Nevertheless, while many would prefer the teaching of comparative religion only in upper grades, the trend is to the contrary. For example, a sixth grade world civilization text used in California includes significant information about religion, which unfortunately is uneven in its treatment and not always accurate. Parents should review such material early in the school year to determine whether it is objective teaching about religion, or partisan religious advocacy. The earlier on you can deal with objectionable material, the easier it is to cope with problems. Teaching about religion is difficult.
Teachers feel most comfortable with material with which they are most familiar.
While texts provide background material on the presented religions, probing questions about another religion might prove difficult for a teacher to comfortably answer. Under no circumstance may teachers or other school personnel use their position to promote their own faith or express hostility to any religion. Teachers who will be teaching about religion must prepare themselves and receive appropriate staff development and curriculum resources so they understand the constitutional limitations imposed on such teaching. While teachers may teach about religious holidays as part of an objective and secular educational program about religion, celebrating religious holidays in the form of religious worship or other practices is unconstitutional. Although this area is not well settled, observance of holidays with both a secular and religious basis appear to be permissible so long as the observances are conducted in a prudent and objective manner.