Christmas, being politically correct and where are we going?

[luvmy3]

The other 30% aren't dictating what can and can not be celebrated. Our constitution dictates what can and cannot be celebrated with our tax dollars in the school. YOU are allowed to celebrate what ever you want.

Where?

 

[Wall-E1]

At our kid's school, they learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc. but exclude Christmas. I'm all for learning about different cultures, but what happened to Christmas?

I have to second this opinion. I'm an atheist, so I don't get offended by one religion or another. I have seen this too, at my son's school. There is such a focus on being politically correct and including every single religion, that it is almost taboo to acknowledge Christmas, which happens to be the dominant holiday of the season. I personally enjoy hearing the stories from different religions. I don't believe them to be true, but enjoy them as I would greek mythology. I have no problem if the schools want to teach how all of the different holidays came into being. These days it's almost impossible. I'm convinced that the complainers are actively searching for anything they can complain about. They are close minded people, and our children suffer because of their ridiculous behavior. I personally would like my child to understand the origins of Christmas, Hannukah, Halloween; Easter, Kwanzaa, etc.

 

[savannahcat]

my dd 5 goes to a chatholic school (canada) and has been celebrating Christmas all month. Today they are wearing PJs and watchign a CHRISTMAS movie!! Tomorrow is the CHRISTMAS party and they are wearing red and green.

My DD6 is doing this too! It's one of the many reasons she is in private school instead of public. Thankfully, I am still allowed that choice.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

At my kids school they don't celebrate Christmas, they have winter parties and a winter concert. The Nativity story of Christmas is not taught in school, and the origin of Santa isn't either. I am the room mom for 2 classes this year and am in charge of activities and crafts, I am not allowed to get anything Christmas themed. I would have no problems with any of this if it weren't for the fact that my children come home with their Hannukah coloring sheets and tell me all about what they learned about that Holiday. And then of course there was the Kwanzw project my ds did last year.
I am as far from religious as one can get, Christmas in my house is purely a secular holiday but it infuriates me that the origins of Christmas can't be taught for fear of offending, or going against seperation of church & state, yet there is no such rule for the other December Holidays. If you are going to do it for one, do it for all.

On a side note I just saw on Fox that doctor's are blaming obesity on Santa

I have to agree. When the kids were taught about Hannukah it was the religious aspect of it. When they were taught about Christmas it was purely just how people celebrate it- not what it actually is. I find it very annoying. I don't care if my kids learn about other holidays but teach them ALL the holidays. Not just one or two selective ones. Christmas is ALWAYS the holiday that they teach the least about because they don't want to offend. It is ridiculous.

 

[maddmike]

Our country is being ruined by being politically correct so don't we offend anyone. I don't care if I offend anybody so.... Merry Christmas to all!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

At our kid's school, they learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc. but exclude Christmas. I'm all for learning about different cultures, but what happened to Christmas?

Are you sure that's really true? I know my kid comes home from school and tells me all about the NEW things he learned at school, and Christmas is not new to him. If I was sitting in the car and he was singing "Jingle Bells" or "We wish you a Merry Christmas" at this time in the year, it probably wouldn't occur to me to say "Hey, what a great song, where'd you learn it?" which is what would lead to him telling me they were singing it at school.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I agree. There has to be way more to a story that is coming third hand from a 5 year old's mother than just a Jewish family asking for a book exchange to be canceled.

I hate to say it but I doubt there is more to the story. I have seen stuff like this already in school and my kids are young. All it takes is one parent who has their bloomers in a twist about something holiday related and they cancel it. Sad but true. We had a parent complain about the type of wrapping paper one of the holiday events used. It was not religious paper but it wasn't snowflakes or snowmen. Some people will complain about anything they can.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Are you sure that's really true? I know my kid comes home from school and tells me all about the NEW things he learned at school, and Christmas is not new to him. If I was sitting in the car and he was singing "Jingle Bells" or "We wish you a Merry Christmas" at this time in the year, it probably wouldn't occur to me to say "Hey, what a great song, where'd you learn it?" which is what would lead to him telling me they were singing it at school.

In all fairness though Jingle Bells is not a religious song.

 

[Acklander]

Where?

The separation of church and state

 

[OceanAnnie]

Are you sure that's really true? I know my kid comes home from school and tells me all about the NEW things he learned at school, and Christmas is not new to him. If I was sitting in the car and he was singing "Jingle Bells" or "We wish you a Merry Christmas" at this time in the year, it probably wouldn't occur to me to say "Hey, what a great song, where'd you learn it?" which is what would lead to him telling me they were singing it at school.

Yes, I'm sure. I've seen work papers come home about every holiday but Christmas. No songs about Christmas at school. They have learned them at home though.

 

[wendy46001]

Christmas is ALWAYS the holiday that they teach the least about because they don't want to offend. It is ridiculous.

Maybe they teach about Christmas the least because 70% already celebrate it whats left to teach?

