Teaching Hanukkah and Santa in school - but no Jesus?

[Cool-Beans]

I think the thing that drives me battiest about the whole thing is that people - and we've got a gazillion of them on the DIS - seem to equate Hanukkah and Christmas. They're both taught at the same time and treated the same.

They think that Hanukkah is pretty much the same thing and it isn't at all. It isn't like Christmas, it isn't the big deal that Christmas is.

I'd bet everything I have that 90% of the people who champion Hanukkah don't have any idea what it is about or how big a deal it is (or, isn't) to the Jews. They'll talk all day long about how sensitive they are to Jewish customs and then say something like, "Happy Yom Kippur!" Every single year I see some "culturally sensitive" person on the DIS wish someone a "Happy Yom Kippur!"

If the schools want to teach people about Jewish customs, then do it. Get into it all and teach the basics of it all. But quit acting like Hanukkah is the Jewish version of Christmas, for Pete's sake.

 

[Aidensmom]

But Jewish, Muslim, Hindu kids, etc, definitely see Santa as an off-limits, religious Christmas symbol. At least this Jewish person did for the first 29 years of her life.

That is not necessarily true. I know a Hindu family who do celebrate a secular Christmas, complete with gifts and Santa.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Normally I would say oh no sorry,that isn't what I meant sorry if that is what you thought, but Woah, I was taken WAY out of context there... I said NOTHING about being persecuted in my post... I said that often times we are not allowed to talk about Christianity because we are being "too controversial and close minded"

I don't even see how you took my post to say what you implied it said. You made it say what you wanted it to. I do feel very blessed to live in a place where I can actually live out my faith. I just hate that a teacher is not allowed to speak of Jesus (even just the historical Jesus, which it is proved that He did in fact live from various doctument they have found) but can teach all they want about other religions. It's not that I want teachers to be responsible for the spiritual life of children, they should though, be responsible for the education portion, such as the customs and history of religions.

I'm not trying to attack but I don't exactly like it when someone desides to take something I say and turn it around to say something I did not say.

And now I have said what I wanted to say, and now I am done with this thread All I wanted to say was my view and my point got proven that views are tolerated as long as it isn't a view from a Christian perspective (not just a Christian view though, simply if it is a DIFFERENT view, because people don't seem to like hearing various perspectives), because all it does it get twisted around to say whatever someone else wants it to say.

I didn't mean to start anything, and the last thing I wanted to do was for this to stray from its original topics, so back to your regular programming...

I didn't quote anyone specifically so I don't understand the personal reaction. What I was responding to was the yearly Christian whine-fest of how everyone is trying to take God out of our lives, and our poor children can't hear about Jesus in school, and oh, poor us-we can't talk about our religion because everyone gets mad at us. There is no War on Christmas or Christians-other than the one that Fox News correspondent made up to sell books. We're not victims, we're not oppressed-try being an athiest or a member of a non-Christian religion if you want to know how being marginalized in the US feels.

When we as Christians portray ourselves as victims in the US, we insult people who actually have suffered real persecution and marginalization.

 

[Sandy321]

Wow. How about Christmas parties? Do they have those?

When we as Christians portray ourselves as victims in the US, we insult people who actually have suffered real persecution and marginalization.

I think that is important for us to remember...

Suburb of Chicago - Home of the litigous Athiest Robert Sherman, and I think that is the reason that we no longer have Holiday/Winter parties - nothing in December - PTO has "Fall Festival", Valentine's Day, and End of School Party...

) DS gf is Russian Jew and I had no idea of their custom of "Father New Year" they have a "New Year Tree" and presents - she said they were not allowed to mention anything Jewish - and were afraid to even make latkes! She often reminds me how it must've been growing up in a 72% Christian neighborhood (of course that's now, when she was elementary it was probably a higher percentage)

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I know my opinion doesn't count for much, as my son does not and will not attend school. However, I wouldn't want EITHER religious holiday taught in the classroom. I don't like the watered-down version of Hannukah OR Christmas, or any other holiday. I send my son to Sunday school to learn about world religions. I don't find it appropriate for a public school classroom at all. I think the problem is that schools have almost totally replaced any other institution for learning for the vast majority of young people, and many parents have totally abdicated their responsibility to teach religion as they see fit, IN THE HOME OR CHURCH. Therefore, teachers and schools feel an obligation to teach these cultural things without mentioning religion...which of course is a half-truth and not really educationally sound, as a result. I don't like it!

