the ADL’s regional director.
He fields about a dozen calls each December from parents and others objecting to religious celebrations that possibly blur the constitutional separation of church and state.
The ADL’s message reminds educators that schools may teach but not celebrate religious holidays, must avoid focusing on any particular religion, and should be “cautious” about decorations.
“If there is just an overwhelming amount of decorations, it might make some students feel uncomfortable,” added Bernstein.
As examples of appropriate decorations, he cited snowflakes, Frosty the Snowman and other symbols associated with winter. An inappropriate decoration in a public classroom would be a nativity scene.
Music performed during the holidays also should be selected carefully to have a secular theme. Schools, for instance, should avoid songs that “talk about Christ our lord,” said Bernstein.
“I think the vast majority of teachers are handling it correctly,” he added.
Nonetheless, he says, problems arise “pretty much every year.”
He cited the recent example of a school near Yosemite where its choir was singing religious music.
“We got in touch with the school and basically pointed out to them what the law was,” Bernstein said. School officials “apologized and vowed to do better in the future.”
The ADL hopes its letter will help avoid such conflicts this year.
While similar reminders have been sent in the past, the current message includes a new recommendation that teachers avoid selecting a student to serve as a spokesperson for a minority religion.
“Students should not be put on the spot to explain their religious (or cultural) traditions,” the letter reads. “The student may feel uncomfortable and may not have enough information to be accurate.”
The letter advises school officials that their handling of December holidays will determine whether children with different religious views “feel welcome and comfortable in their school building or whether they will feel as if they do not belong.”
The message refers school leaders to several pamphlets and guides available online at www.adl.org/church-state or by calling 1-800-600-1133.
Officials at several Bay Area school districts reported few problems with their handling of holiday observances.
In the San Francisco public schools, “All cultural holidays and holidays that occur are recognized,” said spokeswoman Jackie Wright.
In the San Rafael City Schools, “Most of our schools celebrate holidays around the world,” said Linda Frost, an associate superintendent for the 5,500-student school district.