Elf in the shelf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is wild what is "normal" in other parts of the country, having grown up on the west coast and raising children in FCPS. Friends show pictures of decorating a class christmas tree, santa coming to the school christmas party, writing assignments where they write a letter to santa.

It's not normal here, OP. A good portion of students don't celebrate christmas. Please keep your family christmas traditions at home and let school festivities be things that are accessible to students of all backgrounds.

I mean, are your friends at private schools? We're at a religious private here in Fairfax County. My kids love setting up the Christmas decorations at school - because everyone else is doing it too. When we were in FCPS the celebrations were always - correctly - very generically about winter. Sometimes the teachers would set up a time where kids of all backgrounds could share holiday traditions during the year, which everyone enjoyed.

Nope. Public schools in Indiana, Arkansas, and Ohio.

I don't think people around here realize that in many places in the United States, Christmas trees are not an issue because it is a more homogenic culture. They may be different colors, but they celebrate Christmas. So, I guess the question is--is it okay if everyone is fine with it?

No. First, how can you possibly know if everyone is fine with it? Second, public school is an arm of the government and there’s the first amendment that ought to prevent the government from respecting the establishment of religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So once again the silent majority suffers at the hands of the vocal minority.

If your idea of suffering is that your child doesn’t have an elf on the shelf in their classroom I’m so happy for you. You have lived a remarkable pain free life and I hope that some day everyone the world over has the low level of suffering that you face.

Ah yes the war on Elfdom. True Christians know that the disciples were elves>

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is wild what is "normal" in other parts of the country, having grown up on the west coast and raising children in FCPS. Friends show pictures of decorating a class christmas tree, santa coming to the school christmas party, writing assignments where they write a letter to santa.

It's not normal here, OP. A good portion of students don't celebrate christmas. Please keep your family christmas traditions at home and let school festivities be things that are accessible to students of all backgrounds.

I mean, are your friends at private schools? We're at a religious private here in Fairfax County. My kids love setting up the Christmas decorations at school - because everyone else is doing it too. When we were in FCPS the celebrations were always - correctly - very generically about winter. Sometimes the teachers would set up a time where kids of all backgrounds could share holiday traditions during the year, which everyone enjoyed.

Nope. Public schools in Indiana, Arkansas, and Ohio.

I don't think people around here realize that in many places in the United States, Christmas trees are not an issue because it is a more homogenic culture. They may be different colors, but they celebrate Christmas. So, I guess the question is--is it okay if everyone is fine with it?

No. First, how can you possibly know if everyone is fine with it? Second, public school is an arm of the government and there’s the first amendment that ought to prevent the government from respecting the establishment of religion.

PP this "homogeneity" is what Christian Nationalists are pushing for in trying to de-immigrate nonchristians and further marginalize other religions practiced by citizens born here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is wild what is "normal" in other parts of the country, having grown up on the west coast and raising children in FCPS. Friends show pictures of decorating a class christmas tree, santa coming to the school christmas party, writing assignments where they write a letter to santa.

It's not normal here, OP. A good portion of students don't celebrate christmas. Please keep your family christmas traditions at home and let school festivities be things that are accessible to students of all backgrounds.

I mean, are your friends at private schools? We're at a religious private here in Fairfax County. My kids love setting up the Christmas decorations at school - because everyone else is doing it too. When we were in FCPS the celebrations were always - correctly - very generically about winter. Sometimes the teachers would set up a time where kids of all backgrounds could share holiday traditions during the year, which everyone enjoyed.

Nope. Public schools in Indiana, Arkansas, and Ohio.

I don't think people around here realize that in many places in the United States, Christmas trees are not an issue because it is a more homogenic culture. They may be different colors, but they celebrate Christmas. So, I guess the question is--is it okay if everyone is fine with it?

No. First, how can you possibly know if everyone is fine with it? Second, public school is an arm of the government and there’s the first amendment that ought to prevent the government from respecting the establishment of religion.

PP this "homogeneity" is what Christian Nationalists are pushing for in trying to de-immigrate nonchristians and further marginalize other religions practiced by citizens born here.

When they postpone AP exams because of one group's religion and have to adjust the calendar after it has been set because of astronomical factors, I don't think you have room to complain.

