Christmas Evolution Altered Carol Lyrics, ‘Winter Tree’ Reflect Schools’ Growing Sensitivity To Religious Diversity Of Students

Joy to the world, the Lord is come.

Make that, Joy to the world, my shopping’s done.

Or how about, to the tune of Deck the Halls: Clean the halls and wash the blackboard, fa la la la la … That’s how the kids in Cooper Elementary School’s chorus are singing Christmas carols this year.

“That way, we sing and it’s fun, and we don’t have to focus on the Christmas holiday,” said their music teacher, Helen Hindley.

Hindley isn’t the only educator searching for creative ways to handle Christmas. Teachers across Eastern Washington and North Idaho are caught up in what some call the December Dilemma: How do you handle a holiday some students consider the highlight of the year and others ignore?

How do you deal with a day that revolves around religion in a setting that’s decidedly nonreligious?

The issue is getting more attention than ever in Spokane District 81 schools, where administrators released a new set of guidelines this fall to help teachers make those decisions.

Some of the changes have been evolving for years, like the transformation of “Christmas break” to “winter break.”

“Winter band concerts” now routinely outnumber traditional Christmas concerts in schools.

Garfield Elementary School has traded its Christmas tree for a “winter tree” decorated with a garden theme of seed packets, tiny rakes and watering cans.

“The concept of a winter tree doesn’t seem to be offensive to anyone,” said Joann Ekstrom, principal at the North Spokane school.

While some people think schools are going overboard in the name of sensitivity, school administrator Ivan Bush says awareness is what the district is after with its new holiday guidelines.

“We just want a heightened sensitivity that every child doesn’t celebrate holidays the same as other folks do,” said Bush, the district’s equal opportunity officer. “Let’s be considerate of all of them.”

Bush met with clergy, community members, administrators and teachers to generate the new policy.

Among the guidelines:

Religious symbols, such as a cross or creche, can be shown to students for educational purposes but shouldn’t become a “fixed classroom display.”

Seasonal decorations associated with holidays are allowed but can’t be religious. Teachers are encouraged to minimize the use of holiday symbols like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.

Sacred music may be used as part of academic studies. But avoid programs dominated by religious music, especially during religious holidays.

Avoid any activity or display that promotes or “gives its approval” to religion.

Bruce Kort, regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, reviewed the district’s holiday guidelines and declared them “particularly good.”

“I’m putting the ADL stamp of approval on this one. It’s in the spirit of the season, but at the same time, it’s sensitive to the needs of non-Christian students.”

Not everyone agrees. Pastor Dennis Sunderland of First Assembly of God said the guidelines make him sad.

“We almost violate the holiday by trying so hard in the name of tolerance to keep from offending anybody,” he said. “It’s encouraging losing the real meaning of what the holiday is.”

Other area districts say they, too, are working for more balance in their winter programs, although few have official guidelines.

Central Valley High School choir director Mike Elliot now includes Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa music in his winter program. Cheney principals regularly talk with their music teachers to make sure kids aren’t feeling uncomfortable by the musical selections.

“We just more or less use the guidelines of common sense,” said Cheney School District Superintendent Phil Snowdon.

District 81 officials decided to craft specific guidelines after teachers said they were confused about what they should and shouldn’t do to acknowledge holidays. Some parents lodged complaints, too.

Two years ago, a nonreligious woman attending a high school winter concert later called the choral director to say she felt like she’d just sat through a church service.

Music students at Lewis and Clark High School used to perform several pieces from Handel’s “Messiah” during their winter program. But that changed after some parents grumbled, said Larry Jay, LC’s director of instrumental music.

Now, LC concerts mix Christmas medleys with more modern songs, he said.

“You walk in a building and you don’t want Christmas just everywhere,” Bush said.

Teachers have found different ways to apply the guidelines to their classrooms.

When students performed at Lincoln Heights Elementary School last week, they sang songs representing several cultures. Afterward, to quench some parents’ taste for tradition, they offered an optional Christmas singalong.

“We’re trying a little smidgen of many things to at least make an attempt to be more equitable,” said Rick Haffner, principal at Lincoln Heights.

Ferris High School is expanding its musical horizons with its new Choir of the World.

During this year’s winter concert, the student musicians performed a Kenyan piece in which they wore traditional African dress. Choral Director Paul Brueggemeier sought out University of Washington music experts to make sure it was authentic.

“We call our program ‘Winter Wonderland,”’ said Brueggemeier. “We don’t even use the word ‘holiday.”’ Other teachers say they don’t shy away from religious music, because they believe it offers students some of the best lessons in musical technique.

Margo Dreis, choir director at Salk Middle School, said she relies heavily on traditional music. “Some people get real offended when you use that word,” she said.

“But it’s just good choral music, and there’s sacred choral music that students really need to learn. It’s like learning history. Anybody can sing ‘Jingle Bells,’ anybody can sing ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”’ This year, her students performed the gospel-spiritual “Children, Go Where I Send Thee,” about the birth of Jesus Christ. She included a Latin piece called “Grant Us Peace.”

But then came “Hello, Dolly” and “Bye Bye Blackbird.”

Her overall goal? “It’s about winter, it’s about peace, it’s about things that are popular. And we end it up with the ‘Hallelujah Chorus.’ It’s a classic.”

Tamryn Parker avoids the December Dilemma altogether at Rogers High School by scheduling her schoolwide winter concert in January.

But she works in some holiday music with a separate group - the school’s 18-member chamber choir. The volunteer group performs songs like “Away in the Manger” and “Angels We Have Heard on High” when entertaining at Patsy Clarke’s or Riverfalls Tower Apartments.

“The reason we sing traditional Christmas is that’s what the community asks for during the holiday season,” Parker said.

She makes sure participating students’ parents don’t object, Parker added. If anyone did, she’d reconsider the program.

Some teachers say it’s evident schools need to alter their holiday routines. Most music teachers can cite instances of Jehovah’s Witness students choosing not to sing Christmas carols. Or Jewish children slipping off to the library during Christmas parties.

It isn’t just Christmas concerts that are being revamped. The new District 81 guidelines urge caution in exchanging gifts as well: “Such a practice may cause distress for students who cannot participate.”

A letter went home with Moran Prairie Elementary students this month, suggesting alternatives to gifts for teachers - a thank-you card, perhaps, or a donation to charity in a teacher’s name.

“We are sensitive to the cultural diversity and socioeconomic circumstances of each of our youngsters,” the note said.

Some teachers are still going through Christmas withdrawals, said Hindley, the Cooper Elementary teacher whose students are singing about the joys of shopping.

“We were remembering the old days when we sat in music class and sang all the old carols. It’s memories for us we’d like to bring to kids.”

But, she added, “We also have the choice to make new memories for these kids.”