Christmas carols banned--at recess?
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Anonymous
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A few kids were singing Christmas carols at a charter school at recess--the kind that begin, "Jingle Bells/Santa smells." A teacher came up to them and told them to stop, since not everyone celebrates Christmas.
Lord, give me strength to survive the holiday season. |
Anonymous
| The part about Santa smells wasn't the offensive part? |
Anonymous
| I'm 28 and grew up in Massachusetts. We weren't allowed to sing Christmas carols either. Although I think jingle bells was allowed since it didn't specifically say Santa or Christmas. |
Anonymous
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I always sang it
Jingle Bells Batman smells Robin laid an egg Batmobile Lost a wheel And the Joker got away (or did ballet) |
Anonymous
| That is part of the reason why we are in a Catholic school. I heard that saying God bless you when someone sneezes is no longer acceptable. |
Anonymous
You should definitely stay in Catholic school (from a Catholic). Watched. Wonderful 2nd grade holiday show today where they sang about all the major holidays. So refreshing for a school not to shy away from religion. And yes, DCPS school. |
Anonymous
I was there too -- two of the many adorable songs brought tears to my eyes: "My friend's family celebrates Ramadan" (really captures the nonchalance and respect of diversity among our kids) and "Innkeeper" (a beautiful song of inclusiveness, pleading for someone to let Mary in). "December in Our Town" is a great tradition at our school, celebrating the spirit of the season and the diversity of our families. The kids were so poised and cute. Great job teachers! |
Anonymous
PP here. So glad I wasn't the only teary one. I grew up in Catholic school and had no idea about other holidays. I love that my kids get to spend time at school leading about what their friends are celebrating. The 2nd grade team did an awesome job. |
Anonymous
| Learning not leading. Sorry! |
Anonymous
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We do not celebrate Christmas and my 9 year old has been coming home super bummed recently because he is "the only one that does not celebrate Christmas" and "everyone at school keeps talking about Christmas and Santa".
I really appreciate that the schools try to squash Christmas/Santa talk. I don't care if they discuss the Holidays and traditions, but Christmas is very dominant and can become a bummer for those kids that don't celebrate it. Adults often make comments to my son about "Santa is going to visit you" and "have you been good for Santa" and it's definitely awkward for him and makes him feel uncomfortable - and even sad because he feels like he is missing out. We of course deal with it as a family, but it's just another perspective. |
Anonymous
+1 -- well said! |
Anonymous
| Not many 9 year olds in our group even discuss Santa. I am one that as very pro separation of church and state. However, I think your 9 year old needs to get some thicker skin. My 8 year old isnt allowed to play video games, he is fine when his friends talk about all their video games. |
Anonymous
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A teacher asking kids to stop singing does not mean it's banned. Just that she asked kids to stop singing. And her follow up is right. Not everyone celebrates the holiday.
I am a teacher and former youth pastor. I don't really care about holiday songs either way. However it is just as easy to sing jingle bells, a song with no religious tie ins. I also don't get parents that get up and arms about this. If you are a Christian and teaching your kid about the birth of Jesus/the worlds salvation not sure how all of that can be muted at recess. The God we believe in SHOULD be bigger than Christmas carols, right? |
Anonymous
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A Jew here...why on earth couldn't the children sing the song at recess?? It's not promoted by school, it's not bad or offensive. Censoring kids form singing a religious song because some other kid doesn't celebrate that same religion is going way too far. Our public MCPS school doesn't have a holiday party at all, that's fine I get it (though I honestly never cared growing up and uses to love making gingerbread houses at the school party because I never did at home!).
But let the kids sing what they want on the playground! This is going too far. |
Anonymous
| So glad we are on school break now. Let's leave religion to religious schools and actually learn some math and grammar. |