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When it comes to holidays, it's better to discuss than ignore them

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published December 15, 2006

Tyleyah Grimes is only 5, but she knows what she likes about Christmas: the tree, the lights and don't forget the presents.

Thanks to the kindergarten teachers at Riverhills Elementary School, Tyleyah has learned what she might enjoy about a lot of other winter holidays, too.

"Sometimes I celebrate Hanukkah because I like it," she says. "They teach us about England, and we learned about Sweden."

On a recent Thursday, the kindergarten pod was alive with these lessons.

Teacher Sue Schambers wrapped herself in a traditional Jewish prayer shawl as she spoke of the Torah, Israel and the story of the Maccabees. Across the hall, teacher Carmen Sheffield explained the seven principles of Kwanzaa before helping the children weave mkeke mats.

Around the corner, Allison Ireland taught about Mexican Christmas traditions while the youngsters made tissue paper flowers. In other classrooms, children learned about Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, and of the winter celebrations of China, Italy and Germany.

The point, teacher Paula Sheffield explains, is to expose the children - many of whom know only Christmas - to the world's diversity without compelling them to think or believe a certain way. "We're not celebrating it. We're teaching it," Sheffield says.

It's an issue that schools grapple with every December.

On the one hand, pretty much everybody knows about or celebrates Christmas. Ignoring it means ignoring something important in many people's lives.

Yet the number of those who observe other rituals and religions grows annually. It's critical not to ostracize them or make them feel out of place.

So each year the questions come up. Can a school put up a Christmas tree? Include O Holy Night in the winter concert? Let a club hang a sign reading: "Jesus is the reason for the season"?

The school district offers guidance with a four-page memo, distributed each year, outlining what's acceptable. It boils down to a simple principle: Teach, don't preach.

It states that holiday activities are appropriate when they are part of lessons that fit the curriculum. The lessons should embrace diversity and not promote or denigrate any religion. Religious symbols and scenery should be avoided.

In no way, however, should schools consider the best course of action to be avoiding anything that has a sacred theme: That would be "a most unfortunate position that eliminates curriculum material that is significant and rich in opportunity for teaching students to be culturally sensitive and knowledgeable."

It's a sensible message, one that groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and State support. Public schools need to be welcoming to all students, and their holiday events need not resemble a service from a religious institution, says Jeremy Leaming, spokesman for Americans United.

"There are plenty of places during the month of December where the religious aspects of the holidays can be celebrated" besides schools, Leaming says.

Yet "obviously, public schools have to include religion. ... You can't talk about history without talking about religion. You can't talk about literature or art without talking about religion."

Public school teachers simply must remember: Teach, don't preach.

Still, many teachers come away with the message that rather than teaching about religion, they must keep it neutral.

Webb Middle School language arts teacher Julie Dumois-Sands, for example, says she deals with the topic only when students bring it up. Some had questions about the Muslim holiday of Ramadan when it appeared on their school-issued calendar, so she answered.

"What I try to do is just follow where the students lead," she says. "It's more like a naturally evolving discussion. I don't make it part of my curriculum."

Webb principal Carmen Aguero pretty much limits the school's holiday celebration to a short assembly, in which an assistant principal dresses like Santa Claus and teachers hand out candy canes.

"Our orchestra, chorus and band play some Christmas music," she says. "We call it 'winter holiday' because you're not supposed to call it Christmas."

That's not the rule at Riverhills, where you find the book The Night Before Christmas next to Light the Lights a Hanukkah story and My First Kwanzaa. Rather than excise Christmas, the school has added to it.

"It kind of started as Christmas around the world," Ireland says.

"Now it's holidays around the world, to be sure we include everyone. ... If any children are new with a different tradition, we try to add it in."

That's a great lesson.

Briefly

-Congratulations to the Gaither High School marching band, which will be performing in the Jan. 2 inaugural parade for Gov.-elect Charlie Crist. The band also played in President Bush's inaugural parade in 2005.

-Happy retirement to Jennifer Kori, principal of Schwarzkopf Elementary School. Today is her last day, after 35 years with the school district. No word yet on who will take over in January.

-High school seniors looking for a little extra college money can check out a new essay contest, What's Bugging You?, sponsored by Orlando's Middleton Lawn and Pest Control. The company will award 19 winners with $1,000 and an iPod Shuffle. For more information, visit www.middletonpest.com.

Have opinions about this column or ideas for future ones? Contact Jeffrey S. Solochek at (813) 269-5304 or solochek@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 14, 2006, 07:59:12]