 

[Pirate Me]

Is playing with a dreidal is sort of the same as baking Christmas cookies? I don't think schools should teach the religious meaning of the holidays, but children should probably be aware of other holidays, no?

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Normally I would say oh no sorry,that isn't what I meant sorry if that is what you thought, but Woah, I was taken WAY out of context there... I said NOTHING about being persecuted in my post... I said that often times we are not allowed to talk about Christianity because we are being "too controversial and close minded"

I don't even see how you took my post to say what you implied it said. You made it say what you wanted it to. I do feel very blessed to live in a place where I can actually live out my faith. I just hate that a teacher is not allowed to speak of Jesus (even just the historical Jesus, which it is proved that He did in fact live from various doctument they have found) but can teach all they want about other religions. It's not that I want teachers to be responsible for the spiritual life of children, they should though, be responsible for the education portion, such as the customs and history of religions.

I'm not trying to attack but I don't exactly like it when someone desides to take something I say and turn it around to say something I did not say.

And now I have said what I wanted to say, and now I am done with this thread All I wanted to say was my view and my point got proven that views are tolerated as long as it isn't a view from a Christian perspective (not just a Christian view though, simply if it is a DIFFERENT view, because people don't seem to like hearing various perspectives), because all it does it get twisted around to say whatever someone else wants it to say.

I didn't mean to start anything, and the last thing I wanted to do was for this to stray from its original topics, so back to your regular programming...

Really? When did that happen? Do you have a link because I would like to read more about this.

 

[Caitsmama]

I *think* what Jacklynn meant is that there *was* (if nothing else) an actual person named Jesus who went around teaching..
That is fact - whether you believe him to be the Son of God (which i do) or not, he was a person.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I *think* what Jacklynn meant is that there *was* (if nothing else) an actual person named Jesus who went around teaching..
That is fact - whether you believe him to be the Son of God (which i do) or not, he was a person.

Actually there is no primary source evidence for the existance of Jesus..The only extrabiblical sources of his life were written years after he died..The primary one listed by apologists is Josephus mention ,but Josephus was born after Jesus died and many scholors believe that is a fake..The next mention is Tacitus who born years after Jesus died.
The bible is not a primary source .
Lots of people dispute whether or not he was an actual person

 

[Caitsmama]

Ok, aside from that then, b/c i think that will just turn way OT.. lol.. as there is no clear "right or wrong" answer to that.

I also just wanted to mention, that we do teach our dd why *we* celebrate Christmas - and if you were to ask her, she would tell you "To celebrate the birth of baby Jesus" -
I don't think we should leave it up to our schools/teachers to teach religion, however, i just think there would be no harm to briefly touch on *all* celebrations of this time of year, and their backgrounds -- IF you are going to teach any of them. Don't teach one and not others.. or leave them all out.

 

[mommiepoppins]

I guess, i am a little bothered..
First of all, i do NOT want any fighting or rudeness in this thread.. i am mearly looking for discussion. But,i know how religious threads can get..

Anyway - My dd's PUBLIC school has been teaching lately about Hanukkah.. they colored menorahs, learned about the story of Hanukka, played with dradles (sp?) and other things.. this has been going on for almost 2 weeks.

They also refer to Santa and all that jazz - and do activities for that..

However, i guess what bothers me, is that if they are trying to "Even" it out, by teaching about "Christmas" (a.k.a. Santa) and Hanukkah, then they are not going about it correctly... for alot of us, "Christmas" as they are teaching it - is NOT what we only believe in..meaning Santa and Reindeer, etc.. to me, that is a COMMERCIALIZED version of Christmas.

I guess, my problem lies, that if they are going as far as to teach about Hanukkah, which is clearly a religious Jewish holiday - Why can't they at least tell the story about what we believe in Jesus' birth for Christmas, as WELL as Santa and all that..

I have NO problem with my dd learning about Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa and whatever else -- none at all -- i think it will make the kids more rounded -- but, if you are going to start to teach one, why not mention the other??

I here ya