Holidays in School?

Question

Im not a religious person, but does anyone else feel like when their kids are in school, coloring a picture of Santa Claus and playing with a dradel is considered religious? I mean not everyone celebrates those holiday and they are all religion based. I mean I have no problem with them coloring a snow man during winter or some leaves during the fall. Even pumpkins or misletoe. But when they cross the line into witches, elves, easter eggs to me that is preaching a certain religion to children. Of course they want to celebrate christmas they see it is fun. I just dont think it is right to have a seperation of church and state and then I bring my kids to school and they solute the flag followed up by a christmas party. Infact, why are they wasting all there time on events like this when there are children who are failing grades.Shouldnt they be focused on something else?

I mean Santa Claus Is part of Christmas, Dradel part of Hanakah. even if it is an excused absence, it shouldnt be an option. I work and I know other parents do to. I cant just pull my kids outta school.My tax dollars matter to right??

*Princess- I agree children need some sort of free time or reward. I totally agree. But why cant they get candy in January or why cant they make fun winter projects or spring projects. It just seems like it is always about holidays, I do agree children should get taught religion or values at home. School is not the place for it without adult/parent permission! It your kids dont get it at home, thats what sunday school, CCS, after school youth group is for.

*Super Freak- you say your atheist,Is it not then hypocrasy if you let your kids or yourself celebrate christmas if you do not believe in god. Or when you do let them partake do you explain that the only reason you are celebrating is for gifts??? A little activity in school is fun and there is nothing wrong with it. But there needs to be boundaries

*HP- if I allow the teacher to say "This is Santa Claus" Or This is the "Easter Bunny" now lets all color him in. Is that not my child celebration the religion and worshiping that religion by coloring it. If it was halloween and the teacher said this is a "Witch" now lets all dress up like one and trick or treat around the school.. Wouldnt that be the same thing?

*HP- if I allow the teacher to say "This is Santa Claus" Or This is the "Easter Bunny" now lets all color him in. Is that not my child celebration the religion and worshiping that religion by coloring it. If it was halloween and the teacher said this is a "Witch" now lets all dress up like one and trick or treat around the school.. Wouldnt that be the same thing?

* lady suri- i appreciate your answer but let me ask you something as a Jew. If one of your friends was a catholic and she invites you over to her house for christmas.. Isnt that you celebrating a holiday which involves Jesus, which from my understanding, Jews acknowledge Jesus but do not see him as the Messiah. So you would be in a way you be celebrating there holiday and everything you every learned as a child you just through out the window. Santa Claus is believed to Mean "Satans Claws" So do you still want your kids to color him? How come the teacher doesnt tell them that. My kids shouldnt have to feel alignated nor lonely during those times if there was no holidays in school.

Answer 1

I don't know about your school, but I go to a public school and we don't celebrate any holidays, except for Halloween, really, and that's only celebrated by letting kids dress up for the day--then again I go to a public school, so it's not really a difference, some of the people dress so strangely you think it was Halloween every day....

We call winter break winter holidays break, and when we take days off for Yom Kippur it's scheduled with Teacher Institution so we're not taking off for Yom Kippur...we do have fund-raising sales where kids can send cards with Xmas trees or menorahs on them though, but that's about as far as it goes. If you don't want your kids to color Santas or play with dreidels I think that's your right, and you can write a note to the teacher excusing them I bet...but then what will your kids remember? We couldn't color a picture because mommy said so and everyone alienated us...I understand what you mean when you say Santa and dreidels are technically religious, but they're also not in a way, because the holidays are so commercialized. It's your right as a mother to choose to have your kids sit out from these activities but what are you gaining, really? It would just make them upset and uncomfortable and alienated. Yes, our school systems need reform--but how long do these parties last? Not very long...and if kids went to school for 7-8 hours a day and did nothing but work every second of every day, we'd go insane. Every so often we need a break...

