Monthly displays of cultural celebrations, more culture-specific books and activities for classrooms and a new high school course on world religion are among the things happening or being developed in Hopewell Valley schools.

That was part of the message given to the district’s ad hoc committee on religion, re-convened recently to review steps taken by district leaders to advance cultural understanding in the classroom.

Patricia Coats, director of curriculum and instruction, told the group that a number of changes, all designed to widen student exposure to world cultures, have been instituted for the current school year, from staff workshops to new study units in middle school and a new high school class on world religions.

Among the changes instituted this fall, Coats told the advisory panel, are:

• The introduction of Comparative World Religions, an elective course at Central High School. Coats reported that 90 students signed up for the course.

• The addition of the Qu’ran to the CHS honors course Backgrounds to Literature

• The addition of a world religions unit to the 6th grade curriculum

• The addition of concepts and activities related to world religions to the 7th grade world cultures curriculum

• A directive to staff undertaking this year’s review of the elementary social studies curriculum that appropriate concepts, materials and activities promoting diverse cultural awareness be added

• A new class for teachers and other staff members on world religions. The class will be taught by CHS teacher Rob Siris, a religious studies major in college who studied in the Middle East. Siris, who is teaching the popular new CHS course on world religions, conducted a workshop on the issue for all district administrators earlier this year.
• A November review of the ad hoc committee’s recommendations for December holiday celebrations with all staff to avoid confusion on what has been deemed appropriate by the ad hoc committee

Coats also told the panel that a number of other improvements are on the horizon. The district’s elementary schools have plans to construct year-round, monthly displays centered on cultural celebrations. There is also interest in creating resources for elementary teachers that would include books and/or stories as well as classroom activities centered around world cultures.

Coats is also considering a full day of workshops and training devoted to world cultures, religions and holidays for all staff.

Another idea, suggested by the ad hoc committee, is a community forum with speakers to build knowledge and understanding about world cultures and religions.

The all-volunteer panel, comprised of parents, teachers, administrators and local religious leaders, was formed by the Board of Education in May 2007 and charged with developing guidelines for the study of religion in the K-12 curriculum. It was also asked to determine appropriate school practices related to religious holidays. Its report was adopted by the Board later that year and disseminated to staff prior to the winter holidays.