 

[luvmy3]

Are you sure that's really true? I know my kid comes home from school and tells me all about the NEW things he learned at school, and Christmas is not new to him. If I was sitting in the car and he was singing "Jingle Bells" or "We wish you a Merry Christmas" at this time in the year, it probably wouldn't occur to me to say "Hey, what a great song, where'd you learn it?" which is what would lead to him telling me they were singing it at school.

Its true in our school. I recently I asked all 3 of my kids why people celebrate Christmas and they didn't know. I had to tell them it was to celebrate Jesus birth. I told them about the Nativity story and all the things I did when I was young and what our Catholic family does now to celebrate it. They really had no idea. There is an obvious exclusion of Christmas.
However my ds came home singing the Dreidle (forgive my misspelling) song and as I type there is a "The story of Hannukkah" worksheet he brought home, sitting in front of me. Last year he had to make the candle holder (I forget what its called), so I expect something coming home from that Holiday as well. This stuff has come home every year, from everyone of my kids and not once has there ever been anything to do with a Christmas lesson come home.

 

[sbell111]

More often than not, the masses "suffer" because a single "unit"(family/person) is offended!

Knowing there is strength in numbers, I've always wondered how/why those few who are intolerent of others seem to garner control, changing or obliterating celebrations and customs this country has known and loved for generations!!!

We are going to H--- in a handbasket as we "allow" our nation, one that was founded on freedoms and religion, to be consumed by those whose principles and beliefs dictate otherwise!

The thing is, if the school was more inclusive, nothing would have been cancelled. These schools are cancelling programs because they are unwilling to make it about all of the students/families. Instead, those that are in charge and believe that they are serving the 'masses' are actually doing everyone a disservice. They then hide behind some wierd 'war on Xmas' argument that wouldn't fly if anyone actually took a look at the issue.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Maybe they teach about Christmas the least because 70% already celebrate it whats left to teach?

Not everyone knows the story of Christmas. When they teach anything Christmas at school it is never the story of Christmas. It is simply the way people celebrate. However, when they learn about other Holidays they learn the religious aspect of it.

 

[sbell111]

Its true in our school. I recently I asked all 3 of my kids why people celebrate Christmas and they didn't know. I had to tell them it was to celebrate Jesus birth. I told them about the Nativity story and all the things I did when I was young and what our Catholic family does now to celebrate it. They really had no idea. There is an obvious exclusion of Christmas.
However my ds came home singing the Dreidle (forgive my misspelling) song and as I type there is a "The story of Hannukkah" worksheet he brought home, sitting in front of me. Last year he had to make the candle holder (I forget what its called), so I expect something coming home from that Holiday as well. This stuff has come home every year, from everyone of my kids and not once has there ever been anything to do with a Christmas lesson come home.

In an earlier post, did you not stress parental responsibility? If your kids are not being told enough about Christmas, teach them about it. If you already have, then there is no problem. The schools shouldn't be teaching kids stuff that they already know, after all.

 

[dejr_8]

The separation of church and state

How is celebrating Christmas in schools establishing a State Religion?

It is true that in a State funded school all religious holidays should be taught (i.e. SOCIAL studies) and experienced.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

 

[jrmasm]

Its true in our school. I recently I asked all 3 of my kids why people celebrate Christmas and they didn't know. I had to tell them it was to celebrate Jesus birth. I told them about the Nativity story and all the things I did when I was young and what our Catholic family does now to celebrate it. They really had no idea. There is an obvious exclusion of Christmas.
However my ds came home singing the Dreidle (forgive my misspelling) song and as I type there is a "The story of Hannukkah" worksheet he brought home, sitting in front of me. Last year he had to make the candle holder (I forget what its called), so I expect something coming home from that Holiday as well. This stuff has come home every year, from everyone of my kids and not once has there ever been anything to do with a Christmas lesson come home.

Why on earth would you expect the school to educate your children about your on religious traditions?

Maybe the school assumed that since 70% (the number everyone is throwing around) of the children already knew about it that they didn't need to cover Xmas.

Happy Holidays everyone!

 

[luvmy3]

The separation of church and state

There really is no "seperation of church and state" clause in the Constitution. It is a concept derived from the 1st amendment stating that Government shall not make any laws establishing religion, or prevent the free exercise of religion, etc.
Seperation of Church and state has nothing to do with tax dollars being used for holiday parties

 

[HelenePA]

I'm so glad my school is nothing like some of yours! We still have CHRISTMAS parties. The kids got their pics taken with Santa IN SCHOOL, during school hours. We will be having a Christmas party and exchanging gifts (3$ limit) the day before school lets out for Christmas break. We still pledge to the flag and sing god bless america before classes start. I went to the same school and honestly I only knew of one person who didn't celebrate Christmas. I'm so glad she had much thicker skin than some people nowadays! We also learn about other religion and what they celebrate. I'm sure if I had Jewish people in my class we would have taken the time to celebrate right along side of them.

 

[sbell111]

How is celebrating Christmas in schools establishing a State Religion?

If you really want the answer to that question, go to Google. Let's not make this thread into a discussion of Constitutional law and Supreme Court rulings.

It is true that in a State funded school all religious holidays should be taught (i.e. SOCIAL studies) and experienced.

Why?