In what ways can teachers accommodate for children who are Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

In many classrooms things such as Valentine's day are often celebrated. How can teachers help those students who do not celebrate such things? What are some of the other things that you have problems with if you are the parent of a student with such beliefs? Are there any other religions that have beliefs that may conflict with regular school practices. I don't want to offend anyone I just want to know.

Answer 1

I myself am a teacher and a Jehovah's Witness. First of all, I would like to thank you for being so consciencious of Jehovah's Witnesses' Children in your class. There are many teachers who do not respect our beliefs thus gave our children a very difficult time during any holiday. Thank you for being so considerate. The witness children and their parent will appreciate your kindness and effort in trying to accommodate for their beliefs.

There are different ways of accommodating for them depends on what kind of classes you have. There are already many good answers. Asking the parents what they want you to do is very important, because some witnesses are stricter than others, depending on their conscience.

We encourage our children to repectfully tell others why we do things the way we do them, including not celebrating holidays. If the child is old enough and is willing to, why don't you have him/her explain to the class why he/she chooses not to celebrate a certain holidays? It gives the child an opportunity to express himself/herself without being riduculed, when the teacher guides the class to understand that this world is full of people with different beliefs and thus we need to be understanding and tolerant of each other. It is a great opportunity for all children in the class to learn to respect others when differences arrise. Many teachers did this and had great results in the class.

I hope this can give you some ideas. Thank you again for being so considerate.

Answer 2

Thats a great question. I think that the best thing for the teacher to do is to find a way to incorporate the holiday with what it is exactly that the holiday is celebrating, and if that doesn't work you have to be a bit more imaginative. So for valentines day, the student can do a project about somebody that she loves, and why she loves that person. Jehovah's Witnesses are probably the largest mainstream religious denomination that doesn't celebrate any holidays (including personal birthdays and American holidays like Thanksgiving,) but there are others. A little sensitivity goes a long way. Try and remember, however, that these kids are taught that they will encounter things that they won't be able to participate in. They aren't going to be surprised when its time to do the school Christmas play and they aren't allowed to play a role.

Answer 3

Teaching Jehovah Witness Students

Answer 4

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Because the WBTS keep rank and file witnesses in an information starved, controlled environment and clamp down on any questioning. Witnesses will be rejoicing at the death of a child 'in the truth' and congratulating the parents on their 'stand'. It is sickening. Wow, just read some of the answers below! Feel the hate! You have touched a raw nerve here! What is truly tragic is that the JWs flip flop regularly on major doctrinal issues. They have already denied some things that were fundamental to their theology, like the 1914 generation thing, and they are weakening on the blood issue. The kids have died for nothing!

Answer 5

I worked as an aid in the local Elementary School and around the holidays usually christmas time when it was the class party the parents kept the kids home if christmas wasn't celebrated. The ones who did come to school were put at a table in the back of the room and they painted, pasted and did pretty much what they wanted while the party was going on. At thanksgiving, the teacher in the room I was in brought in a crockpot and asked each pupil to bring in one can of vegetables. She had cooked a turkey the night before and brought in broth and turkey meat and the kids made soup and then made pilgrim hats and everyone ate in the classroom for a "feast".

Answer 6

I was raised in the Jehovah's Witnesses, from the third grade on. That's when my parents became witnesses, so I got to see both sides of it. I don't remember much, except that we did go to the library during the holiday events in the classroom.

I will tell you about Mr. Manthy, my sixth grade teacher. He was a polio victim without the use of his legs. He changed my life, as he taught me not to listen to those who kept telling me that people with physical disabilities should not have been allowed to live, or at least be serialized. Eugenics was real popular back than.

Mr. Manthy wanted me to be the stage manager of the Christmas Play, so he drove me home and talked to my mother. She agreed, provided that my name did not appear on any of the show bills. That was fine with me, as I enjoyed the creative work. As a matter of fact, I still do, and much of what I've created still doesn't have my name on it.

As I've gotten old, and in my work with divorced and single fathers, I've learned about the developmental stages of children. Under the age of 12, children merely know what they have been told, without really understanding it. The ability of conceptual thought process doesn't even begin developing until puberty. This time is difficult for not only children of JWs, but also for all the other children, trying to understand why something is.

At least there is one significant difference. The children of JWs are taught all the same things their parents are, right along side them. The read the Bible, learn how to look up scriptures, and to find information. They may not understand it, but by the time they are mature enough to understand, they have a pretty solid knowledge of the Bible. It's unfortunately that every religion doesn't do that.

Answer 7

Given that these holidays are cultural and that the problem is the misinterpretation of them by misguided and rigid thinkers, it's up to the parents to handle it. I've seen people take issue with halloween, valentine's day, easter, christmas, etc. I'm an atheist and I don't have any problem celebrating these holidays in a cultural, non-religious way especially given that they've become such an integral and, again, non-religious part of our culture.

Answer 8

The usual practice, is for the children to leave the room when things are being taught that are not of their belief.
Which is,at the end of the day,sad, because we are told that everyone must integrate with society, and make an effort...but these folks that 'leave a room', are segregating themselves...putting themselves apart from everyone else...how on earth can a person 'be a part of', when they have to be left out of certain things?????....their choice....not ours..
But would people not send their children to church schools, if their beliefs were different to that of Christianity.
I think that what you are saying, really only effects the younger children.. older students are quite capable of voicing their opinions.

Answer 9

it is the very reason state and church should be seperated .
yet on the other hand how can beliefs be so intolerant of others also .........children should be subject to the WORLD and if that means an EVIL valentines party well you can not live in a world and think your children wont be exposed to different things .
it is up to parents to explain and help them tolerate differences .
not the teachers .
why does it always seem there is someone who thinks their RIGHTS/BELIEFS our the only way !open up the mind and tolerate differences i say ........it will make for an easier life if we can all live together and accept others for their differences weather we like something or not .......
the only way to avoid things of this nature is to home school and to me this is very extreme also for then the child suffers from lack of socialization .and will never find the world friendly or safe because they have never been exposed to the differences that make up the world .

Answer 10

My husband was brought up by his parents who were both Jehovah's Witnessess, and he said that during times of celebration ie christmas, valentines day, easter he had to be excluded from making cards, and was asked to sit on the mat or at his table and read a book, he said this made him feel different and also highlighted the fact to the other kids..He suggested asking the parents what they would like you to do with their child... ie would it be acceptable to make maybe a thankyou card for someone instead of a valentines card..Just a suggestion from him, hope this helps you, and good luck, hope you do find some good solutions x