The December Dilemma

Dealing with What to Teach during the Holiday Season

The month of December can be a wonderful time for teachers. It provides them the opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity of America and introduce students the joys of Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan and Kwanza. It can also be a constitutional minefield sucking unwary teachers (especially first year teachers) into confrontations with parents, school official and religious leaders about what should be taught or expressed in the classroom. Is a Christmas tree a religious object? What about a Menorah? Can we sing Christmas carols and if so which ones are not too religious?

In most school districts such policies are dictated by the local school boards. There should be some rule of thumb for a prudent classroom teacher to use so as not to violate any student’s First Amendment Rights while still retaining the joy and educational values of the holiday season.

The state of California has come up with a litmus test of sorts that you may want to keep as a reference guide.

1)      Is the planned activity or event consistent with the educational mission of the school?

2)      Will the activity or event make students your students feel uncomfortable?

3)      Can a lesson be prepared that teaches about the meaning of a holiday without proselytizing for a specific religion?

The issue of appropriate music is also the subject for discussion at this time of year. The history of all music has its beginnings in liturgical and religious music, so leaving religious music out on purely religious grounds seems a bit extreme. Again, these are issues that should be discussed with school administrators prior to planning any holiday musical productions.

We would also like to recommend a book, especially appropriate for elementary and middle school grades. The Christmas Menorahs by Janice Cohn with illustrations by Bill Farnsworth (1995) is based on a true story set in Billings, Montana. Its message, so appropriate at this time of year, is that we should all stand up for intolerance and celebrate the similarities of diverse religious beliefs. We are all Americans and live in a country where religious freedom is a paramount right.

Please do not hesitate to recommend other books or submit lesson plans appropriate for this time of year.