Religious holidays at school: The case for all or none
With the school year under way, the community prepares for the eventful year ahead.
Parents are encouraged to sync the school calendars onto their own electronic devices or they hang a printed copy on the fridge. To plan ahead, they mark the vacation days. Some families excitedly circle Christmas, and secretly kids begin their countdown to the holidays.
But many parents and children realize that their religious holidays are not recognized on the calendar. They wonder, is their holiday - may it be Diwali, Eid, Kwanzaa or one from the many other faith groups in the suburbs - not as fun? Not as significant?
Whether intended or not by the schools, these children may feel a strong sense of exclusion. These families may not feel welcomed or connected to the school, as their cultural background is not acknowledged.
When it comes to school recognition of "holy days" on the calendar or during school activities, an "all or none" philosophy has to be adopted. We cannot pick and choose one child's religious holiday over another.
America is one of the most diverse countries in the world, and with this comes the beauty of many faiths and many more cultural celebrations. Schools have to stop the practice of recognizing selective faith traditions.
Certainly, there is merit in schools developing a deep understanding of their student population. Even if the calendar didn't recognize any holiday, teachers should survey students' faith backgrounds and celebrations so that they can acknowledge them.
Our responsibility as teachers and educational institutions is to meet the needs of our students and make learning culturally relevant and inclusive. In order to do this we must learn about and recognize their cultural background. Faith and culture are extremely intertwined and it is hard to separate one from another. To truly know a child's cultural background, their religious background has to be acknowledged.
With 21st century learning goals, schools have the critical responsibility of nurturing the global citizen. It is imperative that children and adults alike cultivate a strong mutual understanding of diverse backgrounds, and this includes respecting different faith traditions.
Religious literacy is key to our peaceful coexistence. When teachers and schools know their students' cultural backgrounds, they interact better, libraries provide materials suitable for different faiths, major events do not conflict with faith holidays and many other positive measures can be taken.
When a student walks into the library during his holiday season, he should be excited by a book display showcasing his celebration and teaching others about it, too. Children have to see themselves and people of diverse backgrounds in books, as this is healthy for self-esteem and empathy development.
Religious inclusion in schools has to be factored in throughout the system. In "Finding A Common Ground: A Guide to Religious Liberty in Public Schools," Charles Haynes, senior scholar at the First Amendment Center, says, "If the approach to a holiday is objective and sensitive, neither promoting nor inhibiting religion, the study can foster understanding and mutual respect for differences in beliefs."
In a nutshell, schools should focus on inclusive education in - not selective celebration of - the world's many faith traditions.
When it comes to accommodating holidays, they should have an all or none policy. However, when it comes to acknowledging and teaching about all different faith traditions, this beneficial step should definitely be on the schools' to-do list.
Anisha Ismail Patel, of Arlington Heights, is founder and chief educational officer of InnovusED LLC, a consulting company specializing in education, organization and leadership.