The Jewish Teachers Association of New York, an organization composed of teachers in the New York City public school system, appealed to the New York Board of Education this week-end to see to it that schools avoid use of “religious ceremonies, symbols and hymns” during the forthcoming Christmas-Chanukah season.
Asserting that the Jewish teachers are devoted to Judaism “in frankly sectarian terms,” the association insisted, nevertheless, that “the school must maintain complete impartiality as regards children of variant faiths.” In past years, some schools have displayed the Christian “nativity” scene and other religious symbols, and have allowed the singing of Christmas songs.
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