What is the law regarding Christmas activities in public school systems?
<p>Consider a scenario where a public school that set aside some time to show Christmas themed movies and for the students to exchange some gifts with each other.</p>

<p>Is this permitted? What is the law about religious holidays and public schools?</p>

<p>What if some of the students gave dirty looks to other students who didn't bring presents? Is that permitted?</p>

<p>The law of Texas is controlled by federal law, viz. the First Amendment. <a href="https://www.aclu.org/other/joint-statement-current-law-religion-public-schools" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This item</a> by the ACLU summarizes what that law is. Regarding your concern, public schools are not required to be "religion-free zones". Individuals have the right to hold and express their religious beliefs, or their lack of such beliefs, as long as it is contextually appropriate. That is, you don't get to invoke the First Amendment in the middle of a math lesson in order to engage in a rant. Students are allowed to try to persuade others to believe whatever they want, and students are allowed to be snarky about people who don't share their beliefs. Schools can teach about religion as part of the curriculum, though they cannot teach religion. It is okay to teach the historical fact that some guy decided based on the Bible that the world was created 10,000 years ago, but it not not okay to teach as a scientific fact that the world was created 10,000 years ago.</p>

<p>Although I can't name a specific movie about Christmas that would be plainly objectionable to a non-Christian, we could assume that there is some such movie which is plainly advocacy of a religious viewpoint and which mocks Yazidism. A Yazidi student could then be excused from this movie, just as Christian students could be excused from attending an analogous Yazidi-advocating movie.</p>

<p>I'll assume for now that your question is restricted to the celebration of the secular aspects of religious holidays in public schools.</p>

<p>The American Civil Liberties Union, along with tens of other religious organizations, non-religious organizations (e.g. American Humanist Association), and organizations supportive of the separation of church and state (e.g. Americans United for Separation of Church and State) published the "<a href="https://www.aclu.org/other/joint-statement-current-law-religion-public-schools" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Joint Statement Of Current Law on Religion In The Public Schools</a>".</p>

<p>It says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Generally, public schools may teach about religious holidays, and may celebrate the secular aspects of the holiday and objectively teach about their religious aspects. They may not observe the holidays as religious events. Schools should generally excuse students who do not wish to participate in holiday events.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>More details and citations to case law are available in "<a href="http://www.k12.wa.us/equity/pubdocs/ReligiousHolidaysinPublicSchools.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Religious Holidays in Public Schools</a>".</p>

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