Saturday, March 6, 2010

Spring Is in the Air

We can hardly believe that there are only two weeks left until the official start of the spring season. Soon after that, we will be enjoying spring break.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, we have an Easter-themed crossword puzzle. As you can see from this puzzle, it is secular and history-based.

One issue that we see come up again and again is teachers' need to teach about religious holidays, and the reality that so many materials covering these topics approach the holidays from a faith-based standpoint. Certainly, there is a place for faith-based learning experiences. But what of the public school teacher who wants to explain to Jewish or Muslim kids what Easter is all about? What about teaching the non-Christian origins of the holiday?

We are attempting to address the lack of secular-based printables for religious holidays. These are handouts that are safe for use in public schools, and which simultaneously do not offend religious groups.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Why do you think teachers (and publishers) avoid religious issues, even when approaching them from a secular standpoint?