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Throughout history religion has been a significant element in human culture and in modern society it plays an important role in the lives of many individuals. It would be neither possible nor desirable for the public schools simply to ignore religion and avoid all materials with religious theme or implication. Such a policy would distort the teaching of history, create an awkward division between the child’s life at school and the child ’s life at home and in the community, and drastically reduce the acceptable and available examples of art, music, and literature.
The Lexington Public Schools should operate on the basis of a policy which reflects and balances the academic and instructional mission of the schools, the law and legal guidelines relating to the separation of church and state, the richness and diversity of the population, and sensitivity to the rights and dignity of every individual in the Lexington community. In guiding children to assume positive roles in a pluralistic society, it is essential to teach them to be appreciative and respectful of each other's differences while also affirming similarities. Yet, it must be stated clearly that the task of schools is to educate about religion, not in religion.
A well-defined policy, carefully implemented, can insure that the Superintendent of Schools and the Lexington School Committee will not knowingly endorse or condone any practice which has as its intent or as its effect a challenge to or trivialization of the convictions of any individual.
The right to hold any or no religious beliefs is guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the resulting separation of church and state has been interpreted in a variety of ways, particularly in education, throughout the years.
There will always be the potential for controversy wherever religion and the public schools interact and the Constitution does not supply clear- cut answers. However, the Supreme Court established a three- part test for the treatment of religion in the curriculum in the Lemon v. Kurtzman (403 U. S. 602) decision:
It is the policy of the Lexington Public Schools that religion generally, as well as specifically, may be included in any curriculum so long as the subject matter is presented objectively as part of a secular program of education.
Therefore, any time the subject of religion becomes a part of either the classroom or school program, through the determination of the instructor or the administration, the criteria for inclusion must be secular in nature and responsive to the feelings and perspectives of all. A distinction must be made between activities that acknowledge religion and related holidays and those that celebrate, thereby elevating or emphasizing a particular tradition to the detriment of those for whom the occasion holds no special significance.
At the start of each year, it is the obligation and responsibility of the administration in each building to review the intention of this policy with building personnel, insuring that any and all programs planned for the ensuing year are in accord with the policy. The review may provide a forum for selection, planning, and design of these programs. Further, the policy shall be evaluated on a yearly basis in light of changing demographics and other related issues, and shall make appropriate recommendations to the Superintendent regarding possible modification.
The right of parents to excuse their children from school attendance for purposes of religious observance is understood, and such absence should entail no penalty, academic or otherwise. A calendar listing major religious holidays will be available to teachers at the beginning of the year. In keeping with Lexington policy, teachers should consider this calendar when planning homework assignments and class activities. Tests, major reviews, and other unique and unrepeatable educational events should not be scheduled on such days whenever possible. (Refer to the Lexington Policy on School Attendance for an explanation of parent responsibility with regard to informing school offices in advance of such absences.)
Religious objects or symbols may be displayed as integral parts of a curriculum unit, but should not be presented in a manner that promotes or encourages any view concerning religion.
Music, art, literature, and drama related to religious holidays may be studied and performed in programs if they are of intrinsic artistic worth and are presented in an objective and neutral manner. The duration of such programs and activities, which should form part of a curriculum unit, should not exceed a period of time equivalent to the academic value of the program or activity.
Musical performances and programs during and immediately preceding winter and spring holiday seasons can create difficult circumstances in which specific religious beliefs receive undue attention. So that the potential for this situation is eliminated and that music is presented for its aesthetic and musical merit and not because of any associated significance with a specific religion, it is strongly recommended that such concerts and programs be offered at other times of the year.
No person shall be allowed to recruit students for a religious purpose or organization on school properties or at school sponsored activities, except as provided by other related school policies (reference: school activities and school facilities usage).
Whenever possible, the Lexington Public Schools will offer opportunities for professional development to address the need for awareness and sensitivity when dealing with issues of religion and education about religion.
An important element in any staff training program with regard to religious policy will have to do with the sometimes subtle insensitivities that occur when, with the best of intentions, teachers seek to stimulate discussion and conversation in the classroom. Singling out a student or group of students to offer insights into their religious beliefs, possibly as part of a program intended to raise everyone’s consciousness, can in fact put some children and families under considerable stress. We encourage faculty to utilize the broadest range of resources, from individual parents to local clergy, in determining and gauging the potential consequences of such activities.
Further, perhaps one of the most difficult situations that can occur in this regard finds the instructor permitting students to excuse themselves from various activities if they or their parents find the content objectionable or intrusive. This becomes a subtly cruel dilemma for parents and children, alike. Some will avoid exercising their right of non-involvement so that they or their children do not stand out or appear as non-conformists.