PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATION POLICY

Our nation's history is rich with embracing religious holidays as part of our cultural heritage. In a nation as diverse as America, we have the unusual opportunity to integrate appropriate levels of study and celebration of holiday celebrations that are rooted in our tradition. At no time would we ever expect, coerce or prohibit a child' s participation in any holiday celebration that would cause discomfort or misalignment with their belief system.

Therefore, it is the policy of the Georgetown School Department to support a balanced approach to all holiday celebrations, musical events, plays and other related school activities and classroom activities.

To every extent possible, appropriate celebration and/or acknowledgement of all major holidays enriches the cultural understanding and appreciation of our student body. Certainly, by the very nature of our diverse society, it would be impossible to acknowledge all holidays within our society. We will make every effort to include the primary holidays that best represent our student population and encourage the exploration of other holidays that may not be represented in our school.

Teachers and students are permitted to have holiday parties, crafts and decorations that are within the guidelines of best practices for use of instructional time. Though holidays can be very dominant in the life of a young child, we recognize that the primary responsibility of school is to improve academic achievement. This being the goal, holidays are rich with history, culture, related arts and the celebration of humanity with all of its color, religion, traditions and customs.

A teacher should not use holiday recognition and celebration to inculcate a specific dogma or influence a child's personal religious or belief system. We acknowledge the strict provision for separation of church and school in regards to the school' s responsibility to refrain from supporting of any particular doctrine.

The school principal, in concert with the school staff, will make appropriate decisions about holiday celebrations that best relate to the provisions of this policy. Parental concerns are to be addressed to the school principal and then to the school superintendent. If that does not resolve the concern, the parent has the right to request that the concern be placed on the agenda of the next school committee meeting.

Legal References:

Title I MRSA Section 111-A- I 18 Florey v. Sioux Falls School District 619 F.2d 1311, I 3 19, (8th Cir. 1980).

Clever v. Cherry Hill Town ship Board of Education, 838 F. Supp. 929 (D.N.J. 199 3).

Adopted: February 28, 2006