"Spring" Egg Hunt for DCPS PK Class - Is this usual?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lordy, it's EGGS. Jesus didn't lay eggs nor did he hunt them. Let the poor kids enjoy a damn egg hunt. I loved it when my kids learned to spin a dreidel and we aren't Jewish.

we should be friends! i'm a total atheist and i absolutely adore christmas trees and egg hunts. I would love if our school had one! We do one at home each year and my kid looks forward to it so much, even thought he's never heard the word "jesus" in his life.

This is sad for your kid on so many levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My main concern is that holding these activities that are associated with Christian holidays brings up a lot of discussion amongst the kids about that holiday. At Christmas time, DD was very upset that we would not be celebrating Christmas at home and had a hard time understanding why Santa wasn't going to bring her presents. I don't think the teachers/school do a great job of being inclusive of other customs or encourage the children to share their families' traditions. It is a very culturally and ethnically diverse school. I feel that holding a Spring Egg Hunt needlessly encourages the kids to talk about the Easter Bunny and how they will get more presents/candy. It's not a religious aspect of the holiday but non-Christians typically don't have egg hunts and my 4 year old has not heard of the Easter bunny. It's a learning lesson of childhood, but if it can be diminished within school that would be better. I was planning to reach out to the teacher to ask how they were also incorporating or discussing aspects of the other major holidays happening this time of year (Passover and Ramadan/Eid) into the class.

OP again. I will be contributing eggs/candy for the hunt and letting DD participate. Just wondering if I should get used to many years of this and if this was the norm in DCPS.

Your daughter should get use to it because life, not DCPS. There are millions of people throughout the world who celebrate the secular parts of Christmas just for fun.

So much centering and privilege in one post. Egads! Do what feels right to you as a parent - but you don't have to feel compelled to cosign anything that you don't agree with, e.g., religious encroachment in public schools. Join the PTSA and see if you can get collective action to address the problem.

NP. Collective action to prevent kids from having fun with an egg hunt? Yikes. LOL at viewing this issue as one of "religious encroachment".

So why eggs and why timed to Easter? Sounds so fun let's do this in September!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I see the words "centering" and "privileged" one more time refering to an egg hunt in Sping, I am going to lay an egg. Get a grip.

this is intentionally excluding folx who cannot lay eggs, check your privilege

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My main concern is that holding these activities that are associated with Christian holidays brings up a lot of discussion amongst the kids about that holiday. At Christmas time, DD was very upset that we would not be celebrating Christmas at home and had a hard time understanding why Santa wasn't going to bring her presents. I don't think the teachers/school do a great job of being inclusive of other customs or encourage the children to share their families' traditions. It is a very culturally and ethnically diverse school. I feel that holding a Spring Egg Hunt needlessly encourages the kids to talk about the Easter Bunny and how they will get more presents/candy. It's not a religious aspect of the holiday but non-Christians typically don't have egg hunts and my 4 year old has not heard of the Easter bunny. It's a learning lesson of childhood, but if it can be diminished within school that would be better. I was planning to reach out to the teacher to ask how they were also incorporating or discussing aspects of the other major holidays happening this time of year (Passover and Ramadan/Eid) into the class.

OP again. I will be contributing eggs/candy for the hunt and letting DD participate. Just wondering if I should get used to many years of this and if this was the norm in DCPS.

Your daughter should get use to it because life, not DCPS. There are millions of people throughout the world who celebrate the secular parts of Christmas just for fun.

So much centering and privilege in one post. Egads! Do what feels right to you as a parent - but you don't have to feel compelled to cosign anything that you don't agree with, e.g., religious encroachment in public schools. Join the PTSA and see if you can get collective action to address the problem.

NP. Collective action to prevent kids from having fun with an egg hunt? Yikes. LOL at viewing this issue as one of "religious encroachment".

So why eggs and why timed to Easter? Sounds so fun let's do this in September!

