My dd's teacher is being too policitally correct!

[cstraub]

Ok, I must disagree, not all kids/people live for Santa and the Easter Bunny. Of course Christian kids do, and that is fine. I never did, and neither do my kids. We don't believe in Santa or the Easter Bunny. My kids understand that they are all associated with a Christian Holiday. No matter how commericalized they are, they are still Christian Holiday's.




As another poster said earlier, only one song from Fiddler can be considered "Jewish", and that is the one on the Sabbath Prayer. Only one other song can be considered "Jewish".

The songs from Fiddler are as follows:
Tradition
Matchmaker
If I Were A Rich Man
**Sabbath Prayer
**To Life
Miracle of Miracles
Tevye's Dream
Sunrise Sunset
Do You Love Me
Far From The Home I Love
Anatevka

Again, only the ones with the ** can be considered "Jewish" or a better term is religious.

Oh, btw, there are other Musicals that I am sure have been sung in Chorus's of public schools:
Soundtracks: Jesus Christ Superstar
Godspell (Oh man do I LOVE this soundtrack)
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (very popular for school plays)

We aren't christian and we celebrate the Easter Bunny and Santa like crazy in this house. To us life is to be celebrated and we want to try it all. Why not celebrate just for the fun of it?

ETA: I see both Santa and the Easter Bunny kind of like Mickey Mouse and the princesses. It's just fun to believe in them and the good that they stand for.

 

[SRUAlmn]

We aren't christian and we celebrate the Easter Bunny and Santa like crazy in this house. To us life is to be celebrated and we want to try it all. Why not celebrate just for the fun of it?

ETA: I see both Santa and the Easter Bunny kind of like Mickey Mouse and the princesses. It's just fun to believe in them and the good that they stand for.

Exactly

 

[rnorberg]

Because there has been an assault on Christianity in this country by secular progressives for quite a few years. Voting republican is the only weapon you have... hehe, im sure that statement wont make anyone mad. on a lighter not, 3 1/2 days til CSR!! whoohoo!!!

 

[jgmklmhem]

We aren't christian and we celebrate the Easter Bunny and Santa like crazy in this house. To us life is to be celebrated and we want to try it all. Why not celebrate just for the fun of it?

ETA: I see both Santa and the Easter Bunny kind of like Mickey Mouse and the princesses. It's just fun to believe in them and the good that they stand for.

And whether we like it or not ( we believe in both by the way) they are part of popular culture which should also be allowed in to the public school setting. Halloween is an example of the fundamentalist Christians doing the same thing (making it be changed to a harvest party or something like that)that I believe those who take Santa out are doing. Many do not like it due to its supposed evil incarnations and such, but just like Santa and the Easter Bunny it is part of American popular culture and should be celebrated in public schools as well.

The only problem I have with the OP's issue is that the Establishment Clause could come in to play because it is the teacher (working for the state) who actually chose the song. If the singer had chosen the song of her own volition as an expression of her art then I would not see a problem at all.

 

[Nancy]

Ok..so in "To Life" it mentions God and Heaven..that is ok but not Jesus?

Also If I am not mistaken the Jewish faith believes in that Jesus existed, they just don't think he was the Messiah, he was just a man. (if I remember correctly from my Religions of the Worlds class)

I could almost guarantee you that no one would even pay any attention to the word Jesus in the song.

 

[goofy's friends]

I could almost guarantee you that no one would even pay any attention to the word Jesus in the song.

The christians would sure notice if it was missing from the song.

 

[goofy's friends]

The only problem I have with the OP's issue is that the Establishment Clause could come in to play because it is the teacher (working for the state) who actually chose the song. If the singer had chosen the song of her own volition as an expression of her art then I would not see a problem at all.

Exactly! What's even worse is that she chose the song and then wants to change the words--that's censorship, isn't it?

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

The teacher is paranoid and silly.

Maybe she should have all her students speak (and/or sing) thru a tape delay system so if they mention a Christian-related word, she can "beep" the word out.

 

[goofy's friends]

The teacher is paranoid and silly.

Maybe she should have all her students speak (and/or sing) thru a tape delay system so if they mention a Christian-related word, she can "beep" the word out.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Ok..so in "To Life" it mentions God and Heaven..that is ok but not Jesus?

Also If I am not mistaken the Jewish faith believes in that Jesus existed, they just don't think he was the Messiah, he was just a man. (if I remember correctly from my Religions of the Worlds class)

I could almost guarantee you that no one would even pay any attention to the word Jesus in the song.

Some Jews believe he existed. Some don't. Most don't care either way..He's simply irrelevent

FTR,My kids school had Christmas songs and Chanukah songs at their concerts,including songs about Jesus,and all this in liberal Rhode Island

 

[bicker]

But I have yet to understand your reasoning.

You're not required to. I don't understand a lot of things about the beliefs of others, but I respect them all-the-same.

And may I add, that if it comes to that, what a dismal public education you are suggesting!

The feeling is mutual, so how do we resolve the conflict? By respecting each other's beliefs, and practicing our own faith in our own homes and in places of worship, and keeping secular institutions focused on secular pursuits.

