Anonymous
12/10/2025 19:14
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
Anonymous wrote:We have the opposite problem. We are Christians and never once is Christmas explained or even mentioned. The Dawalii story and candles are explained year after year.
The Hannakua story is explained every year. But nothing about Christmas is referenced or explained. Even for Multicultural night, Christmas is not represented.
This is my experience as well. Any other holiday, but Christmas or Easter, is acceptable to talk about at public schools. Live in NYC, card-carrying Democrat.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 15:14
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher who has taught Kindergarten, although I currently teach older kids. I feel very strongly about keeping religious indoctrination outside the classroom. I am also a Christian and a parent. So, I'm answering from that perspective.
I think that understanding the basics of what, and when, and how people celebrate at this time of the year is appropriate curriculum. That's core knowledge that everyone should have, and one of the reasons why we have public schools is so that children can learn to live in our diverse society.
But, if we're going to teach kids about holidays, I think we need to be careful. We need to be careful, that every holiday that kids in the class is included, not just the holidays celebrated by kids whose parents have free time during the day. We need to be careful, especially in our current climate where families may be afraid of having their kids publicly identified as Muslim, or as immigrant, that kids can see their holidays represented without needing to associate themselves with it. We also need to be careful that we aren't giving more time to one religion (e.g. classrooms that do 10 Christmas crafts, and read one Hanukkah story.) Finally, we want to be sure that there is no message that one religion's teachings are "true", or that kids "should" believe them over another. Because many Kindergarteners look up to their teachers, it's important that teachers don't identify beliefs as "theirs".
Given all that, I think that a teacher presenting a single lesson on Christmas, given that there was a single lesson on Hanukkah, and perhaps other religions. Whether the particular video was acceptable, I don't know. I think that referencing the birth of Christ is OK, especially given that you were allowed to read a book that referenced the miracle of the oil, which is also a religious belief. But it's hard to know whether the video was 30 minutes on the birth of Jesus (inappropriate), or whether it was just a part, in the way that the miracle of the oil is a small part of the book you read. It's also hard to know whether the teacher referenced it as something she herself believes, which would be inappropriate.
I would probably start out by saying "my daughter is asking questions about the video you shared in class. Could you send a link so I could watch and answer her questions?" Then you'll know more, and know how to reply.
Thanks for this perspective. I should point out that I sent the book in and the teacher read it; I didn't go in myself. But this is really helpful framing. Thank you.
Then I think that the teacher presenting both, might be fine. Or it might not. It really depends on the video, and what was said.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 15:11
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
Anonymous wrote:We have the opposite problem. We are Christians and never once is Christmas explained or even mentioned. The Dawalii story and candles are explained year after year.
The Hannakua story is explained every year. But nothing about Christmas is referenced or explained. Even for Multicultural night, Christmas is not represented.
I am the Christian parent/teacher above. I think in an ideal world, each holiday gets the same air time. My guess is that in your class, at some point Christmas is referenced because it's hard to read a variety of American children's literature without, at some point, encountering a story that references Christmas.
But even if I'm wrong, I don't think there's a child in America, with the possible exception of those who live in very conservative enclaves like Borough Park, who doesn't have more information about the cultural practices associated with Christmas than you would get from listening to one reading of Little Red Ruthie. So, I'm not really worried about my kids if Christmas is left out.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 15:06
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
Anonymous wrote:We have the opposite problem. We are Christians and never once is Christmas explained or even mentioned. The Dawalii story and candles are explained year after year.
The Hannakua story is explained every year. But nothing about Christmas is referenced or explained. Even for Multicultural night, Christmas is not represented.
BS Christmas is coved in every elementary school in this country! It’s literally discussed from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Go back to your hole maga troll
Anonymous
12/10/2025 14:55
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
We have the opposite problem. We are Christians and never once is Christmas explained or even mentioned. The Dawalii story and candles are explained year after year.
The Hannakua story is explained every year. But nothing about Christmas is referenced or explained. Even for Multicultural night, Christmas is not represented.
The Hannakua story is explained every year. But nothing about Christmas is referenced or explained. Even for Multicultural night, Christmas is not represented.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 14:54
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher who has taught Kindergarten, although I currently teach older kids. I feel very strongly about keeping religious indoctrination outside the classroom. I am also a Christian and a parent. So, I'm answering from that perspective.
