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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Right. Not falling into your trap. Yes, Christmas is a religious holiday. DEAL WITH IT.

[Anonymous]

My approach to this issue would depend on whether I'm happy with the preschool in all other respects.

If I were fully happy with the preschool otherwise, I think I'd just explain to my child that our family doesn't celebrate Christmas but that many others do. And then I'd let it go. Withdrawing her from school for 2 weeks will definitely single her out, and I personally wouldn't want to do that. I wouldn't want her to have to explain it to friends or teachers, either.

But if I were not otherwise happy with the preschool and had other concerns about it, I'd look for a different school, as another poster suggested, and try to make a switch at the winter break. If you choose this option, I would make sure you enroll your child in a school where you know other parents and are fully comfortable with how the school handles Christmas.

Other posters suggested approaching the preschool director or other staff. I myself wouldn't do this, but obviously some posters see it as a possibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Right. Not falling into your trap. Yes, Christmas is a religious holiday. DEAL WITH IT.

How fiendishly clever of you -- you put forward your position, and then refuse to explain or defend it. You've really got me on the ropes. But let me see if I can sum up your position.

Christmas is a religious holiday; it's all about Christ. OP needs to realize that. However, in order to keep his daughter from being exposed to it, he should pull his daughter out of school, so that she won't be exposed to Christmas, which he needs to deal with.

Is that what you are getting at? Have I captured the logic of your position?

[Anonymous]

I'm in the get over camp. It doesn't sound like the preschool is inundating the students with lectures on Jesus, just talking about some aspects of Christmas that kids generally enjoy (e.g., the Christmas tree). Not sure why anybody would really be bothered by that...

I also think OP is going to be fighting this fight a LOT unless she just chills out about it. I would think it is better to not make a huge deal and single your kid out. She may not notice now, but when OP starts doing it in elementary school, OP's kid is going to feel embarrassed which is exactly the wrong message...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Right. Not falling into your trap. Yes, Christmas is a religious holiday. DEAL WITH IT.

How fiendishly clever of you -- you put forward your position, and then refuse to explain or defend it. You've really got me on the ropes. But let me see if I can sum up your position.

Christmas is a religious holiday; it's all about Christ. OP needs to realize that. However, in order to keep his daughter from being exposed to it, he should pull his daughter out of school, so that she won't be exposed to Christmas, which he needs to deal with.

Is that what you are getting at? Have I captured the logic of your position?

NOT AT ALL!!!! You have not captured the logic of my post. You were being snide about Christ being in all of us all the time so I wasn't about to engage with you. My post said Christmas is not (or at least shouldn't be) about Rudolph. Sure, I love Rudolph and Santa and all of the other traditions, but they are not what Christmas is about. I also said that I am perfectly fine with people not acknowledging Christ and celebrating his birthday. OP has every right not to want to do that and has options. Confront the teachers (if in fact they advertizes that their curriculum is non-religious) or take her child to a different school. I have no problem with that whatsoever even though I celebrate Christmas. What I do have a problem with is people saying that Christmas is purely cultural and reducing it down to Rudolph and Santa. In my family we actually focus on the religious part of Christmas. Do we not think Hanukah is a religious Jewish holiday any longer? Is Eid not a RELIGIOUS holiday any longer?
Secondly, my post was not for OP but for the Muslim family. I think that OP realizes that Christmas is a religious holiday and doesn't want her child exposed at such a young age. Again, no problem there. I didn't suggest that she take her child out in any of my posts so I have no idea where you're getting that. If you have a problem with Christianity or religion that's one thing. But it doesn't change the fact that Dec 25 is celebrated as a birth date of Jesus.

[Anonymous]

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.

No, I don't think that I have to care what you think. I don't believe in the Jesus story, but love Christmas. You don't get to dictate my celebration of the holiday, nor should you feel that it disturbs your celebration of it. It is the reason why YOU celebrate Christmas, not the reason why I celebrate X-mas. I'm not barfing (nice image, BTW) all over your holiday - I'm enjoying eggnog, a tree and Santa.

