Some Granite teachers fear a district crackdown on Christmas

We wish you a merry . . . week off?

A few teachers wanting to wish students a merry Christmas fear Granite School District is becoming the Grinch.

They believe a district memo essentially bars them from mentioning the word Christmas "because we may leave someone out," said David West, a teacher at David Gourley Elementary.

"I think teachers should be allowed to talk and explore and express ideas, not (be) constrained," he said.

Granite District's law and policy guru agrees.

"I think we've got people worried they can't ever talk about religion, and that's not what we're saying," said Martin Bates, assistant to the superintendent on law and policy.

"The message I was trying to get out . . . was, 'Folks, schools aren't the place to teach kids what to believe or how to worship. Schools are the place to teach about religion as it fits in your job. So do that appropriately. Don't let school become a place where kids feel uncomfortable, where kids feel left out, or where kids feel they don't belong.' "

The issue follows an annual district memo on holiday observances.

The memo, authored by Bates, reminds school workers government can't endorse religion.

"That being said, it is wholly appropriate to teach the curriculum," including religion and its influence on history, politics, art and so forth, the memo says. In that context, choirs could sing Handel's "Messiah" all they want, Bates said.

But other things might tread on thinner ice.

"So, can we have a Christmas party? No," the memo says. "Can we have a holiday party (or concert, assembly)? Yes — so long as we can articulate the pedagogical objectives from the curriculum that provide the basis of the activity and the activity doesn't promote or denigrate any particular religion or religion in general."

Such statements apparently created confusion with some.

"Where I grew up, we honored all celebrations. Isn't it wonderful we can all live together and believe different things?" said one educator who spoke on condition of anonymity. "A lot of the teachers are taking this to mean, LDS versus other."

Bates says that's a misinterpretation.

"I fully expect there are going to be kids singing, 'We wish you a merry Christmas' . . . and 'Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer' all through the month of December, and there's nothing wrong with that," he said.

But he doesn't plan to send out a clarifying memo.

"This has not in many years received this kind of a reaction, so my sense is we've got an anomaly. To go back and . . . send another memo of clarification would inappropriately heighten people's concerns when the clear purpose of the memo, is, 'Be sensitive.' "

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com