Being exposed to a holiday is not the same as demanding you celebrate it. Things have changed in the last twenty-five years, but you do not get to eliminate the culture that founded this country. The foundations are what allow you to celebrate your own religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is wild what is "normal" in other parts of the country, having grown up on the west coast and raising children in FCPS. Friends show pictures of decorating a class christmas tree, santa coming to the school christmas party, writing assignments where they write a letter to santa.

It's not normal here, OP. A good portion of students don't celebrate christmas. Please keep your family christmas traditions at home and let school festivities be things that are accessible to students of all backgrounds.

I mean, are your friends at private schools? We're at a religious private here in Fairfax County. My kids love setting up the Christmas decorations at school - because everyone else is doing it too. When we were in FCPS the celebrations were always - correctly - very generically about winter. Sometimes the teachers would set up a time where kids of all backgrounds could share holiday traditions during the year, which everyone enjoyed.

Nope. Public schools in Indiana, Arkansas, and Ohio.

I don't think people around here realize that in many places in the United States, Christmas trees are not an issue because it is a more homogenic culture. They may be different colors, but they celebrate Christmas. So, I guess the question is--is it okay if everyone is fine with it?

No. First, how can you possibly know if everyone is fine with it? Second, public school is an arm of the government and there’s the first amendment that ought to prevent the government from respecting the establishment of religion.

PP this "homogeneity" is what Christian Nationalists are pushing for in trying to de-immigrate nonchristians and further marginalize other religions practiced by citizens born here.

When they postpone AP exams because of one group's religion and have to adjust the calendar after it has been set because of astronomical factors, I don't think you have room to complain.

Being exposed to a holiday is not the same as demanding you celebrate it. Things have changed in the last twenty-five years, but you do not get to eliminate the culture that founded this country. The foundations are what allow you to celebrate your own religion.

PP. And, FWIW, I don't think we need Elf on the shelf at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is wild what is "normal" in other parts of the country, having grown up on the west coast and raising children in FCPS. Friends show pictures of decorating a class christmas tree, santa coming to the school christmas party, writing assignments where they write a letter to santa.

It's not normal here, OP. A good portion of students don't celebrate christmas. Please keep your family christmas traditions at home and let school festivities be things that are accessible to students of all backgrounds.

I mean, are your friends at private schools? We're at a religious private here in Fairfax County. My kids love setting up the Christmas decorations at school - because everyone else is doing it too. When we were in FCPS the celebrations were always - correctly - very generically about winter. Sometimes the teachers would set up a time where kids of all backgrounds could share holiday traditions during the year, which everyone enjoyed.

Nope. Public schools in Indiana, Arkansas, and Ohio.

I went to public schools in Ohio. The district has “Christmas Break” on the calendar and they post their ES classes’ Christmas tree decorating contest entries on social media. HS classes have Christmas door decorating contests.

Not saying we should do that here, just that it is different.

Must be nice. No days off for Eid or Diwali either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is wild what is "normal" in other parts of the country, having grown up on the west coast and raising children in FCPS. Friends show pictures of decorating a class christmas tree, santa coming to the school christmas party, writing assignments where they write a letter to santa.

It's not normal here, OP. A good portion of students don't celebrate christmas. Please keep your family christmas traditions at home and let school festivities be things that are accessible to students of all backgrounds.

I mean, are your friends at private schools? We're at a religious private here in Fairfax County. My kids love setting up the Christmas decorations at school - because everyone else is doing it too. When we were in FCPS the celebrations were always - correctly - very generically about winter. Sometimes the teachers would set up a time where kids of all backgrounds could share holiday traditions during the year, which everyone enjoyed.

Nope. Public schools in Indiana, Arkansas, and Ohio.

Yes, well, I was the only non-Christian and only minority in my midwestern town, so this is no surprise. My children, however, are in a school that is probably 50% non-Christian. Why should OP be allowed to decorate the classroom for a holiday that half of the class doesn't celebrate?

Oh, I think you've misunderstood. I'm completely on the side of "Christmas has no business in public school in any form" (unless they are doing a study of winter holidays around the world or something similarly educational). I'm just kind of startled when I learn that other parts of the country are so dramatically different in their implementation of winter festivities.