Religion at school events, Creative Minds International

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look this is how it works in DC schools outside of W3. You will not get them to take Easter (or Christmas) out of the school. But if you want to add Ramadan (or Hannukah) they’ll almost certainly support that. So you need to be proactive and understand where you are.

My child is at a W8 ES and W6 MS and this is not true for any of our time at these schools (since 2015).

I seriously doubt there’s a ban on Santa at the W8 ES. I can believe that they teach the Dreidl song along with the Christmas carols.

I don't remember every saying there was a ban on it. I just said that the Christian holidays are not a default in the school and parents need to request to add other religious celebrations. None of the holidays are put on by the school but parents can come into their child's classroom to present on any family traditions/celebrations.

All over the US Christian holidays are the default in public schools. It's absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? It's largely a commercial holiday at this point for little kids to find eggs with candy. Lighten up or move to a school that celebrates absolutely nothing so everyone can be miserable and cheerless together.

You're probably the same type of person who pitches a big fit about Black history month.

Now you've made up a completely new person to be mad at.

[Anonymous]

At a school where most of the students are Spanish-speaking, it definitely seemed like the church-state lines were even further crossed over into including religious (Christian) holiday traditions. I didn't have my own objections, but I wouldn't like others to be unhappy or uncomfortable in their own community.

[Anonymous]

Man, OP needs to grow a thicker skin if she is so bothered by a bunny craft station or whatever. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look this is how it works in DC schools outside of W3. You will not get them to take Easter (or Christmas) out of the school. But if you want to add Ramadan (or Hannukah) they’ll almost certainly support that. So you need to be proactive and understand where you are.

My child is at a W8 ES and W6 MS and this is not true for any of our time at these schools (since 2015).

I seriously doubt there’s a ban on Santa at the W8 ES. I can believe that they teach the Dreidl song along with the Christmas carols.

I don't remember every saying there was a ban on it. I just said that the Christian holidays are not a default in the school and parents need to request to add other religious celebrations. None of the holidays are put on by the school but parents can come into their child's classroom to present on any family traditions/celebrations.

All over the US Christian holidays are the default in public schools. It's absurd.

There's a lot of delicate little flowers on this thread. If you are outraged about this 1. you have no real problems and 2. you have too much time on your hands.

[Anonymous]

OP - it's clear most of the people responding are either Christian or not in a religious minority. You have every right to be bothered by this. Besides currently being Ramadan, Purim and Holi both fall before Easter.

I agree, whether this is actually a First Amendment issue likely depends on exactly what the activity was (it likely was not, i.e. Santa, menorahs, etc.). But you still have every right to be upset about it. When your kids come home home with FOMO about Easter and Christmas is hard. I don't care if they've been largely removed from their religious origins, I'm still trying to raise my kids to be proud about our own traditions, but when they're constantly exposed to Santa and Easter bunnies it's harder - an no, we will not voluntarily participate in even "Secular" aspects of those holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - it's clear most of the people responding are either Christian or not in a religious minority. You have every right to be bothered by this. Besides currently being Ramadan, Purim and Holi both fall before Easter.

I agree, whether this is actually a First Amendment issue likely depends on exactly what the activity was (it likely was not, i.e. Santa, menorahs, etc.). But you still have every right to be upset about it. When your kids come home home with FOMO about Easter and Christmas is hard. I don't care if they've been largely removed from their religious origins, I'm still trying to raise my kids to be proud about our own traditions, but when they're constantly exposed to Santa and Easter bunnies it's harder - an no, we will not voluntarily participate in even "Secular" aspects of those holidays.

Nope, my kid is not being raised Christian. I’ve just been in DC schools long enough to understand the overall context. If you want your kids to celebrate Holi in school then YOU need to organize it. I’m sure the school will be excited to host you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - it's clear most of the people responding are either Christian or not in a religious minority. You have every right to be bothered by this. Besides currently being Ramadan, Purim and Holi both fall before Easter.

I agree, whether this is actually a First Amendment issue likely depends on exactly what the activity was (it likely was not, i.e. Santa, menorahs, etc.). But you still have every right to be upset about it. When your kids come home home with FOMO about Easter and Christmas is hard. I don't care if they've been largely removed from their religious origins, I'm still trying to raise my kids to be proud about our own traditions, but when they're constantly exposed to Santa and Easter bunnies it's harder - an no, we will not voluntarily participate in even "Secular" aspects of those holidays.

Nope, my kid is not being raised Christian. I’ve just been in DC schools long enough to understand the overall context. If you want your kids to celebrate Holi in school then YOU need to organize it. I’m sure the school will be excited to host you.

