a teacher at my daycare has changed her religious beliefs, she states that she will no longer celebrate birthdays or holidays. At our center these are very important events. what can i do?
2006-08-28 06:02:06 · 15 answers · asked by letty g 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Rather than pushing the issue - have her do work that would be outside of the celebration. Perhaps prepare lessons or do some other work that is needed but would not be connected to the celebration and would give her something to do while the celebration is taking place. We are a country made up of different spiritual and religious beliefs, and all of those beliefs need to be respected and valued. They make our country a better place.
2006-08-28 06:06:25 · answer #1 · answered by Unity 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
She is correct in her refusal to celebrate both birthdays and holidays. Have you asked her why she shuns them? There is not one verse of Scripture describing anyone celebrating the births of righteous men. In fact, the Bible is silent on the exact dates of the births of all God’s faithful servants—Jacob, Sarah, Noah, Abel, Samuel, Job, Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Peter, Paul, James (Christ’s brother), and the rest of the apostles. Even the birth date of Jesus Christ goes unrecorded in the Bible! If God wanted his servants to celebrate the day of their births, he would have given dates to do so.
Writes Linda Rannells Lewis in her book Birthdays, "Birthdays have been celebrated for thousands of years. In early civilizations, where the development of a calendar made an organized reckoning of birth dates possible, the horoscopes of ruling monarchs, their successors and rivals had to be cast with care and birthday omens meticulously examined, for the prospects of the mighty would affect the prospects of the entire society. By the time of Ptolemy V this practice was well established: 'Ptolemy, the ever living, the beloved of Ptah, the son of the two Brother-Gods, was born on the fifth day of the month DIOS, and this day was, in consequence, the beginning of great prosperity and happiness of all living men and women.
In Egypt households of the same period birthdays were celebrated similarly. A part of the family budget was set aside to buy birthday garlands and animals for sacrifice, just as we might plan to spend a certain sum for balloons, party hats, and an ice cream cake"
All holiday celebrations have pagan origins and are not scriptural in any way. Christians cannot mix paganism with christianity.
2006-08-28 13:47:00 · answer #2 · answered by Micah 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Required? absolutely not. It is truly up to the teacher(at least at a school) but many schools have holiday functions so there is usually exposure to holidays. Birthdays are much more optional. This is a perspective for schools, however. Daycare is much more flexible I would assume because they are not publicly funded.
2006-08-28 13:08:36 · answer #3 · answered by ridingdragon 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can't fire her. Religious discrimination, and all.
You could remind her that even though she won't admit to being born, most everyone else does. She doesn't have to celebrate anything, so long as she doesn't rain on some child's parade or try to insinuate her beliefs into a conversation with that child.
"Why didn't you tell me Happy Birthday?"
"Because I am a ------- and we don't believe birthdays are important."
Careful how you work this one, you could find the ACLU on your doorstep. (AAAHHHH!!!!)
2006-08-28 13:16:37 · answer #4 · answered by azar_and_bath 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Arrange for the birthday and holiday celebrations yourself. Invite the teacher to join but don't forcer her to do anything... You could stir up a mess of trouble by pushing the subject too much.
2006-08-28 13:10:04 · answer #5 · answered by annathespian 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you own the place, you are within your rights to make birthday/holiday celebration a mandatory event. Private businesses are under no obligation to kowtow to someone's personal religious beliefs when those beliefs interfere with ordinary business practices. (although if you invent new businesses practices just to offend someone's beliefs, watch out).
If she refuses to do it, fire her for insubordination.
2006-08-28 13:07:10 · answer #6 · answered by lenny 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't fire her, you'll get sued.
Are there any responsibilities she could have while the events are going on? Diaper duty or something? Just don't ask her to help decorate, but continue on with how you have been running things and there shouldn't be a problem.
2006-08-28 13:08:11 · answer #7 · answered by Allison L 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Deal with it. Respect her beliefs.You cant force someone to celebrate a ridiculous thing anyway.Having a party and getting gifts just for being born in ludicrous anyway.
2006-08-28 13:04:54 · answer #8 · answered by stephaniemariewalksonwater 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As an employee this is part ot her job and if she refuses to do her job, that is cause for dismissal. When she took the job, she knew it would be part of her job so there can be no unlawful firing suit filed.
2006-08-28 13:06:41 · answer #9 · answered by karen wonderful 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
you need to discuss this with the daycare owner. good luck!
2006-08-28 13:08:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