I think that understanding the basics of what, and when, and how people celebrate at this time of the year is appropriate curriculum. That's core knowledge that everyone should have, and one of the reasons why we have public schools is so that children can learn to live in our diverse society.
But, if we're going to teach kids about holidays, I think we need to be careful. We need to be careful, that every holiday that kids in the class is included, not just the holidays celebrated by kids whose parents have free time during the day. We need to be careful, especially in our current climate where families may be afraid of having their kids publicly identified as Muslim, or as immigrant, that kids can see their holidays represented without needing to associate themselves with it. We also need to be careful that we aren't giving more time to one religion (e.g. classrooms that do 10 Christmas crafts, and read one Hanukkah story.) Finally, we want to be sure that there is no message that one religion's teachings are "true", or that kids "should" believe them over another. Because many Kindergarteners look up to their teachers, it's important that teachers don't identify beliefs as "theirs".
Given all that, I think that a teacher presenting a single lesson on Christmas, given that there was a single lesson on Hanukkah, and perhaps other religions. Whether the particular video was acceptable, I don't know. I think that referencing the birth of Christ is OK, especially given that you were allowed to read a book that referenced the miracle of the oil, which is also a religious belief. But it's hard to know whether the video was 30 minutes on the birth of Jesus (inappropriate), or whether it was just a part, in the way that the miracle of the oil is a small part of the book you read. It's also hard to know whether the teacher referenced it as something she herself believes, which would be inappropriate.
I would probably start out by saying "my daughter is asking questions about the video you shared in class. Could you send a link so I could watch and answer her questions?" Then you'll know more, and know how to reply.
Thanks for this perspective. I should point out that I sent the book in and the teacher read it; I didn't go in myself. But this is really helpful framing. Thank you.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 14:44
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
Anonymous wrote:This is a teachable moment. The onus is on you to use the opportunity to help your child understand that you have different views/beliefs and explain the differences in an age appropriate manner.
It is a bit ridiculous to point out the steps the school has taken to not be overtly offensive to non-Christians at the school.
How are you going to shield him from store displays, holiday movies and ads, Christmas trees in windows/neighborhoods, and nativity scenes on church grounds? Do you cover his eyes at Ice since the last room is always a nativity scene?
I think it's a leap to take the situation/question I laid out and claim that I'm trying to shield my kid from Christmas. Our kid enjoys the Christmas lights in our neighborhood and has seen the Grinch and the Charlie Brown Christmas specials on TV (along with the Rugrats Hanukkah episode). We make a game out of find-the-Hanukkah-decorations in store displays and talk about the fact that the majority of people here celebrate Christmas. We attend Christmas parties at friends' houses to help them celebrate their holiday. If I had a problem with those things, I would enroll him in Jewish day school or move to Israel.
(I'm not sure what Ice is that ends in a nativity scene? Safe to say we haven't been.)
A nativity scene on church grounds is different, because it's a religious symbol in a religious space where it belongs. I don't have a problem explaining to my kid what it is and why it's there when we pass a church. My kid can understand that different religions have different beliefs and different symbols.
Why is it "ridiculous" to point out the ways the school is supportive of all of its students? My point is that overall the school does a good job of handling their diverse student population, which is partially why I'm surprised by the video.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 14:13
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
All of the above sounds like good advice to me.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 13:47
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
I'm a teacher who has taught Kindergarten, although I currently teach older kids. I feel very strongly about keeping religious indoctrination outside the classroom. I am also a Christian and a parent. So, I'm answering from that perspective.
I think that understanding the basics of what, and when, and how people celebrate at this time of the year is appropriate curriculum. That's core knowledge that everyone should have, and one of the reasons why we have public schools is so that children can learn to live in our diverse society.
But, if we're going to teach kids about holidays, I think we need to be careful. We need to be careful, that every holiday that kids in the class is included, not just the holidays celebrated by kids whose parents have free time during the day. We need to be careful, especially in our current climate where families may be afraid of having their kids publicly identified as Muslim, or as immigrant, that kids can see their holidays represented without needing to associate themselves with it. We also need to be careful that we aren't giving more time to one religion (e.g. classrooms that do 10 Christmas crafts, and read one Hanukkah story.) Finally, we want to be sure that there is no message that one religion's teachings are "true", or that kids "should" believe them over another. Because many Kindergarteners look up to their teachers, it's important that teachers don't identify beliefs as "theirs".
