People use souvenirs as an aide-memoire of their holiday experiences, much in the same way as the postcards were used to remind participants of the event they attended. But many people also use souvenirs as a catalyst to share their holiday experiences with others. In this article, the authors explore the role of souvenirs in academic development.…

How should public education function within a diverse culture? Because the United States has a traditionally strong Christian heritage, many communities have in the past been comfortable absorbing the holidays and traditions of that heritage into public education. During the month of December, which is especially rich in religious ritual and…

Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance may be the core civic ritual in the United States and the most common--core because it extracts a personal promise of some sort and most common because it is widely required in schools and concludes the naturalization ceremony for new citizens. While many people have recited and memorized the pledge, few have…

Reports on selling books oriented toward a particular holiday and decides that customers still want a "good" book and will not buy a book just because it is a holiday title. (NKA)

The informal curriculum centering on holidays in elementary education often ignores cultural and individual differences among students. School holiday celebrations may have serious consequences for the following dimensions of schooling: (1) aesthetic; (2) curricular; and (3) socio-emotional. Teachers can provide options for all students by making…

Examines the growth of the Columbus myth and how it resulted in the establishment of two cultural and political institutions: Columbus Day and the Pledge of Allegiance. Describes the "Columbusmania", which began with Washington Irving's Columbus biography in 1828 and peaked with the Columbian Exposition in 1892. (SV)

This article addresses the issue on school policy concerning holidays and outlines some steps schools can take to keep the children and their enrichment as the focus. In the United States, there are many kinds of holidays: religious, cultural, national, and sentimental. School calendars usually honor some of the most prominent of these. If the…

Discusses three approaches that schools and teachers can use to plan for and celebrate special days with young children: the "wholly dazed," or multicultural, approach; the holidays, or nonreligious, approach; and the "holy days," or religious approach. (BB)

The best gifts are those given by a deeply caring parent, a special relative, or a friend. Presents seldom last, but memories do. Parents are advised to create memories for their children this holiday season by giving them their time, caring, and love. Parents should make and keep promises to spend time with their children. (MLH)

Presents a fictional tale of one adolescent boy's experiences with the Christmas holiday. Tells how the boy's attitude was changed by various experiences surrounding the holiday. (HB)

Public school teachers are careful not to promote or celebrate any religious holiday, but the appearance of Easter on the calendar can be the springboard for exploring the culture and history of the people of a region of the world that was, for many years, hidden by the politics of the Cold War. Ukraine is the home of arguably the world's most…

The Nguzo Saba or "Seven Principles of Blackness" provide the fundamental basis for the development of an African America value system that is based on the cultural and historical particularisms of being Black in an American society that devalues Black efficacy and Black people. The fundamentals of this value system, foundational to the Kwanzaa…

A counselor recounts problems of a family with a cerebral palsied child centering on the annual holiday gathering of the extended family. Difficulties with the grandparents on both sides were identified. Open communication by the parents to other family members increased understanding. (DB)

The Points of Light Foundation suggests numerous family volunteering activities during the December holiday season. Categorized according to opening heart and home, music and entertainment, holiday meals and treats, arts and crafts, transportation/delivery, and the environment, the activities could also be adapted for school or school-family use.…

Suggests ways for early childhood programs to analyze the degree to which their parties, festivals, and celebrations are consistent with early childhood theory and research, and with good practice. Provides suggestions for increased integration of multicultural activities into the overall curriculum. (DR)