Just read your details:
If you allow the teacher to say this is Santa Claus or this is the Easter bunny now let's color him in, it's definitely not worshiping the religion. It's coloring the picture. Believe me, I know. I'm a religious Jew and I went to a Catholic school for eight years. So many reindeer. ;-) If there is strong instruction at home, your kids are able to color all the Santas they want and still understand they're only coloring a picture of a fat man in a red suit that means something to a religion--it's just not their religion, since they are ____ or are ____

If my friend invited me over to her house for Xmas I wouldn't be able to stick my presents under the tree or eat the Xmas ham (giggle giggle wink wink) but there really isn't a big problem of us exchanging gifts or having a party. Sure, it's called a Xmas party, but she knows I'm Jewish and gives me Chanukkah gifts, not Xmas gifts, and everyone there would know I'm not celebrating the holiday, but simply having a good time with my friend at a good party, no matter what it's called. There are no nativity scenes involved and I don't light the menorah--we do that all at home in private. I'd leave the party being as Jewish as I went since I never celebrated Xmas or the birth of a man I don't accept as the messiah or as a god. Holidays are what you make of them.

Peace

Answer 2

It's economics. One of the first things you learn in economics is about demand and supply. Basically, the higher the demand, the higher the price. A lot more people want to travel during the school holidays, so the travel industry (from flights to hotels), know that they can charge more and people will still buy their services. At other times of the year they know that if they tried to charge the higher prices they would end up with empty hotels/flights. It's not fair for teachers or parents, but when all teachers and parents are trying to cram their holiday into those few weeks the tour operators at home and abroad will continue to charge extra. Our Government can do nothing about the cost of foreign hotels etc. even if they wanted to. The only thing which might help is to stagger the school holidays, so e.g. different regions have their holidays at different times, and at different times to other countries? That way the demand would not be concentrated on those few weeks.

Answer 3

A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
-Willie Wonka

I think it's great to cover the major celebrations of the season, if only so kids learn about cultures. Come on, school can't be all serious for kids. They're kids!

It is tough to find the balance between teaching ABOUT religious traditions and portraying them as the ones you should follow. If I didn't believe in Christmas, it would be hard for me to let my kids sing religious songs or color pictures of elves. I do believe in keeping religion out of public schools, but having some knowledge about the cultures around you and having some fun while doing it can be a good thing.

Answer 4

Santa is based on Norse tradition actually. The Christians and Coke~Cola stole it. Thank you Norman Rockwell. Hehe
No it doesn't bother me. It's MY job as a parent to reinforce and add on to whatever my child learns at school. When she learns about a new religion, we talk about it. I think it's good exposure. The fact is that these religions are out in the world and they are the majority. She needs to know about them. Knowledge is your best weapon. :)

edit: If you want to be technical, mistletoe is religious as well. Read up on Loki and Baldr and the association with Yule.

Answer 5

You can 'celebrate' something, and make children aware of something without preaching about it.

You just have to say.. and this is what (insert religion here) believe, lets do some colouring of ... Easter bunnies for example.

It is good to teach a child about different faiths and to learn to accept as early on as possible that your religion is not the only one.

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Celebration, worship, belief and acknowledgement can be separate, don't blur the lines unnecessarily.

Answer 6

IMO, nothing related to any religious holiday should be in public schools. No Santa Claus, no dreidles, no easter eggs. If the schools want to do anything during these religious holidays, focus on the seasons. Do winter stuff instead of Christmas.

Answer 7

Children with little or not fun in their lives are less likely to get A s in school! No one wants to be left out. Children are more pron to irritability of long work hours with not vacation. Cookies make kids happy, and a small reword like that for good grades or behavior will help your child's grades not hurt them. Children need religion or some form of belief system to promote proper societal values, and not all children get it from home!

Answer 8

Good Grief!! I remember doing all those color pictures in grade school, we also colored pictures of the presidents, and other historical events that were covered.....

eye and hand coordination in the coloring, memory of the topic, memory of the holiday and some history behind it....kids enjoy coloring pictures and bringing them home to hang on the frig....

so worried about little stuff....what are they watching on TV with the cartoons and such....worry more about that....

Answer 9

i think u are over reacting. i am an atheist through and through. i don't see any harm in breaking up the monotony of their daily routine. whats the harm in a few hours a year of camaraderie among students. besides, it was fun to color easter eggs and witches. i didn't see it as a hidden agenda on the schools part.

Answer 10

of all the things to be worried about concerning kids and school. why harp on the most TRIVIAL of them. unless your kids are hypersensitive to the sight of an easter egg, or have a witch phobia your concern and motivation would be better served advocating the protection of kids from bullies, guns,drugs,pedophiles, etc etc.