IMDC
6115 L
LEVERETT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OBSERVANCE
OF RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS POLICY
Part of the responsibility of the Leverett Public
Schools is to teach mutual understanding, brotherhood and respect of all
individuals and all beliefs. In pursuit of this goal, the Leverett Public
Schools program should take cognizance of the fact that holidays are observed
differently by different groups. However, since religious belief and disbelief
are personal matters and not associated with governmental authority in our form
of government and since some religious holidays are also historically and
culturally significant to our way of life, the following should govern the
Leverett School’s observances of religious holidays:
1. The
purposes and objectives of any religious holiday observance shall be related to
the historical and cultural effect of that day or days and such observance will
remain secular.
2. The
school Committee encourages the study of religious holidays at a time when the
student body’s motivation is at its highest in order that generally recognized
sound educational practice may have its best effect.
3. Formal
religious services connected with a holiday are not to be conducted.
4. Displays
of religious objects, symbols, art, etc. and the presentation of religious
music as an integral part of the historical and cultural aspect of the
curriculum will be allowed.
5. Teaching
about religious holidays or religion in general as a part of the total
curriculum should be objective, should avoid any doctrinal impact and should
avoid any implications that religious doctrines have the support of school
authority.
6. The
parents shall have the right to determine when their children will be absent
from school because of religious observance and students will not be penalized
or deprived of make-up opportunities for such absences or pressured to choose
between school attendance and religious observance.
ADOPTED: 3-8-73