Holiday celebration rules cause stir in community

Superintendent Judith Ferguson: ‘This is a legal issue, not a policy issue.’

By John Tredrea
   New Bear Tavern School December holidays guidelines — which included stipulations that decorations of Santa Claus, Christmas trees and menorahs should not be in the school — have brought forth a wave of discontent among parents.
   After parents and caregivers of Bear Tavern students were informed of the new guidelines in a Dec. 13 letter from Principal Bruce Arcurio, officials received a number of phone calls and e-mails expressing opposition to the guidelines.
   Mr. Arcurio and Superintendent Judith Ferguson say the new guidelines were created in response to recommendations from school board attorney Robert Martinez, who said Tuesday: "It’s mainly federal case law upon which my recommendation to the school board was based. It’s been in federal court that most disputes involving this issue have been resolved."
   The intent of the recommendations is to put the district’s schools in compliance with federal and state law, Dr. Ferguson said.
   "I realize that this issue is powerful and evokes a great deal of emotion from all involved," Mr. Arcurio said in his letter. "Over the past several years, I have been working with the staff to slowly move closer to what the law considers appropriate for a public school setting. Separation of church and state was instituted in our country because the founders of our country saw the difficulty in making decisions for all when religion is part of the equation. I have worked over the last four years to balance what I know to be the legally correct thing to do, with the many long standing traditions of Bear Tavern."
   The entire text of Mr. Arcurio’s letter was read on the radio station New Jersey 101.5 FM during rush hour Wednesday morning, so anyone in the region listening to the talk show, news or traffic reports knows of its contents, but not of its origin.
   In his Dec. 13 letter, Mr. Arcurio says, in part: "I have received several inquiries from parents about guidelines that I provided to my staff regarding the December holidays. Below are the guidelines that I provided to them. These guidelines were created based on information provided by the board attorney and apply to areas outside of curricular studies of cultures and the holidays."
   After explaining the reasons for the guidelines, he lists them, calling them "items that need to be addressed." They are:
   1. All December parties need to be winter celebrations and not celebrations of holidays.
   2. All holiday decorations should be changed in favor of winter decorations. Santa Claus, Christmas Trees, and Menorahs are all holiday-specific decorations.
   3. The holiday sing along will be discontinued as it has been at other schools. If anyone has a suggestion for an alternative, please let me know.
   4. Films shown on the last day before break should not be about the holidays and should be curriculum-related.
   He concludes: "This is a challenging issue for all principals. In my judgment, Bear Tavern needs a better balance in our approach to this season. I realize some may be disappointed with my decision but I trust all will understand my intent."
   "This is a legal issue, not a policy issue," Dr. Ferguson said Monday night. "I think Bruce felt his staff needed some guidelines. I believe he’s done what he’s felt to be legally correct and professionally responsible."
   The superintendent added that Bear Tavern has not been singled out in any way and that the same basic holiday guidelines are being followed in all the district’s schools. She said state law requires public schools to study religions and religious traditions in the course of study rather than via festivities.
   "We have to do it in the context of curriculum, not with holiday celebrations," she said. "But we may want to revisit this issue. We understand it’s a very important one for many people."
   Hopewell Township resident Bill Piper thinks the new guidelines are a mistake.
   "As a Buddhist with a son who thinks for himself, I was very saddened to hear about the decisions somewhere in the Hopewell Valley schools to eliminate all religious and secular references to either Christmas or Hanukkah while permitting celebration of winter," Mr. Piper said in a letter to the Hopewell Valley News. "We can’t honor and teach respect by forbidding diversity."
   "I hope Bear Tavern will reconsider their decision," said Hopewell Valley Central High School sophomore Kelsey Bruno, who also sent a letter to the HVN. "I think the best way to learn and experience other religions is to experience them."
   "How sad that this is happening in our schools," said Bear Tavern parent and Hopewell Township Committeewoman Judy Niederer, in her letter to the HVN. "How sad that we are going to deny our children the celebrations and traditions that school children and communities need to continue."