Because the eggs are symbolic of spring. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lordy, it's EGGS. Jesus didn't lay eggs nor did he hunt them. Let the poor kids enjoy a damn egg hunt. I loved it when my kids learned to spin a dreidel and we aren't Jewish.

we should be friends! i'm a total atheist and i absolutely adore christmas trees and egg hunts. I would love if our school had one! We do one at home each year and my kid looks forward to it so much, even thought he's never heard the word "jesus" in his life.

This is sad for your kid on so many levels.

NP. Would you say the same about a kid who hadn't heard the name Mohammed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My main concern is that holding these activities that are associated with Christian holidays brings up a lot of discussion amongst the kids about that holiday. At Christmas time, DD was very upset that we would not be celebrating Christmas at home and had a hard time understanding why Santa wasn't going to bring her presents. I don't think the teachers/school do a great job of being inclusive of other customs or encourage the children to share their families' traditions. It is a very culturally and ethnically diverse school. I feel that holding a Spring Egg Hunt needlessly encourages the kids to talk about the Easter Bunny and how they will get more presents/candy. It's not a religious aspect of the holiday but non-Christians typically don't have egg hunts and my 4 year old has not heard of the Easter bunny. It's a learning lesson of childhood, but if it can be diminished within school that would be better. I was planning to reach out to the teacher to ask how they were also incorporating or discussing aspects of the other major holidays happening this time of year (Passover and Ramadan/Eid) into the class.

OP again. I will be contributing eggs/candy for the hunt and letting DD participate. Just wondering if I should get used to many years of this and if this was the norm in DCPS.

Your daughter should get use to it because life, not DCPS. There are millions of people throughout the world who celebrate the secular parts of Christmas just for fun.

So much centering and privilege in one post. Egads! Do what feels right to you as a parent - but you don't have to feel compelled to cosign anything that you don't agree with, e.g., religious encroachment in public schools. Join the PTSA and see if you can get collective action to address the problem.

NP. Collective action to prevent kids from having fun with an egg hunt? Yikes. LOL at viewing this issue as one of "religious encroachment".

So why eggs and why timed to Easter? Sounds so fun let's do this in September!

Because the eggs are symbolic of spring. Duh.

Perfect - let's schedule on March 20 on 1st day of spring? Too early?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My main concern is that holding these activities that are associated with Christian holidays brings up a lot of discussion amongst the kids about that holiday. At Christmas time, DD was very upset that we would not be celebrating Christmas at home and had a hard time understanding why Santa wasn't going to bring her presents. I don't think the teachers/school do a great job of being inclusive of other customs or encourage the children to share their families' traditions. It is a very culturally and ethnically diverse school. I feel that holding a Spring Egg Hunt needlessly encourages the kids to talk about the Easter Bunny and how they will get more presents/candy. It's not a religious aspect of the holiday but non-Christians typically don't have egg hunts and my 4 year old has not heard of the Easter bunny. It's a learning lesson of childhood, but if it can be diminished within school that would be better. I was planning to reach out to the teacher to ask how they were also incorporating or discussing aspects of the other major holidays happening this time of year (Passover and Ramadan/Eid) into the class.

OP again. I will be contributing eggs/candy for the hunt and letting DD participate. Just wondering if I should get used to many years of this and if this was the norm in DCPS.

Your daughter should get use to it because life, not DCPS. There are millions of people throughout the world who celebrate the secular parts of Christmas just for fun.

So much centering and privilege in one post. Egads! Do what feels right to you as a parent - but you don't have to feel compelled to cosign anything that you don't agree with, e.g., religious encroachment in public schools. Join the PTSA and see if you can get collective action to address the problem.

NP. Collective action to prevent kids from having fun with an egg hunt? Yikes. LOL at viewing this issue as one of "religious encroachment".

So why eggs and why timed to Easter? Sounds so fun let's do this in September!

Because the eggs are symbolic of spring. Duh.