Exactly. PP reminds me of some of the entitled parents at my school. It’s all about their kid and not the whole group or big picture. Complain and do nothing about it, just like OP and don’t get that this is about the majority and not about your kid.

Don’t participate, no one is forcing you. Just like OP can have her kids not participate at that station. But don't complain then when your religion is not represented because you are sitting on your ass on DCUM and not organizing it at your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - it's clear most of the people responding are either Christian or not in a religious minority. You have every right to be bothered by this. Besides currently being Ramadan, Purim and Holi both fall before Easter.

I agree, whether this is actually a First Amendment issue likely depends on exactly what the activity was (it likely was not, i.e. Santa, menorahs, etc.). But you still have every right to be upset about it. When your kids come home home with FOMO about Easter and Christmas is hard. I don't care if they've been largely removed from their religious origins, I'm still trying to raise my kids to be proud about our own traditions, but when they're constantly exposed to Santa and Easter bunnies it's harder - an no, we will not voluntarily participate in even "Secular" aspects of those holidays.

Nope, my kid is not being raised Christian. I’ve just been in DC schools long enough to understand the overall context. If you want your kids to celebrate Holi in school then YOU need to organize it. I’m sure the school will be excited to host you.

If you're celebrating Easter and Christmas, you are in fact raising your child culturally Christian.

You keep making this point, but I don't think any religious minority here is asking for our public schools to acknowledge our religious holidays. (Personally I'm not looking for that at all). We are largely expressing a desire, not a demand, just a desire, that no religious holiday be actively celebrated in a public school classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At a school where most of the students are Spanish-speaking, it definitely seemed like the church-state lines were even further crossed over into including religious (Christian) holiday traditions. I didn't have my own objections, but I wouldn't like others to be unhappy or uncomfortable in their own community.

Hahaha. So Easter celebrations in public schools with Latino populations are OK, but unacceptable when the students are white? Do you hear yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a school where most of the students are Spanish-speaking, it definitely seemed like the church-state lines were even further crossed over into including religious (Christian) holiday traditions. I didn't have my own objections, but I wouldn't like others to be unhappy or uncomfortable in their own community.

Hahaha. So Easter celebrations in public schools with Latino populations are OK, but unacceptable when the students are white? Do you hear yourself?

Is that really what you got out of the PP? I think you need to work on your reading comprehension. Seriously. It's likely holding you back in life.

[Anonymous]

Lots of supposedly tolerant people get their panties in a bunch when it comes to tolerating Christianity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of supposedly tolerant people get their panties in a bunch when it comes to tolerating Christianity.

Truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - it's clear most of the people responding are either Christian or not in a religious minority. You have every right to be bothered by this. Besides currently being Ramadan, Purim and Holi both fall before Easter.

I agree, whether this is actually a First Amendment issue likely depends on exactly what the activity was (it likely was not, i.e. Santa, menorahs, etc.). But you still have every right to be upset about it. When your kids come home home with FOMO about Easter and Christmas is hard. I don't care if they've been largely removed from their religious origins, I'm still trying to raise my kids to be proud about our own traditions, but when they're constantly exposed to Santa and Easter bunnies it's harder - an no, we will not voluntarily participate in even "Secular" aspects of those holidays.

Nope, my kid is not being raised Christian. I’ve just been in DC schools long enough to understand the overall context. If you want your kids to celebrate Holi in school then YOU need to organize it. I’m sure the school will be excited to host you.

If you're celebrating Easter and Christmas, you are in fact raising your child culturally Christian.

You keep making this point, but I don't think any religious minority here is asking for our public schools to acknowledge our religious holidays. (Personally I'm not looking for that at all). We are largely expressing a desire, not a demand, just a desire, that no religious holiday be actively celebrated in a public school classroom.

+1. My kids' DCPS doesn't acknowledge our religious holidays, and I don't especially care. But like PP, it would be my preference to skip holiday celebrations period. There are so many fun things to celebrate that aren't related to a religion. Books, historical events, and just the changing seasons are cool when you're in elementary school.

But in the US, everything (including the literal school calendar) prioritizes Christian holidays and practice. It's inescapable. No one would suffer if schools ditched the Santa hats and Easter bunnies.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand. This thread is very strange. One thing is a teacher bringing the bible in to school and reading it to the students or a teacher having everyone bow their heads in compliance to a prayer. But are we really complaining about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny as religious? When I was religious Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny were banned in the house I grew up in. It was not until I escaped religion that I could be free to celebrate those pagan holidays.