Religion at school events, Creative Minds International

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am enjoying this thread because it seems super ridiculous but we're all ignoring two inconvenient facts:

1. There's no public school in D.C. where people actually utter the name "Jesus Christ"

2. Schools in DC would rather spend a week celebrating obscure religions with (rounding here) zero adherents worldwide because equity than acknowledge Christianity is a legitimate religion.

Tell me you've never been outside of UNW without telling me... DCPS schools in DC have Christian holidays up the wazoo. My DCPS ES in Ward 6 did dress up themed around the 12 Days of Christmas.ize it to make it more inclusive. It is a school that very much has a celebrate everything culture from Hanukah to Holi to Lunar New Year's... BUT those are all a parent-driven sideshow to teacher-driven Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener is happy to learn about any religious holiday if something delicious is involved. The more shots on goal for special snacks, the better.

Yes, but... people fast for Ramadan. People fast for Yom Kippur and the Ninth of Av. It's not cute to reduce my religion to a coloring page and a snack.

Many people learn about other cultures through food. But by all means, go with scolding. I’m sure it’s just as effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener is happy to learn about any religious holiday if something delicious is involved. The more shots on goal for special snacks, the better.

Yep, seriously some people want to take the joy out things for all the kids just because you happen to not agree with it.

Let’s be real, no public school is talking about the Bible or Jesus. My bet was it was a station with bunnies, eggs, or whatever.

OP and others not happy with it, feel free to not attend the event, take your kid out of school for the day or whatever. Just because you are in the 1% doesn’t mean you get to dictate community building and fun events at school for the majority

And to add, it doesn’t mean the school is not inclusive. Like others have said, feel free to host an event showcasing your religion. But it’s unrealistic that the school is going to focus on Islam and showcase that when maybe 2 kids out of 200 are.

It's not unrealistic at all. You don't seem to know what "inclusive" means. It means not ignoring minority interests.
Being rare is more of a reason to showcase. The other 198 people don't need to be educated on what Easter is.

Give me a break and get real. What world do you live in? You think admin, staff, and teachers are going to showcase something about Islam and not the Easter bunny because of 2 kids out of 198 are Islam. LOL! Why don’t you go to your school leaders and just say that. In fact, why don’t you tell that to all the families in your kids class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

So no Halloween or Valentine’s day either?

Yep Separation of Church and state. This is not a hard concept

Instead of posting this site, you need to go to your school and start a huge fight over this. Tell your kids teachers, the principal, other parents -- everyone -- that religious anything is 100 percent unacceptable. You need to die on this hill because this is extremely important (snicker, snicker).

We will be watching, with popcorn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener is happy to learn about any religious holiday if something delicious is involved. The more shots on goal for special snacks, the better.

And that should be something we all get behind. Who doesn't love special snacks? Moon cakes, peeps, dates, falooda, and hamantashen for all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended at STEAM night with my family at Creative Minds International last week and was surprised that Easter had a station for the younger students. Why bring in a Christian holiday on STEAM night. Why bring in Christianity to a school event at all? It is a public school. I understand that there was a very Christian Santa theme for a literacy assembly in December.
I thought this school was all about inclusiveness. It didn’t feel that way, especially with those of us who are celebrating Ramadan. Somehow that wasn’t a STEAM station.

Santa isn't Christian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended at STEAM night with my family at Creative Minds International last week and was surprised that Easter had a station for the younger students. Why bring in a Christian holiday on STEAM night. Why bring in Christianity to a school event at all? It is a public school. I understand that there was a very Christian Santa theme for a literacy assembly in December.
I thought this school was all about inclusiveness. It didn’t feel that way, especially with those of us who are celebrating Ramadan. Somehow that wasn’t a STEAM station.

Santa isn't Christian.

It's sure at hell not Buddhist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener is happy to learn about any religious holiday if something delicious is involved. The more shots on goal for special snacks, the better.

Yes, but... people fast for Ramadan. People fast for Yom Kippur and the Ninth of Av. It's not cute to reduce my religion to a coloring page and a snack.

Many people learn about other cultures through food. But by all means, go with scolding. I’m sure it’s just as effective.

Late stage capitalism/dollar store economics reduces everyone's meaningful holidays and belief to the equivalent of a coloring page and a snack. It doesn't discriminate.

One of the things that I've most noticed was the Chinese export business hollowing out locally-made handicrafts from Hungary to Egypt to the American Southwest. I sometimes wonder about how this can really be considered economic progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener is happy to learn about any religious holiday if something delicious is involved. The more shots on goal for special snacks, the better.

Yes, but... people fast for Ramadan. People fast for Yom Kippur and the Ninth of Av. It's not cute to reduce my religion to a coloring page and a snack.

Many people learn about other cultures through food. But by all means, go with scolding. I’m sure it’s just as effective.