And why is the PP so intent on disconnecting the egg hunt from Easter, a connection that has meaning for so many kids? How does it hurt her kid to be exposed to this tradition accidentally connected to a Christian holiday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My main concern is that holding these activities that are associated with Christian holidays brings up a lot of discussion amongst the kids about that holiday. At Christmas time, DD was very upset that we would not be celebrating Christmas at home and had a hard time understanding why Santa wasn't going to bring her presents. I don't think the teachers/school do a great job of being inclusive of other customs or encourage the children to share their families' traditions. It is a very culturally and ethnically diverse school. I feel that holding a Spring Egg Hunt needlessly encourages the kids to talk about the Easter Bunny and how they will get more presents/candy. It's not a religious aspect of the holiday but non-Christians typically don't have egg hunts and my 4 year old has not heard of the Easter bunny. It's a learning lesson of childhood, but if it can be diminished within school that would be better. I was planning to reach out to the teacher to ask how they were also incorporating or discussing aspects of the other major holidays happening this time of year (Passover and Ramadan/Eid) into the class.

OP again. I will be contributing eggs/candy for the hunt and letting DD participate. Just wondering if I should get used to many years of this and if this was the norm in DCPS.

Your daughter should get use to it because life, not DCPS. There are millions of people throughout the world who celebrate the secular parts of Christmas just for fun.

So much centering and privilege in one post. Egads! Do what feels right to you as a parent - but you don't have to feel compelled to cosign anything that you don't agree with, e.g., religious encroachment in public schools. Join the PTSA and see if you can get collective action to address the problem.

NP. Collective action to prevent kids from having fun with an egg hunt? Yikes. LOL at viewing this issue as one of "religious encroachment".

So why eggs and why timed to Easter? Sounds so fun let's do this in September!

Because the eggs are symbolic of spring. Duh.

Perfect - let's schedule on March 20 on 1st day of spring? Too early?

16:46 is for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lordy, it's EGGS. Jesus didn't lay eggs nor did he hunt them. Let the poor kids enjoy a damn egg hunt. I loved it when my kids learned to spin a dreidel and we aren't Jewish.

we should be friends! i'm a total atheist and i absolutely adore christmas trees and egg hunts. I would love if our school had one! We do one at home each year and my kid looks forward to it so much, even thought he's never heard the word "jesus" in his life.

This is sad for your kid on so many levels.

It's okay - I pity kids who grow up brainwashed with fantastical stories about Jesus. So we can feel sorry for each others kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lordy, it's EGGS. Jesus didn't lay eggs nor did he hunt them. Let the poor kids enjoy a damn egg hunt. I loved it when my kids learned to spin a dreidel and we aren't Jewish.

we should be friends! i'm a total atheist and i absolutely adore christmas trees and egg hunts. I would love if our school had one! We do one at home each year and my kid looks forward to it so much, even thought he's never heard the word "jesus" in his life.

This is sad for your kid on so many levels.

It's okay - I pity kids who grow up brainwashed with fantastical stories about Jesus. So we can feel sorry for each others kids!

*tips fedora*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My main concern is that holding these activities that are associated with Christian holidays brings up a lot of discussion amongst the kids about that holiday. At Christmas time, DD was very upset that we would not be celebrating Christmas at home and had a hard time understanding why Santa wasn't going to bring her presents. I don't think the teachers/school do a great job of being inclusive of other customs or encourage the children to share their families' traditions. It is a very culturally and ethnically diverse school. I feel that holding a Spring Egg Hunt needlessly encourages the kids to talk about the Easter Bunny and how they will get more presents/candy. It's not a religious aspect of the holiday but non-Christians typically don't have egg hunts and my 4 year old has not heard of the Easter bunny. It's a learning lesson of childhood, but if it can be diminished within school that would be better. I was planning to reach out to the teacher to ask how they were also incorporating or discussing aspects of the other major holidays happening this time of year (Passover and Ramadan/Eid) into the class.

OP again. I will be contributing eggs/candy for the hunt and letting DD participate. Just wondering if I should get used to many years of this and if this was the norm in DCPS.

Your daughter should get use to it because life, not DCPS. There are millions of people throughout the world who celebrate the secular parts of Christmas just for fun.

So much centering and privilege in one post. Egads! Do what feels right to you as a parent - but you don't have to feel compelled to cosign anything that you don't agree with, e.g., religious encroachment in public schools. Join the PTSA and see if you can get collective action to address the problem.

