Should schools be allowed to celebrate chistmas and easter?

Question

I don't know about you americans, but here in Sweden we have christmas and easter holidays. Is it ok to have holidays related to christian happenings?

Answer 1

Yes, but not to the exclusion or detriment of any other religious belief, and purely on a voluntary basis.

Answer 2

Yes. However, if a child's parents do not want the child in a school that celebrates religious holidays, the child should be able to go to a school that does not.

Also, if a school celebrates Christmas and Easter, what about Hanukkah and Sukkot? What about other religions holidays.

How many holidays can a school celebrate within a year?

Should the school teach about all the religious holidays of the students who attend? Should this be added to Social Studies, which does not get enough time to cover all the areas it currently has in the syllabus?

Should this be up to the federal or state government to decide what holidays get covered, and celebrated? Should it be decided by the PTA? What if someone objects based on separation of Church and State?

In Sweden do you have a separation of Church and State? Here it is written into the basic foundation of this countries government. I am American from New York State

Answer 3

They have holidays at easter, christmas etc. but just don't call it that, if I remember right. It's been a 5 years since I've gone to school in the US though, I live in Finland now, coincidentally. And it's very annoying that they assume everyone belongs to the Lutheran church and so there is pressure that that is what you "should" believe. In america they never talked about religion in school, it was taboo, but here they do it all the time, have school assemblies where they have a christmas program (or whatever). I can usually get out of those, but at the "avslutning" (end of the year program) they even had some priest make a speech, and everyone had to sit there. Aargh!

Answer 4

I have a problem with it because although I am Christian, I do not wish to force or push my belief on anyone, especially an innocent child. Religion is something that should be taught by the child's community, whatever that is. Whether they have parents or grandparents raising them, their religious leaders (like the pastor or sunday school teacher) and from seeing their neighbors and friends families practice their own religions.

Here in America, we are careful to separate our church and our government, in that our school officials may not in any way teach religion; religion may not be forced on a child. However, if the child chooses to speak or write about their religion of their own free will, there is nothing to stop them. That's just the way it is supposed to work.

For instance, during the Christmas season, a teacher cannot put up a bulletin board with a manger scene or a chanukah candle, but if they ask their students to draw a picture of their plans for the holiday break, and the student draws a chanukah candle with the family around it, that's okay for her to put up. See the difference? If it comes from the student, that's okay, that's freedom of expression, but the teacher may not force her own belief upon the student.

Answer 5

We used to. Then the ACLU got involved. The US is turning into a godless nation. We are going the way of Sodom and Gomorrah. I'd love to see Christmas and Easter celebrated in school. I see no reason why our diverse culture cannot see their way clear to celebrate the holidays/holy days of many faiths. The more we learn about each other the better off we'll be. It's part of the fabric of our society.

Answer 6

Traditions are every where, and should be , this tells a lot about our Culture.
If Christianity is a bit mixed in with Pagan days so what. Easter the Goddess of Fertility. Is a bit of History is this not allowed. as for the days we celebrate as Christians we just chose to do so on the Pagan days , so we can have our own Culture.

Answer 7

yes, but the government is too concerned pleasing the people that don't celebrate it than the ones that do. i believe this last year about 80% believe in the religious holidays.
I remember it was a big issue about caliing a christmas tree a holiday tree. What the f*** is that? It has and always get called a christmas tree to me.

Answer 8

The athiests were afraid their kids would be exposed to the concept of God, so we're not allowed to celebrate Christmas or Easter anymore. Personally, I think a vote would be in order, but apparently that wouldn't be politically correct.

Answer 9

Yes they should. I think it's ridiculous how they changed saying "Merry X-mas" to "Happy Holidays". There is no way in hell The good ole' USA is going to be able to satisfy everyone. They should just leave it the way it was. There's absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating X-mas in school. If you do not like your child celebrating this, allow them to go to another classroom or be taken out of school for that day.

Answer 10

No, i don't believe of that is stupid. i believe that it makes different little ones experience inferior if a religious vacation for one team is well known at the same time as yet another isn't. Our usa is per non secular freedom. Public colleges might want to steer away from non secular celebrations of all sorts. that is sufficient that school breaks are scheduled close to or round Christain holidays with out having little ones celebrate them in college. non secular education should be executed at homestead and church.

Answer 11

In our town our schools still sing Christmas songs with GOD in them and we have a play each year. We have a Christmas Tree which signifies "Life". To me it should be up to the majority! Not one person has ever made a big deal out of it. Maybe because they know better! I just dont understand why the word GOD scares people half to death if they dont believe in him.

They are even trying to force people who work in retail to say Happy Holidays! I would be dam%ed if someone will rule my mouth but me!