Weird logic - what I get from your reseponse is that if you celebrate Christmas, you MUST acknowledge the birth of Christ, otherwise, you are NOT ALLOWED to celebrate Christmas. Then, you must "get over it" and take your children out of school if you don't want them to receive religious instruction around the birth of Christ every December if you are not of the dominant faith.

[Anonymous]

what I get from your reseponse is that if you celebrate Christmas, you MUST acknowledge the birth of Christ, otherwise, you are NOT ALLOWED to celebrate Christmas.

Np here, who's been observing your pissing match. Look, you're not going to win this one on logic.

It's better just to say, "I love the taste of egg nog and the sound of Perry Como's voice. And twinkly lights. And having the day off work."

Otherwise in effect you've been saying, I love to celebrate Christmas, which I don't believe in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
NOT AT ALL!!!! You have not captured the logic of my post. You were being snide about Christ being in all of us all the time so I wasn't about to engage with you. My post said Christmas is not (or at least shouldn't be) about Rudolph. Sure, I love Rudolph and Santa and all of the other traditions, but they are not what Christmas is about. I also said that I am perfectly fine with people not acknowledging Christ and celebrating his birthday. OP has every right not to want to do that and has options. Confront the teachers (if in fact they advertizes that their curriculum is non-religious) or take her child to a different school. I have no problem with that whatsoever even though I celebrate Christmas. What I do have a problem with is people saying that Christmas is purely cultural and reducing it down to Rudolph and Santa. In my family we actually focus on the religious part of Christmas. Do we not think Hanukah is a religious Jewish holiday any longer? Is Eid not a RELIGIOUS holiday any longer?
Secondly, my post was not for OP but for the Muslim family. I think that OP realizes that Christmas is a religious holiday and doesn't want her child exposed at such a young age. Again, no problem there. I didn't suggest that she take her child out in any of my posts so I have no idea where you're getting that. If you have a problem with Christianity or religion that's one thing. But it doesn't change the fact that Dec 25 is celebrated as a birth date of Jesus.

Nobody ever said that. People have said they like to celebrate Christmas differently from you, including a purely secular celebration of it. There's a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
NOT AT ALL!!!! You have not captured the logic of my post. You were being snide about Christ being in all of us all the time so I wasn't about to engage with you. My post said Christmas is not (or at least shouldn't be) about Rudolph. Sure, I love Rudolph and Santa and all of the other traditions, but they are not what Christmas is about. I also said that I am perfectly fine with people not acknowledging Christ and celebrating his birthday. OP has every right not to want to do that and has options. Confront the teachers (if in fact they advertizes that their curriculum is non-religious) or take her child to a different school. I have no problem with that whatsoever even though I celebrate Christmas. What I do have a problem with is people saying that Christmas is purely cultural and reducing it down to Rudolph and Santa. In my family we actually focus on the religious part of Christmas. Do we not think Hanukah is a religious Jewish holiday any longer? Is Eid not a RELIGIOUS holiday any longer?
Secondly, my post was not for OP but for the Muslim family. I think that OP realizes that Christmas is a religious holiday and doesn't want her child exposed at such a young age. Again, no problem there. I didn't suggest that she take her child out in any of my posts so I have no idea where you're getting that. If you have a problem with Christianity or religion that's one thing. But it doesn't change the fact that Dec 25 is celebrated as a birth date of Jesus.

Nobody ever said that. People have said they like to celebrate Christmas differently from you, including a purely secular celebration of it. There's a difference.

Yeah the difference is I know what Christmas is and you don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

what I get from your reseponse is that if you celebrate Christmas, you MUST acknowledge the birth of Christ, otherwise, you are NOT ALLOWED to celebrate Christmas.

Np here, who's been observing your pissing match. Look, you're not going to win this one on logic.

It's better just to say, "I love the taste of egg nog and the sound of Perry Como's voice. And twinkly lights. And having the day off work."

Otherwise in effect you've been saying, I love to celebrate Christmas, which I don't believe in.

Thank you!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Our Montessori school went nuts for Christmas. If you don't want any Christmas at preschool, you probably need to look into Jewish preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Nobody ever said that. People have said they like to celebrate Christmas differently from you, including a purely secular celebration of it. There's a difference.

