Austin ADL Office Presents December Dilemma Program to Parents and Educators

Date: November 18, 2008

Fall is a busy time for ADL as parents and students in the region bring concerns to our attention about the role of religion and religious accommodation in their public schools, particularly when the Jewish high holy days fall during the school week. As the winter holiday season approaches, ADL anticipates more calls from public school students, parents, teachers and administrators facing the difficult task of acknowledging the various religious and secular holiday traditions celebrated during this time of year.
 
In an effort to create a deeper understanding of what’s known as the "December Dilemma," ADL's Austin staff members have been presenting programs focused on religion in the public schools in order to assist teachers, parents and administrators with information on the various ways schools can celebrate the winter holiday season while maintaining an environment that is welcoming for everyone.  The League's December Holiday Guidelines can serve as a valuable resource.

In October and November the ADL hosted programs for parents and educators:

• Parent program featuring Texas State Representative Scott Hochberg and Austin ISD General Counsel Mel Waxler, moderated by Civil Rights Committee Co-Chair Steve Adler
• Educators Breakfast featuring Rep. Hochberg, Mr. Waxler, and Austin Community Director Lisa Goodgame, moderated by No Place for Hate® Coordinator Megan Flowers
• Interfaith forum for parents and educators in the community of Cedar Park, where a growing Jewish congregation shares space at a Unitarian Universalist church
• Parent program in cooperation with The Mother's Circle, a program for non-Jewish mothers raising Jewish children
  

Questions focused on classroom activities, such as making holiday ornaments in art classes, winter holiday programs, especially choral programs that may include religious music, and the challenge students or their parents face when asked to give presentations about Jewish holidays to a largely non-Jewish class.  Attendees were offered strategies for improving parent-educator communication around these issues.