This policy is meant to be sensitive to individual beliefs and respectful of established law, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The proper role of religion in the public schools is in its educational value and not in religious observance or celebration. According to the Supreme Court, the Establishment Clause forbids state action or practices that aid or prefer one (1) religion over another or that aid all religions and thus endorse or show preference for religion over non-religion, while the Free Exercise Clause requires any state action or practices which interfere with an individual’s constitutionally protected religious freedom to be strictly scrutinized.

Absence from School for Religions Holidays

A pupil’s absence from school on a religious holiday shall be recognized as an excused absence, without penalty, on scholastic records. In general, no student should suffer a penalty because of his/her involvement in religious activities related to his/her particular religious belief.

Parents/Guardians’ Right to Excuse Students for Religious Reasons

Students will be excused from lessons/activities which their parents/guardians find objectionable for religious reasons. Alternative lessons/activities will be substituted.

Privacy

Individuals shall not be required to disclose their personal religious preferences or beliefs nor those of their family members.

Programs and Holidays

School programs, performances and celebrations will serve an educational purpose. The inclusion of religious music, symbols, art, or writings may be permitted if the religious content has an independent educational purpose which contributes to the stated objectives of the approved curriculum. 

The Supreme Court has made clear that public schools may not sponsor religious celebrations but may teach about religion. Secular and religious holidays provide opportunities for educating students about history and cultures, as well as traditions of particular religious groups within a pluralistic society.

Teachers must exercise special caution and sensitivity whenever discussion about religious holidays occurs. Presentation of materials dealing with religious holidays must be accurate, informative, and descriptive. Focus should be on the origins, history, and generally agreed-upon meanings of the holidays. Teachers will need to be aware, to the extent possible, of the diversity of religious beliefs in their classrooms, and they will need to be particularly sensitive to the rights of religious minorities as well as those who hold no religious belief. Respect for religious diversity in the classroom requires that teachers be fair and balanced in their treatment of religious holidays.

Teachers need to be aware, to the extent possible, of the major religious holidays of all the represented religions in their classrooms, so as to avoid, as much as possible, creating an undue burden on students who choose not to attend school on those days. Furthermore, teachers should be alert to the distinction between teaching about religious holidays and other cultural events, which is permissible, and celebrating religious holidays, which is not.

Religion in Curriculum and Instruction

The history of religion, comparative religion, and the Bible (or other scripture) as literature (either as a separate course or within some other existing course) are all permissible public-school subjects. It is both permissible and desirable to teach objectively and accurately about the role of religion in the history of the United States and other countries. Such teaching should:

1. Foster knowledge about religion, not indoctrination into religion; 

2. Be academic, not devotional or testimonial; 

3. Promote awareness of religion, not sponsor its practice; 

4. Inform students about the diversity of religious views rather than impose one (1) particular view; and 

5. Promote understanding and respect rather than divisiveness.

As part of the curriculum, religious literature, music, drama, and the arts may be included, provided each is intrinsic to the learning experience in the various fields of study and is presented objectively. Also, as part of the curriculum, students may be asked to read selections from writings for literary and historical qualities, but not for devotional purposes. The focus shall be on the study of what all people believe and must not be on teaching a student what to believe.

Religious Expression

As a general rule, students may express their religious viewpoint in the form of reports, both oral and written, class discussions, homework, and artwork. Teachers may not reject or correct such submissions simply because they include a religious symbol or address religious themes. Likewise, teachers may not require students to modify, include or excise religious views in their assignments. These assignments should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance, relevance, appearance, and grammar.

Students have the right to pray individually or in groups or to discuss their religious views with their peers so long as they are not disruptive. Students enjoy the right to read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, pray before tests, and discuss religion with other student listeners as long as the listeners are not coerced or harassed.

Students have the right to distribute religious literature to their schoolmates, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner or other constitutionally acceptable restrictions imposed on the distribution of all non-school literature.

Religious messages on student T-shirts, and the like, may not be singled out for suppression.

Religious Music

Religious music may be sung or played as part of the academic study of music. School concerts that present a variety of selections may include religious music. Concerts should avoid programs dominated by religious music.

At all levels, the study of religious music as part of a musical appreciation course, as a musical experience, or as part of a study of various lands and cultures can be included. In all public-school programs and study, care must be taken to avoid presentation of music as a celebration of a particular religion or religious holiday. Teachers must be especially sensitive to the feelings of students who might wish not to participate for religious reasons.

Religious Symbols

The use of religious symbols, provided they are used only as examples of cultural or religious heritage, is permissible as a teaching aid or resource. Religious symbols may be displayed only on a brief basis as part of the academic program. Students may choose to incorporate religious symbols into their work, but teachers should not assign or suggest such creations.

Some symbols considered secular in nature have significant religious overtones or foundations. Teachers must be alert to the distinction between teaching about religious holidays and other cultural events, which is permissible, and celebrating religious holidays, which is not. Seasonal symbols may be used as a teaching aid and displayed briefly as part of a broad cultural study.

Approved by the Board of Education June 1996

Revised June 2013