Heavy Christmas emphasis at non-religious pre-school, WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Why not approach the teacher and/or administrators in a friendly way? Our daycare/preschool had a relatively ecumenical approach to the holidays but did have a party where Santa gave gifts to all the kids - they sang songs from each cultural tradition (Xmas/Hannukah/Kwaanza) and the decorations are multiculti but the Xmas trees are hard to miss. In recent years one family volunteered to do a presentation on Hannukah (they also do one for Passover in the spring) and the kids loved it. I'm not sure if the family felt their traditions were underrepresented or if they just were going with the flow (the school invites lots of parents to come talk about their ancestral roots and/or country of origin during each summer, so this sort of thing is pretty routine at the school.) Anyway, whatever the rationale, it struck me as a great way to address a potential concern and frankly it helped my Catholic kids understand the traditions that so many of their friends and neighbors actually celebrate. (My oldest didn't believe me when I tried to explain that X or Y didn't do the whole Santa thing.)

[Anonymous]

Muslim family here.

My comfort level is a Rudolph Christmas, not a Jesus Christmas. So if it's secular, I'm totally cool with it. I view the secular side of Christmas as a part of American culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Muslim family here.

My comfort level is a Rudolph Christmas, not a Jesus Christmas. So if it's secular, I'm totally cool with it. I view the secular side of Christmas as a part of American culture.

What a remarkably reasonable attitude. Kudos.

[Anonymous]

Like it or not, this is predominantly Christian country, with predominantly Christian traditions and values, even among more secular activites. You're children will have to deal with it their entire lives, and I think that as long as the more "religious" aspects behind it are not being taught, perhaps you could just relax and let them enjoy the more "fun" parts? My kids were in preschool and K in India, and they celebrated all the Hindu festivities along with their classmates--we're Christian. We moved to the middle east, and they, celebrated the Eid festitivies and Ramadan. It's a bit harder when you're in the minority, but you can learn to enjoy certain aspects of other religions and cultures, and develop tolerance as adults.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with Christmas, and while I enjoy all the trappings of the season, I wouldn't be comfortable with a religious emphasis in my child's school.

That being said, I also much prefer the model where the Holiday season is broadened to be inclusive as opposed to the don't-do-any-of-them style. It is cold and dark December where we're almost at the longest night of the year. How much bleaker this time of year would be if we didn't brighten it with Holiday celebrations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like it or not, this is predominantly Christian country, with predominantly Christian traditions and values, even among more secular activites. You're children will have to deal with it their entire lives, and I think that as long as the more "religious" aspects behind it are not being taught, perhaps you could just relax and let them enjoy the more "fun" parts? My kids were in preschool and K in India, and they celebrated all the Hindu festivities along with their classmates--we're Christian. We moved to the middle east, and they, celebrated the Eid festitivies and Ramadan. It's a bit harder when you're in the minority, but you can learn to enjoy certain aspects of other religions and cultures, and develop tolerance as adults.

How big of you. Congratulations, you win most condescending post of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Muslim family here.

My comfort level is a Rudolph Christmas, not a Jesus Christmas. So if it's secular, I'm totally cool with it. I view the secular side of Christmas as a part of American culture.

Hahaha.....and let's make Eid about cutting the lamb's throat and not about Allah. What nonsense!!! I can understand that a family may not want their child exposed to it. I have nothing against that. It's thier choice not to celebrate it or want to participate in it. But to say that you're comfortable with Rudolph at Christmas and not the fact that's it's celebrated as a birth day of Jesus is ignorant and non-cultural. If it's secular, you're cool with it??? The whole point of Christmas is that it shouldn't be secular (just as Eid shouldn't be) and I suppose that is what OP is complaining about. The school is passing it as something secular when it's really not. I think you have a lot of reading to do. I think secularizing Christmas is blasphemous. Having said that I have not a single problem with people who don't want to celebrate it. But for goodness sake let's all think about what we are celebrating.
OP, approach the director or the teacher and tell them that you would rather your child not be exposed to Christmas related things.

[Anonymous]

I think it is ridiculous to suggest OP take her DD out of school for December!

OP, I would start a conversation with the teachers and director about making the focus more multi-cultural. At my son's preschool, they spend a week on Christmas, a week on Hannukah, a week on Kwanza, and a week on winter. There are no Chirstmas trees, but they'll make decorations such as trees, stars, snowflakes, snowmen, menorahs, Kwanza symbols, etc. For the holiday concert, they sing songs from each theme. (During Ramadan, they also do a project and read a book). Given how many mixed race/religion families that there are in this city, and how multicultural the area is, it is a reasonable request that the kids are exposed to all the major religions and celebrations.

[Anonymous]

The school is passing it as something secular when it's really not. I think you have a lot of reading to do. I think secularizing Christmas is blasphemous. Having said that I have not a single problem with people who don't want to celebrate it. But for goodness sake let's all think about what we are celebrating

.

