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IMDC Observance of Religious Holidays Policy

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