The Anti-Defamation League’s Mountain States Regional Office has sent more than 200 letters to Colorado and Wyoming superintendents of public school districts with quick reference guides on how best to handle the upcoming “December Dilemma,” when many different religious holidays are observed and it can be difficult for public schools to know the best way to respectfully and legally address them. Educators have also received ADL’s brochure entitled “The December Dilemma: December Holiday Guidelines for Public Schools.”

In addition, ADL hosted a free webinar on October 23, 2013 entitled “The December Dilemma: Navigating Religious Holidays in the Public Schools”,  exploring the legal issues of religious freedom and expression that arise during the winter holidays, in order to help educators and parents learn how to help to create a school environment that respects different points of view, religious beliefs and practices. This webinar has been archived and can be accessed anytime by visiting www.adl.org/educationwebinars.

The underlying principle concerning public religious displays and events is fairly simple: a public school must never appear to endorse or disapprove of one particular religion or religion in general. ADL advises that the classroom can be used to teach about religious holidays, but should not encourage the celebration of one religious holiday over another.