Yeah the difference is I know what Christmas is and you don't.

This country is founded on, among other things, the idea of religious tolerance, which means people get to believe and practice pretty much anything they want. You probably don't mean to come across this way, but you sound very threatened by beliefs that differ from your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Our Montessori school went nuts for Christmas. If you don't want any Christmas at preschool, you probably need to look into Jewish preschool.

Interesting, but I have run across some that don't celebrate Christmas. So I am sure it is possible for OP to find a school that doesn't celebrate Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
NOT AT ALL!!!! You have not captured the logic of my post. You were being snide about Christ being in all of us all the time so I wasn't about to engage with you. My post said Christmas is not (or at least shouldn't be) about Rudolph. Sure, I love Rudolph and Santa and all of the other traditions, but they are not what Christmas is about. I also said that I am perfectly fine with people not acknowledging Christ and celebrating his birthday. OP has every right not to want to do that and has options. Confront the teachers (if in fact they advertizes that their curriculum is non-religious) or take her child to a different school. I have no problem with that whatsoever even though I celebrate Christmas. What I do have a problem with is people saying that Christmas is purely cultural and reducing it down to Rudolph and Santa. In my family we actually focus on the religious part of Christmas. Do we not think Hanukah is a religious Jewish holiday any longer? Is Eid not a RELIGIOUS holiday any longer?
Secondly, my post was not for OP but for the Muslim family. I think that OP realizes that Christmas is a religious holiday and doesn't want her child exposed at such a young age. Again, no problem there. I didn't suggest that she take her child out in any of my posts so I have no idea where you're getting that. If you have a problem with Christianity or religion that's one thing. But it doesn't change the fact that Dec 25 is celebrated as a birth date of Jesus.

Nobody ever said that. People have said they like to celebrate Christmas differently from you, including a purely secular celebration of it. There's a difference.

Yeah the difference is I know what Christmas is and you don't.

"What Christmas is" differs for everyone, and every family. Just because others don't share your vision doesn't make them wrong. Maybe you think Christmas should be only about celebrating the birth of Christ - but that doesn't make it so. As an aside, I think people who try to force religion down others' throats (cough, ahem, cough) should be forced to move to Alaska and re-elect Sarah Palin as their governor. Sadly, that isn't going to happen. I've dealt with the disappointment - hope you can do the same.

[Anonymous]

"What Christmas is" differs for everyone, and every family. Just because others don't share your vision doesn't make them wrong. Maybe you think Christmas should be only about celebrating the birth of Christ - but that doesn't make it so. As an aside, I think people who try to force religion down others' throats (cough, ahem, cough) should be forced to move to Alaska and re-elect Sarah Palin as their governor. Sadly, that isn't going to happen. I've dealt with the disappointment - hope you can do the same.

Am I losing my mind or are you completely twisting my words? When I say that she needs to talk to the teacher at school about the kid being exposed to Christmas like things even though they were told that wouldn't happen at this particular school, I am shoving WHAT down your throat? I am so sick and tired of narrow-minded people in this town, like yourself who think that every person that has a religious belief agrees with Sara Palin or is somehow less intelligent, education, smart than your smart-ass self. I was actually supporting OP in her choice not to celebrate Christmas, but you weren't able to clam down long enough to actually read my entire post. What I am NOT agreeing with or supporting is people butchering Christmas into being something it is not. I am sorry, but Christmas in not all things to all people. It is a highly religious holiday and to the people who actually believe, it is an insult to reduce it down to Rudolph and Santa. Perhaps YOU should be a little more sensitive in how you approach this subject. No, I am not saying YOU should celebrate it with me (I wouldn't want you there anyway). I'm saying if you are not Christian you probably don't celebrate Christmas and that's fine. Just don't call it a Christmas celebration. Call it a winter festival or whatever else but leave the sanctity of Christmas alone. Again!!!! If you don't want to celebrate it more power to you!!! Now read this a couple of times before responding. I am getting really tired of repeating myself and you getting on your soap box about something that has absolutely nothing to do with me. Take your issues with Sara Palin if that's who you hate.