Private school keeps asking which holidays we celebrate

[Anonymous]

Most religious schools are subsidized by the church and are on the grounds of church property. If you mark you don’t celebrate Christmas many Christian schools will hope that a non believer family will get to know Jesus and put in some effort to make that happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school is making a wrong assumption: that if someone doesn't celebrate, they might be offended.

Yes, 1000 percent this. The only question they should ask is are they any holidays you don't want your child to participate in at school? And most families who are sending their kids to a religious school would say no because it's a religious school. Duh.

Exactly, if you’re sending your child to a religious school of a religion you don’t follow, you’re most likely okay with your child being exposed to and taught about thar religion at school. Otherwise, you wouldn’t send your kid there.

Yep bingo. I am with op on this one. None of their business.

[Anonymous]

I live in an area where Catholic School is very, very popular for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. (Wide range of desirability when it comes to public school districts here.)

The school doesn't need to know anything beyond the family being a different religion. They don't need to know what religion, they don't need to know what holidays they celebrate, nothing. It's not relevant. Team OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in an area where Catholic School is very, very popular for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. (Wide range of desirability when it comes to public school districts here.)

The school doesn't need to know anything beyond the family being a different religion. They don't need to know what religion, they don't need to know what holidays they celebrate, nothing. It's not relevant. Team OP.

+1000

[Anonymous]

It's a private school OP, and they can do what they want.

[Anonymous]

Nosy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it were such a big deal why didn't they bring it up when you registered? It sounds like they are mad because that's how they can weed out non-Christians. Leaving it blank means you celebrate all Christian holidays or you don't care if your child celebrates what they do. It doesn't sound deep.

IMO someone who doesn't celebrate Halloween is very religious, of their own religion. I don't see how that's a good fit for a school of another religion.

It's very different from someone who is moderately/mildly religious and sends their kid to a school of another religion out of convenience / location / quality. It probably feels antisocial to the school.

[Anonymous]

Tell them you are atheist and be done with it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nosy

Doesn't matter. It's private school. If you don't want nosey, so to public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it were such a big deal why didn't they bring it up when you registered? It sounds like they are mad because that's how they can weed out non-Christians. Leaving it blank means you celebrate all Christian holidays or you don't care if your child celebrates what they do. It doesn't sound deep.

IMO someone who doesn't celebrate Halloween is very religious, of their own religion. I don't see how that's a good fit for a school of another religion.

It's very different from someone who is moderately/mildly religious and sends their kid to a school of another religion out of convenience/location / quality. It probably feels antisocial to the school.

It's one day. Christians aren't supposed to celebrate it and some don't!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it were such a big deal why didn't they bring it up when you registered? It sounds like they are mad because that's how they can weed out non-Christians. Leaving it blank means you celebrate all Christian holidays or you don't care if your child celebrates what they do. It doesn't sound deep.

IMO someone who doesn't celebrate Halloween is very religious, of their own religion. I don't see how that's a good fit for a school of another religion.

It's very different from someone who is moderately/mildly religious and sends their kid to a school of another religion out of convenience/location / quality. It probably feels antisocial to the school.

It's one day. Christians aren't supposed to celebrate it and some don't!

Scripture carefully instructs Christians against participation in pagan practices directly involving witchcraft, the occult, and the worship of other deities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it any of their business? I casually mentioned we don't celebrate Christmas and the teacher freaked out and asked why I didn't fill out the form correctly. I told her the school didn't need to know this information because we didn't expect the teacher to do anything differently. The director of the school then emailed me that I "need to fill out the form and not leave that information blank". They are mad about this and I think it ridiculous.

Our school asked if we had any special celebrations/traditions. We left it blank. We are Jewish and celebrate Jewish holidays but also have a tree and give Xmas presents (long story). Nothing super notable. I’ve experienced antisemitism throughout my life so am not very open about my religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is it any of their business? I casually mentioned we don't celebrate Christmas and the teacher freaked out and asked why I didn't fill out the form correctly. I told her the school didn't need to know this information because we didn't expect the teacher to do anything differently. The director of the school then emailed me that I "need to fill out the form and not leave that information blank". They are mad about this and I think it ridiculous.

Our school asked if we had any special celebrations/traditions. We left it blank. We are Jewish and celebrate Jewish holidays but also have a tree and give Xmas presents (long story). Nothing super notable. I’ve experienced antisemitism throughout my life so am not very open about my religion.

Is the school a Christian school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is it any of their business? I casually mentioned we don't celebrate Christmas and the teacher freaked out and asked why I didn't fill out the form correctly. I told her the school didn't need to know this information because we didn't expect the teacher to do anything differently. The director of the school then emailed me that I "need to fill out the form and not leave that information blank". They are mad about this and I think it ridiculous.

Our school asked if we had any special celebrations/traditions. We left it blank. We are Jewish and celebrate Jewish holidays but also have a tree and give Xmas presents (long story). Nothing super notable. I’ve experienced antisemitism throughout my life so am not very open about my religion.

Op here. We have decided to unenroll our son from this school beginning now. We have already experienced similar and I don't want to feel like I need to be ashamed of our background just because it's not "American". The Halloween thing was so strange because the parade lasted 10 minutes. He didn't dress up but he did attend school that day. For the parade, I didn't want both kids (the eldest goes to public school) attending due to security. There are mass shootings every other day in the US. I do live in fear when it comes to crowds. We still go out but big events I try to avoid. We attended the hay ride pumpkin patch trip and Thanksgiving show. Our son had a birthday party at school. We have tried our best to participate. I don't think this is the norm but a lot of families will have both mom and dad attend field trips..There are even a few families that always come with mom and dad for drop off and pick up. I doubt they are going to sue us for the tuition. I'm not going to send him back in January. He can go the the YMCA childcare with his babysitter for social interaction. He's not interested in a lot of the academic stuff at preschool anyway.

[Anonymous]

First-world problems lol.