NP. Collective action to prevent kids from having fun with an egg hunt? Yikes. LOL at viewing this issue as one of "religious encroachment".

So why eggs and why timed to Easter? Sounds so fun let's do this in September!

Because the eggs are symbolic of spring. Duh.

And why is the PP so intent on disconnecting the egg hunt from Easter, a connection that has meaning for so many kids? How does it hurt her kid to be exposed to this tradition accidentally connected to a Christian holiday?

It’s not accidentally connected to Easter. Where did you get that idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an atheist, so we don’t celebrate Easter. But this is like Christmas trees, to me, which is a secular part of a Christian holiday. It wouldn’t bother me, but if it bothers you, just have your kid not participate.

"Just have your kid not participate" is not a good answer when it's school, where they are legally required to be. This is why the First Amendment protects school children from religious instruction in the classroom.

Imagine thinking a spring egg hunt is “religious instruction.”

OP, this is absolutely legal if they’re not referencing Easter or Jesus. Feel free to opt your kid out from participating if you prefer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lordy, it's EGGS. Jesus didn't lay eggs nor did he hunt them. Let the poor kids enjoy a damn egg hunt. I loved it when my kids learned to spin a dreidel and we aren't Jewish.

we should be friends! i'm a total atheist and i absolutely adore christmas trees and egg hunts. I would love if our school had one! We do one at home each year and my kid looks forward to it so much, even thought he's never heard the word "jesus" in his life.

This is sad for your kid on so many levels.

NP. Would you say the same about a kid who hadn't heard the name Mohammed?

No. But better than nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My main concern is that holding these activities that are associated with Christian holidays brings up a lot of discussion amongst the kids about that holiday. At Christmas time, DD was very upset that we would not be celebrating Christmas at home and had a hard time understanding why Santa wasn't going to bring her presents. I don't think the teachers/school do a great job of being inclusive of other customs or encourage the children to share their families' traditions. It is a very culturally and ethnically diverse school. I feel that holding a Spring Egg Hunt needlessly encourages the kids to talk about the Easter Bunny and how they will get more presents/candy. It's not a religious aspect of the holiday but non-Christians typically don't have egg hunts and my 4 year old has not heard of the Easter bunny. It's a learning lesson of childhood, but if it can be diminished within school that would be better. I was planning to reach out to the teacher to ask how they were also incorporating or discussing aspects of the other major holidays happening this time of year (Passover and Ramadan/Eid) into the class.

OP again. I will be contributing eggs/candy for the hunt and letting DD participate. Just wondering if I should get used to many years of this and if this was the norm in DCPS.

Your daughter should get use to it because life, not DCPS. There are millions of people throughout the world who celebrate the secular parts of Christmas just for fun.

So much centering and privilege in one post. Egads! Do what feels right to you as a parent - but you don't have to feel compelled to cosign anything that you don't agree with, e.g., religious encroachment in public schools. Join the PTSA and see if you can get collective action to address the problem.

NP. Collective action to prevent kids from having fun with an egg hunt? Yikes. LOL at viewing this issue as one of "religious encroachment".

So why eggs and why timed to Easter? Sounds so fun let's do this in September!

Because the eggs are symbolic of spring. Duh.

And why is the PP so intent on disconnecting the egg hunt from Easter, a connection that has meaning for so many kids? How does it hurt her kid to be exposed to this tradition accidentally connected to a Christian holiday?

It’s not accidentally connected to Easter. Where did you get that idea?

You’re right, that was the wrong word. I meant the fact that the egg as a symbol of rebirth in Spring predates Christianity and isn’t
connected to Christian scripture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't surprise me if you're at a school that is just beginning to gentrify and some of the teachers haven't gotten the memo. From their perspective, if they're working with really seriously disadvantaged kids, what the school provides might be all that some kids get.

I would forward it to the principal with a calm but forthright note that you don't think this is appropriate.

This.
I’ve learned a lot of lessons since moving to dc 20 years ago. I was beside myself at the school Christmas pageant- until I realized how much it meant to the community I wasn’t really part of. We are talking generations going way back. Sometimes you gotta let things go and just learn from the moment.