My son just brought home a Kwanzaa coloring picture from school. How can this be allowed?

Question

My son is 5, in Kindergarten. Generally when he brings home a page that can be colored, it is only partially done. This Kwanzaa (is it a menora?) coloring page is so thoroughly done that I know he had to have spent at least an hour coloring it.

I've noticed in recent years that public schools are getting more and more insane when it comes to religion. What right do they have to teach my son of a holiday completely designed to replace legitimate holy days this time of year?

If it is a holiday that is now going to be taught and embraced by our school systems, I think Christmas, Hannakuh, and any other religous holidays should also be taught to our kids. Some would say Kwanzaa is not religous but cultural. As a Christian all I see is an anti-religious stumbling block designed solely to remove focus on what really matters this time of year.

A little more information:

I've already done research on Kwanzaa. Many people have said I should have a more open mind. I suppose I should restate my question. Religion is the basis for most culture. Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday designed by man "which celebrates family, community and culture". Kwanzaa is based on pagan celebrations from ancient Egypt and Nubia.
The official Kwanzaa website says that a part of Kwanzaa is:
"a time of special reverence for the creator and creation in thanks and respect for the blessings, bountifulness and beauty of creation;"

If you don't interpret that as a relgious statement then you are an idiot.

My complaint is this, my son DID NOT color a Christmas tree, or a Jewish Menora, or take part in any Christian plays or any other religious events this year at school, besides this coloring of a Kwanzaa Kinara. That is wrong, if any culture or religion is to be taught, it should be ALL...

Answer 1

The best thing to do for YOU as a parent is to teach him your self. Stay open minded and respect other religions, and teach your son the same. Would you really want him to grow up knowing only one religion? When he goes out into the real world he'll be lost, there are so many other cultures etc out there, don't limit him to just one just because it is your culture.
Public schools are really confusing regarding the religion part.
Take initiative and fill him with knowledge, there is nothing worst than having someone talk about something when they only know one side of it.
If you really have a BIG problem with it, talk to the teacher and share your concerns.
Do not close your self or your family from the rest of the world.
Good luck!

Answer 2

Kwanzaa Coloring Pictures

Answer 3

I agree that if one viewpoint is taught, all of them should be. Unfortunately some teachers are limited and cannot teach the values of religions like Judaism, Christianity, or Islam - the separation of church and state and the rampant desires of an overzealous majority to make everything as PC as possible is easily to blame. What about the fact that early Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus in the early autumn, but changed the time of year to coincide with the Roman holiday Io Saturnalia? This insignificant change did not alter the celebration that Jesus was born, it simply moved the date to convince more people that Christianity is the one true religion. Why are you concerned that your child is learning about a cultural celebration that has nothing to do with religion? Is it wrong to learn about celebrating America's 4th of July, even though you live in Germany or Iran? If your child goes to public school, then you should not be surprised. To correct what you see as a problem, simply tell the child's teacher that he is not to have any work associated with non-Christian, partisan holidays, and that should be enough - It is your discretion what a child does and does not learn. If you have to ask that your child's teacher has your son leave the room while the other children do the activity, then that is what you must do. Teachers are typically taught to give an overview of all viewpoints on holidays, science, and other touchy areas. If you want your child to have full access to all activities in the classroom in an environment that you find suitable, find a Christian school. Many are home-schooling groups and many are regular schools with a specific Christian focus - Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist ... Also, these special schools may have a tuition, but generally the student/teacher ratio is much less (Average 10 students to 1 teacher), which can lead to a more thorough and hands-on education. Good luck with getting things straightened out or deciding on accepting that not everything your child experiences is going to be in your belief system. Also, maybe you should check out the sites below to read more about Kwanzaa.

Answer 4

I don't want to start a religious outcry, but Kwanzaa is NOT a religious holiday. It was really designed to bring back the original meaning of Christmas and remove the commercialism from the holidays. Before you get too upset, please take the time to look up Kwanzaa on the internet. The seven days of Kwanzaa are designed to make you think about what is really important to you, i.e. family, friends, giving instead of receiving, all the things Christ intended for us to believe in in the first place.The seven principles of Kwanzaa are Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Although it was created by a black man, and it is embraced mainly by the African-American community, it really is designed to be embraced by any and everyone. I truly hope this helps to dispel some of your concerns. I celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa.

Answer 5

I think you maybe you are overreacting to this. Chances are that his class are doing some segment on holidays around the world. They were probably able to pick a picture to color from a bunch of pictures showing holidays around the world.

I used to be a teacher and around the holidays my school did a unit like this. It has nothing to do with religion, it has to do with how different cultures celebrate the holidays. It is more of a Social Studies type thing.

It was probably so nicely colored in because your son had more than one day to do it in. Often a unit like that is something the kids work on over a period of a few weeks.

Answer 6

LMAO.....Who interior the heck may imagine Jello in a baggie can be a good manage? I believe you. there is no way i'd enable my toddlers eat this. you only can by no skill tell what anybody is gonna do at present. For all you realize it could be a jello shooter, or perhaps with they're called, left over from a celebration that they had the evening earlier. lol. Edit: you need to put up a %of it on facebook. that's only too freakin' humorous!

Answer 7

Kwanzaa is a non-religious, week-long holiday established in 1966 to celebrate African heritage. Observances include candle-lighting, social gatherings, and reflection on seven community-oriented principles. Let's be clear now - IT IS NOT RELIGIOUS IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM. Do you want your kids to grow up in total ignorance of the world around them, or do you plan to have them live with you, never marry, never work, and never go out into the world? This is what drives me nuts. Since when does Kwanzaa replace Christmas? Do you think that black Baptists don't celebrate both? You can be black and Christian and still celebrate your culture and your faith at the same time. You know what? If you don't like it, take your kid out of school and homeschool him instead. You have a computer - educate yourself, please.

Answer 8

Kwanzaa was originally begun as a way of celebrating black heritage in the US. However, it has become the black replacement for Christmas. As it slights a religion, that should be enough to ban it from public schools. Could you imagine something used to slight Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, or any other religion being accepted?

It also shouldn't be taught in schools because it is exclusionary. It only celebrates black people, not Asian, not European, not Polynesian, not Australian (Native or immigrant), not Native American, not anyone else.

It should be like many other ethnic celebrations: kept in the homes and businesses of those who belong to that ethnic tradition. (Or maybe we should all start teaching Octoberfest in public schools!)

Answer 9

Schools are teaching kids culture not religion. Look at christmas, it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ but some some of those students may not be christian based religion. Yet they hold christmas pageants with songs related to the birth of Jesus. I don't think they promote it but they introduce it because there are many different cultures in school today. Our country is a melting pot that every one has the right to learn different cultures. I believe the school system has every right to teach that so that other kids don't find others strange for their beliefs. This way everyone will understand the differences and respect one another.

Answer 10

Holidays are fine. But in my school, religious teach and religious talk is not allowed. we can learn what others believe in, but we arent taught which is the "correct" religion, because of the diverse cultures and religions in our school. Religious teach is only allowed in religious schools like our Catholic School and our Yavneh Jewish Academy. If these coloring pictures are only talking about holidays during Christmas time, its fine, but if they are starting to teach little 5 yr olds about religion, I recommand a conference with the school board. A young Kindergarter shouldn't be getting involve with religious studies.