Any dramatic productions should emphasize the cultural aspects of the holidays. Nativity pageants or plays are not appropriate in the public school setting. Students from some religious traditions may ask to be excused from classroom discussions or activities related to particular holidays. Excusal requests are routinely granted. Administrators and teachers should understand that a policy or practice of excusing students cannot be used as a rationale for school sponsorship of religious celebrations or worship for the remaining students.
Public schools are places for people of all faiths or none.
Schools may neither promote nor inhibit religion. In order to respect religious liberty and advance education, schools should develop policies about the treatment of religious holidays in the curricula and inform parents of those policies. In addition, teachers and administrators should be trained to understand the appropriate place of religious holidays in the schools. They should become familiar with the nature and needs of the religious groups in the community, and finally, should provide resources for teaching about religions and religious holidays in ways that are constitutionally sound. This resource may be reprinted without change and in its entirely for non-commercial purposes without prior permission from the Rocky Mountain Family Council.