ABSTRACT
This chapter examines disputes over religious holidays and observances in schools. Educators are forbidden from promoting or endorsing religion in the form of religious displays in school environments. As a general rule, if educational officials choose to conduct holiday celebrations either in schools or at school-sponsored events, they must make every effort to accommodate students and staff from differing religious faiths. It is critical for public school officials to be alert to the distinction between impermissibly teaching about religious holidays, which is legally allowed, and celebrating religious holidays, behavior that is forbidden in public schools. The religious symbols used for the calendar included a 'pictorial representation of a nativity, the Ten Commandments, a cross, a Star of David, a crescent, the Hindu OM symbol, Buddha, Confucius, and Jesus Christ. The several holidays throughout the year which have a religious and a secular basis may be observed in the public schools.