Late stage capitalism/dollar store economics reduces everyone's meaningful holidays and belief to the equivalent of a coloring page and a snack. It doesn't discriminate.

One of the things that I've most noticed was the Chinese export business hollowing out locally-made handicrafts from Hungary to Egypt to the American Southwest. I sometimes wonder about how this can really be considered economic progress.

The whole point of holidays is to celebrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended at STEAM night with my family at Creative Minds International last week and was surprised that Easter had a station for the younger students. Why bring in a Christian holiday on STEAM night. Why bring in Christianity to a school event at all? It is a public school. I understand that there was a very Christian Santa theme for a literacy assembly in December.
I thought this school was all about inclusiveness. It didn’t feel that way, especially with those of us who are celebrating Ramadan. Somehow that wasn’t a STEAM station.

Santa isn't Christian.

It's sure at hell not Buddhist.

It's secular American.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended at STEAM night with my family at Creative Minds International last week and was surprised that Easter had a station for the younger students. Why bring in a Christian holiday on STEAM night. Why bring in Christianity to a school event at all? It is a public school. I understand that there was a very Christian Santa theme for a literacy assembly in December.
I thought this school was all about inclusiveness. It didn’t feel that way, especially with those of us who are celebrating Ramadan. Somehow that wasn’t a STEAM station.

Santa isn't Christian.

It's sure at hell not Buddhist.

Santa Claus is cultural. A Nativity scene is religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener is happy to learn about any religious holiday if something delicious is involved. The more shots on goal for special snacks, the better.

Yes, but... people fast for Ramadan. People fast for Yom Kippur and the Ninth of Av. It's not cute to reduce my religion to a coloring page and a snack.

Many people learn about other cultures through food. But by all means, go with scolding. I’m sure it’s just as effective.

Late stage capitalism/dollar store economics reduces everyone's meaningful holidays and belief to the equivalent of a coloring page and a snack. It doesn't discriminate.

One of the things that I've most noticed was the Chinese export business hollowing out locally-made handicrafts from Hungary to Egypt to the American Southwest. I sometimes wonder about how this can really be considered economic progress.

The whole point of holidays is to celebrate.

Right. But in olden times people celebrated by making handicrafts. Now they go to stores and buy them. So buying is a lot of the celebration now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended at STEAM night with my family at Creative Minds International last week and was surprised that Easter had a station for the younger students. Why bring in a Christian holiday on STEAM night. Why bring in Christianity to a school event at all? It is a public school. I understand that there was a very Christian Santa theme for a literacy assembly in December.
I thought this school was all about inclusiveness. It didn’t feel that way, especially with those of us who are celebrating Ramadan. Somehow that wasn’t a STEAM station.

Santa isn't Christian.

Then explain this: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5613d55ce4b0d85879e992d7/1575904243134-2DVX2FAWWRWZVEYT83UO/Screen+Shot+2019-12-09+at+10.10.26+AM.png?format=1500w

Checkmate atheists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended at STEAM night with my family at Creative Minds International last week and was surprised that Easter had a station for the younger students. Why bring in a Christian holiday on STEAM night. Why bring in Christianity to a school event at all? It is a public school. I understand that there was a very Christian Santa theme for a literacy assembly in December.
I thought this school was all about inclusiveness. It didn’t feel that way, especially with those of us who are celebrating Ramadan. Somehow that wasn’t a STEAM station.

Santa isn't Christian.

Then explain this: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5613d55ce4b0d85879e992d7/1575904243134-2DVX2FAWWRWZVEYT83UO/Screen+Shot+2019-12-09+at+10.10.26+AM.png?format=1500w

Checkmate atheists.

Let's all open our bibles to Matthew Chapter 29 Verse 1. "And the diciples of Jesus did remembereth that time when the one they called Santa Claus visited the Messiah when he was but a babe. He held him in his arms and proclaimed "for thou have gifted thyself upon the world so I will now transport myself across the four corners of the world upon a chariot of flying reindeer and deliver unto the gentiles colorfully wrapped presents throught their chimneys. Only however ,if they behave themselves all year long and cut trees from outside and put them inside their homes, and decorate them with shiny balls. And all will know Jesus Christ is their lord and savior and Santa his messenger."

[Anonymous]

It's the folklore associated with the religious culture that is not supported by the core religious belief or practice. A Christian who says Santa is a crock is often a very sincere Christian. Many of the people who light up their yards in December or decorate peeps for Easter won't been church on Christmas or Easter. All that said, those things are not in-group activities for members of other Christian groups. This is probably obvious to everyone here but people seem to be trying to score points by saying various things about it.

I'm not sure why that is, we probably all acknowledge the same core facts but won't acknowledge the effects these things have on each other.

Be nice, people.