Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : School’s Holiday Program Criticized Over Christian References : Religion: Jewish couple contests the performance at Canyon Springs Ele- mentary. Sulphur Springs district defends the production.

Marc and Lori Kruskol say a holiday program at Canyon Springs Elementary School imposes Christian beliefs on children of other religions.

The “Holidays Tonight” show, a performance by the school’s children scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday nights, shows how Christmas is celebrated by different cultures. The production includes more than a dozen songs, several of which refer to Jesus Christ or God.

“It’s very distressing,” said Marc Kruskol, a Reform Jew whose two children attend the school. “When you went to school and I went to school, we all did Christmas programs. For the most part, they’re pretty innocuous, not as blatant as this.”

The Kruskols were also upset that a Hanukkah song was included in the program, suggesting that the holiday was the Jewish version of Christmas.

Sulphur Springs Union School District officials say any parent may withdraw their child from the evening performances, but that the program focuses on different cultures and is in accordance with school regulations concerning religion.

“It’s not a church and state violation,” said Supt. Robert Nolet. “Where it might become a violation is if it was dissected in the classroom and one view was proselytized.”

The district policy echoes that of the state of California and Los Angeles County and is based upon a 1980 federal court ruling, Florey vs. Sioux Falls School District, that the Supreme Court has let stand. School recognition of holidays is permitted if the purpose is to provide secular instruction about religious traditions rather than promote a belief.

“The only thing that is unconstitutional is the advocacy of one religion,” said Suzie Lang, public information officer for the state Department of Education. “It is actually encouraged that people learn in an educational environment about different religions.”

Lang said the Bible and the Koran are on the state’s recommended reading list for students.

School holiday programs this time of year often have difficulty addressing non-Christian religions during mainstream Christmas-oriented celebrations.

“It comes up every year. It’s what we call the December Dilemma,” said Rabbi Gary Greenebaum, western regional director of the American Jewish Committee. “My sense is there needs to be a lot more creativity and a lot more sensitivity (planning a holiday program).”

Nolet said the Sulphur Springs district averages one call per year about holiday programs, and acknowledged that this year’s production does have multiple references to Jesus Christ.

“Certainly it’s in there. Whether or not it’s excessive, who is to say?” said Nolet. “For someone who’s a fundamental Christian, it’s probably not enough. For someone who’s agnostic, one (reference) is too much. For someone who’s a Buddhist, three may be too much.”

Although school officials rejected the Kruskols’ request that the program be canceled, they have allowed the family to review the script and suggest changes. References to Hanukkah have been altered so it is accurately portrayed as a holiday unrelated to Christmas, Nolet said.

Marc Kruskol said his 8-year-old son decided not to participate in the program, but that his 11-year-old sister will.

Students have been preparing for five weeks during school hours for the evening performances. While other students are practicing, the Kruskols’ son sits in the back of the room and reads a book, Lori Kruskol said.

Greenebaum said children with non-Christian beliefs often feel excluded from mainstream holiday festivities. He agreed with the Kruskols’ suggestion that future holiday programs be reviewed by non-Christian religious leaders.

“I don’t see this as a Jewish/Christian issue,” said Marc Kruskol. “Every religion that’s not Christianity should be upset. Not everyone celebrates Christmas.”