Christmas in School?
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As an interfaith family this time of year presents so many challanges for us. We celebrate both Christian and Jewish hoildays. But with the Christmas hype and stress adding a general anxious buzz to the air, it drowns out all of our attempts at balance. We have come to terms with Christmas being all places commercial, and even embracing light displays and shopping until we drop!
One consolation has been the refuge of school, not the same environment as when we were children. When I was a child we had trees, Santa, even nativity scenes right in my public school classroom. That buzz was everywhere! Both as a student and later as a teacher the comparative calm and return to a normal rutine was so welcome after the holidays!
Now as a parent in this unique family, I have found it reassuring to know that some of that buzz has died down at least within the school walls. If classes approach the holidays it is in a multicultrual and academic way.
This week my 2nd grade son came home every day this week to announce they had watched a different Christmas movie. Disney Christmas Carol, Polar Express, Santa Claus is coming to town. OK WHAT? Not only did we not watch that much Christmas back in the day....why were they watching movies every day anyway? I am just crazed! I have contacted the teacher and explained my thoughts and she did promise balance among all the cultures represented in the class (Indian, muslim, jewish, christian). But its only Dec 12th and Christmas really has a dominant position!
I know I'm ranting! What do you think? Whats happening in your schools?
One consolation has been the refuge of school, not the same environment as when we were children. When I was a child we had trees, Santa, even nativity scenes right in my public school classroom. That buzz was everywhere! Both as a student and later as a teacher the comparative calm and return to a normal rutine was so welcome after the holidays!
Now as a parent in this unique family, I have found it reassuring to know that some of that buzz has died down at least within the school walls. If classes approach the holidays it is in a multicultrual and academic way.
This week my 2nd grade son came home every day this week to announce they had watched a different Christmas movie. Disney Christmas Carol, Polar Express, Santa Claus is coming to town. OK WHAT? Not only did we not watch that much Christmas back in the day....why were they watching movies every day anyway? I am just crazed! I have contacted the teacher and explained my thoughts and she did promise balance among all the cultures represented in the class (Indian, muslim, jewish, christian). But its only Dec 12th and Christmas really has a dominant position!
I know I'm ranting! What do you think? Whats happening in your schools?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by The Mother on
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This is a no-win. I've been at it for many years.
In second grade, they had my Jewish kid jumping rope to Jesus Loves Me.
In ninth grade, they made my Jewish/atheist kid sing Christmas carols in Spanish class.
When you complain to the teachers, they literally do not understand the argument. They simply don't have the frame of reference to get why you are upset.
Basically, the answer is: get used to it, or homeschool them.
But don't stop complaining. The least we can do is raise a few consciousnesses.
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Permalink Reply by Jill on -
My older son has autism and is in a very small classroom. He comes home with Christmas stuff and even Three Kings Day coloring sheets. I didn't really mind that much, but last year I decided to see if I could do a little Hanukkah celebration with the class. The teacher was fine with that, and I think everyone enjoyed it. I'm willing to give his school a "pass" because it's special needs and in a neighborhood that really takes Christmas seriously - as long as they accepted our holiday too.
My other son's school doesn't do anything Christmas-y, though they do have a winter solstice party to which people bring Christmas cookies.
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