Melrose Public Schools
Holiday and/or Cultural Events
Celebrations Policy
The Melrose
Public Schools recognizes that “Holidays are a time to promote greater
understanding and tolerance among students of different traditions while
respecting and adhering to the First Amendment’s prohibition against school
sponsored endorsement or promotion of religious beliefs of any kind.”*
Diverse
holiday and/or cultural event celebrations or assemblies should:
- Advance children’s knowledge of
society’s rich cultural and religious heritage
- Focus on several different
religions or holidays
- Express the diverseness of
beliefs and customs
- Never promote one religion over
another
Religious
music:
·
Although
it is permissible to perform religious music, religious songs must not dominate
or be the focus of a holiday concert, and songs must not be limited to a
particular holiday or religious denomination.
Decorating
Classrooms:
- Although it is acceptable to
decorate to recognize a diverse holiday and/or cultural season, religious
symbols, such as crosses or nativity scenes may not be displayed. However, symbols that have come to have
a secular meaning, such as snowflakes, candles, dreidels, Christmas trees
and santas, along with other symbols of the season, are appropriate.
At no time
should one religion or holiday be discussed exclusively. Throughout the course of the year, there
should be a balanced discussion of different religions, cultures and holidays
as they occur. Children should not be
expected to be the authorities on their particular religion or holiday
celebration and educators must be sensitive to this issue.
*”The December Dilemma”, published by the Anti-Defamation
League, 2000
Adopted by MSC 10/12/04
