Target: Religious Celebrations in the Public School

[Sherry Wallace <swallace@GRINNELL.K12.IA.US>]

While this topic is not directly library-related, staff members are
looking to the media specialist as a gatherer of information and I, in
turn, am looking to you.

Our school district is addressing the tradition of K-4 students writing
letters to Santa Claus as a class activity (and having the letters
published in the local newspaper), and the celebration of Christmas
before the winter holiday with the exchange of gifts by the children.
The gift exchange is organized by the school with letters sent home to
parents asking that they purchase a gift for about $2.00 for their child
to exchange in class. Both of these activities are obviously very popular
traditions in the Christian faith and are done right before the holiday
season so denying the strong religious connection is for naught, although
some people have tried that tactic.

The school district would like to eliminate both activities.  Both sides
of the issue were presented at the most recent school board meeting.
There will be another meeting in two weeks.

I am also interested in knowing what public schools might still be
recognizing Good Friday with a day off from school.  Other public school
districts in which I have taught dropped this practice long ago.  This
school district continues to recognize Good Friday as a school holiday.

Please let me know your district practice/view on Santa Claus letters and
gift exchange and if you recognize Good Friday as a school holiday.

Thank you in advance for helping me gather the information they requested.

Sherry Wallace, Media Specialist
Bailey Park Elementary School
Fairview Elementary School
Grinnell, IA   50112

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