Blasphemous? Really? It is a secular holiday to me, and I don't care what you think. Rudolph, Santa and Frosty the Snowman - a celebration of winter. That's what X-mas means to me.

You are free to celebrate what you wish, but don't shove it down my throat, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Muslim family here.

My comfort level is a Rudolph Christmas, not a Jesus Christmas. So if it's secular, I'm totally cool with it. I view the secular side of Christmas as a part of American culture.

Hahaha.....and let's make Eid about cutting the lamb's throat and not about Allah. What nonsense!!! I can understand that a family may not want their child exposed to it. I have nothing against that. It's thier choice not to celebrate it or want to participate in it. But to say that you're comfortable with Rudolph at Christmas and not the fact that's it's celebrated as a birth day of Jesus is ignorant and non-cultural. If it's secular, you're cool with it??? The whole point of Christmas is that it shouldn't be secular (just as Eid shouldn't be) and I suppose that is what OP is complaining about. The school is passing it as something secular when it's really not. I think you have a lot of reading to do. I think secularizing Christmas is blasphemous. Having said that I have not a single problem with people who don't want to celebrate it. But for goodness sake let's all think about what we are celebrating.
OP, approach the director or the teacher and tell them that you would rather your child not be exposed to Christmas related things.

I don't understand how the first part of your post can possibly be synthesized with your instruction that OP not let his daughter be "exposed to Christmas related things." If you believe (as you say) that Christmas is actually and really about Christ, then how can OP keep his daughter from being exposed to that? Wouldn't she be exposed to Christ all of the time? Isn't it your philosophy that Christ lives in all of us?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like it or not, this is predominantly Christian country, with predominantly Christian traditions and values, even among more secular activites. You're children will have to deal with it their entire lives, and I think that as long as the more "religious" aspects behind it are not being taught, perhaps you could just relax and let them enjoy the more "fun" parts? My kids were in preschool and K in India, and they celebrated all the Hindu festivities along with their classmates--we're Christian. We moved to the middle east, and they, celebrated the Eid festitivies and Ramadan. It's a bit harder when you're in the minority, but you can learn to enjoy certain aspects of other religions and cultures, and develop tolerance as adults.

How big of you. Congratulations, you win most condescending post of the day.

Thanks. Kind of you to notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The school is passing it as something secular when it's really not. I think you have a lot of reading to do. I think secularizing Christmas is blasphemous. Having said that I have not a single problem with people who don't want to celebrate it. But for goodness sake let's all think about what we are celebrating

.

Blasphemous? Really? It is a secular holiday to me, and I don't care what you think. Rudolph, Santa and Frosty the Snowman - a celebration of winter. That's what X-mas means to me.

You are free to celebrate what you wish, but don't shove it down my throat, please.

It's obvious you don't care what I think, but perhaps you should. Or at least educate yourself about the meaning of Christmas before you barf all over it. Rudolph, Santa and Snowman are a celebration of winter. Jesus, however, is the reason we celebrate Christmas. And no one is shoving down your throat, ignoramus. I said I have no problem with people who don't celebrate it. And, YES, it is blasphemous to equate Rudolph with Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like it or not, this is predominantly Christian country, with predominantly Christian traditions and values, even among more secular activites. You're children will have to deal with it their entire lives, and I think that as long as the more "religious" aspects behind it are not being taught, perhaps you could just relax and let them enjoy the more "fun" parts? My kids were in preschool and K in India, and they celebrated all the Hindu festivities along with their classmates--we're Christian. We moved to the middle east, and they, celebrated the Eid festitivies and Ramadan. It's a bit harder when you're in the minority, but you can learn to enjoy certain aspects of other religions and cultures, and develop tolerance as adults.

How big of you. Congratulations, you win most condescending post of the day.

Wow! I disagree. The post was makes an excellent point. When in Rome...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The school is passing it as something secular when it's really not. I think you have a lot of reading to do. I think secularizing Christmas is blasphemous. Having said that I have not a single problem with people who don't want to celebrate it. But for goodness sake let's all think about what we are celebrating

.

Blasphemous? Really? It is a secular holiday to me, and I don't care what you think. Rudolph, Santa and Frosty the Snowman - a celebration of winter. That's what X-mas means to me.

You are free to celebrate what you wish, but don't shove it down my throat, please.

It's obvious you don't care what I think, but perhaps you should. Or at least educate yourself about the meaning of Christmas before you barf all over it. Rudolph, Santa and Snowman are a celebration of winter. Jesus, however, is the reason we celebrate Christmas. And no one is shoving down your throat, ignoramus. I said I have no problem with people who don't celebrate it. And, YES, it is blasphemous to equate Rudolph with Jesus.

So you are Christian, I gather? This is how Christians speak to those with differing opinions? Classy.

[Anonymous]

When I was looking at schools it seemed that only the montessori schools didn't celebrate religious holidays like Christmas (or Jewish holidays in Jewish schools).

I think you should try and find another school.