Holiday policy limits religious celebrations

Arianna Peper
News/Opinion Editor

Margaret Korte
Entertainment Editor

Board Policies IGAC (teaching about religion) and IND (ceremonies and observations) were first adopted in the district in 1993 and have changed over the years. Currently they don’t permit teachers to celebrate or sponsor events promoting one religion within the classroom.

Due to this, teachers cannot promote events for students or staff such as (but not limited to) Halloween costume competitions, Christmas parties and St. Patrick’s Wear Green Day. However, the policies still allow the district to teach about different religions and their holidays and histories.

As for celebrations, rather than having festivities surrounding specific holidays, it is encouraged to celebrate seasons like fall and winter festivals and others, rather than religious holidays. These celebrations are more inclusive.

On Nov. 13, Webster Groves school district staff members received an email from the Director of diversity, equity and inclusion, Shane Williamson, as a reminder of the policies.

Williamson said via email, “Our school district is intentionally taking steps to create an inclusive community and not promote or host events that will exclude some staff and students or make some people not feel welcomed.”

Williamson said one example of this was when the elementary schools hosted a Halloween parade and party: several students at each building who were not approved by their families to participate had to be in a separate room participating in an art project while all of the other students were in the party and parade.

“These actions were not reflective of the school district’s principles—promoting a safe, inclusive and equitable environment,” Williamson said.

Jill Young, head of the music department, said the policy changes the December concerts from being focused on the holidays to focusing on the season.

“I would say that the things we are changing for the music department concerts this season are that we are not having band students wear ugly Christmas sweaters for the concert,” Young said via email.