Voting republican is the only weapon you have

And there is no question in many people's minds that it is a weapon being used to attack non-Christians. Indeed, the GOP has been invaded by reactionaries, so the only choice non-Christians of conscience have to safeguard their freedom, guaranteed by the Constitution but withheld from them for almost two centuries, is to vote for the Democratic Party. While we don't like their economics, freedom is more important than money.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

Some Jews believe he existed. Some don't. Most don't care either way..He's simply irrelevent

Thank you!

I grew up in an area where lots of Jews lived. They don't care! They realize that Christians make a big deal of Easter and Christmas...and they don't care. Easter is just another Sunday, and Christmas is a day off to go to the movies.

I am growing very weary of people blaming the Jews for this whole anti-Christian thing. The Jews, as a group, are not offended by Christian songs anymore than Christians are offended by "Dreidle, dreidle, dreidle," or some seriously religious Jewish song (don't know any ). The Jews are NOT anti-Christian.

If people want to fight about Christianity, go ahead, fight.

Just don't use the excuse that it is "offensive" to Jews. It makes them seem bigotted, and as a group, Jews are probably the least bigotted people I've ever known. All the Jewish leaders in the U.S. have come out and said, in no uncertain terms, that they are NOT offended, and do not wish to have this pinned on them, thank you very much.

...jumping down off my high horse now...

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

OK, you don't want to explain your position, Bicker, I'll stop bugging you. It would be easier for me to respect your position if I understood it. If the reason is too private or something, I respect that, of course, but when you ask a person a question 4 times and they just avoid it, you just wonder why.

All you have to do is say, I'm not comfortable answering that question.

I totally get not wanting religion in the classroom,Christmans parties, prayer before basketball games, bible study during school hours. I agree with all of those things. But going so far as to take a word out of a song is excessive. If people believe that should be done, then they'd better back trucks up to the libraries and the art classes at schools and start loading them up, because, Oh, No! There surely is alot equally or more offensive references to religion to be found and there may not always be a social studies teacher handy to protect the children!

 

[bicker]

OK, you don't want to explain your position, Bicker

I've explained my position. You've simply refused to acknowledge my answer. What I'm not going to do is give credence to facts I disagree with. When you ask a question, you need to permit the person you're asking to answer the question to answer the question, rather than forcing them to choose between unacceptable responses of your own choosing. [size=-1]

[/size]

[size=-1]"Have you stopped beating your children?"[/size]
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It would be easier for me to respect your position if I understood it. If the reason is too private or something, I respect that, of course, but when you ask a person a question 4 times and they just avoid it, you just wonder why.

When you answer a question four times and the person who asked you refuses to acknowledge the answer, you have to wonder why.

I could assume you're just trolling, but I know better than that. So instead, I think you really aren't able to understand my answer, and I respect that. I'll ask you, in return, to respect that I have answered your question, four times. So please, either try harder to understand my answer, or let it drop.

But going so far as to take a word out of a song is excessive.

Didn't you see my comment about that? I addressed that issue very specifically. Maybe you're not seeing all of my messages...

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

OK, then I'm just stupid because I missed it. I don't see anyplace where you have explained the difference between a song at a concert to a painting at an art show or a library book. But really, if you just don't want to answer, that's cool.

 

[punkin]

While we don't like their economics, freedom is more important than money.

OK. This is so funny that I had to quote it and comment even though it is way OT. Do you mean to say that you agree with the current Republican economic philosophy of reducing taxes for the rich and cutting programs for the poor?

 

[bicker]

But really, if you just don't want to answer, that's cool.

Thanks for the respect. Rest assured, I'll still respect your perspective.

Do you mean to say that you agree with the current Republican economic philosophy of reducing taxes for the rich and cutting programs for the poor?

Reducing the federal budget is a Good Thing. We can quibble about where that money comes from. I'd choose across-the-board tax cuts, or even a more progressive tax structure than there is today. I do believe that there is a lot of waste, in many federal programs -- even in programs for the poor. I think that some of the legacy programs have fostered that waste. I think the Democrats who jealously protect those legacy programs are in error. I think a radical change is necessary to make the federal government more efficient.

 

[believe]

No matter what you do someone will be offended or their rights taken away. I truly do not believe in 100% freedom. Yes we are better off than other countries/regions, but the reality is we are not truly free to express ourselves.

As for the Noah's Ark book, what would have happened if it was show and tell day? Would the child had been allowed to share?

 

[goofy's friends]

Some Jews believe he existed. Some don't. Most don't care either way..He's simply irrelevent

I couldn't let this comment go....at first, I was offended, but mostly I am just sad for you. HE is very relevant--WHO do you think all of the controversy is about in the first place. Remember, Christians and Jews serve the same God. I understand your position is that you don't Believe, but to say Jesus is irelevant, is just not an accurate choice of words.
You might want to read a book by Lee strobel, he is an ex-athiest investigative reporter, called Case For Christ. He set out to prove that Jesus wasn't who He said He was and ended up believing that there was too much proof to ignore.

 

[LukenDC]

I couldn't let this comment go....at first, I was offended, but mostly I am just sad for you. HE is very relevant--WHO do you think all of the controversy is about in the first place. Remember, Christians and Jews serve the same God. I understand your position is that you don't Believe, but to say Jesus is irelevant, is just not an accurate choice of words.

I don't think that Jenny was trying to offend anyone. She was simply making the point that Jesus is irrelevant to the Jewish faith and Jewish world outlook. It's analogous to the manner in which Buddhua and Mohammad are irrelevant to the faith and world outlook of Christians.