Given all that, I think that a teacher presenting a single lesson on Christmas, given that there was a single lesson on Hanukkah, and perhaps other religions. Whether the particular video was acceptable, I don't know. I think that referencing the birth of Christ is OK, especially given that you were allowed to read a book that referenced the miracle of the oil, which is also a religious belief. But it's hard to know whether the video was 30 minutes on the birth of Jesus (inappropriate), or whether it was just a part, in the way that the miracle of the oil is a small part of the book you read. It's also hard to know whether the teacher referenced it as something she herself believes, which would be inappropriate.
I would probably start out by saying "my daughter is asking questions about the video you shared in class. Could you send a link so I could watch and answer her questions?" Then you'll know more, and know how to reply.
I think that understanding the basics of what, and when, and how people celebrate at this time of the year is appropriate curriculum. That's core knowledge that everyone should have, and one of the reasons why we have public schools is so that children can learn to live in our diverse society.
But, if we're going to teach kids about holidays, I think we need to be careful. We need to be careful, that every holiday that kids in the class is included, not just the holidays celebrated by kids whose parents have free time during the day. We need to be careful, especially in our current climate where families may be afraid of having their kids publicly identified as Muslim, or as immigrant, that kids can see their holidays represented without needing to associate themselves with it. We also need to be careful that we aren't giving more time to one religion (e.g. classrooms that do 10 Christmas crafts, and read one Hanukkah story.) Finally, we want to be sure that there is no message that one religion's teachings are "true", or that kids "should" believe them over another. Because many Kindergarteners look up to their teachers, it's important that teachers don't identify beliefs as "theirs".
Given all that, I think that a teacher presenting a single lesson on Christmas, given that there was a single lesson on Hanukkah, and perhaps other religions. Whether the particular video was acceptable, I don't know. I think that referencing the birth of Christ is OK, especially given that you were allowed to read a book that referenced the miracle of the oil, which is also a religious belief. But it's hard to know whether the video was 30 minutes on the birth of Jesus (inappropriate), or whether it was just a part, in the way that the miracle of the oil is a small part of the book you read. It's also hard to know whether the teacher referenced it as something she herself believes, which would be inappropriate.
I would probably start out by saying "my daughter is asking questions about the video you shared in class. Could you send a link so I could watch and answer her questions?" Then you'll know more, and know how to reply.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 13:21
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
It serves no one to try to explain Holy Days to children without basic religious education. Learning about various religious practices in the world, and the fascinating stories behind them, is a critical part of a child's development and it builds their tolerance and understanding of others. Most people in the world are mere "cultural" followers of their region or community's religion - they don't think too deeply about the deep meaning of their belief system. But religious underpinnings form the basis of every culture, so as parents we need to address them, with respect.
But none of this is the place of public school. I don't think the teacher should have opened that Pandora's box, honestly. Public school should stick to seasonal, ie, meteorological, acknowledgements. Stick to making paper snowflakes.
But none of this is the place of public school. I don't think the teacher should have opened that Pandora's box, honestly. Public school should stick to seasonal, ie, meteorological, acknowledgements. Stick to making paper snowflakes.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 13:13
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
I think it’s unusual to talk about Jesus much if at all but easy to say some people believe this but we don’t.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 12:32
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
This is a teachable moment. The onus is on you to use the opportunity to help your child understand that you have different views/beliefs and explain the differences in an age appropriate manner.
It is a bit ridiculous to point out the steps the school has taken to not be overtly offensive to non-Christians at the school.
How are you going to shield him from store displays, holiday movies and ads, Christmas trees in windows/neighborhoods, and nativity scenes on church grounds? Do you cover his eyes at Ice since the last room is always a nativity scene?
It is a bit ridiculous to point out the steps the school has taken to not be overtly offensive to non-Christians at the school.
How are you going to shield him from store displays, holiday movies and ads, Christmas trees in windows/neighborhoods, and nativity scenes on church grounds? Do you cover his eyes at Ice since the last room is always a nativity scene?
Anonymous
12/10/2025 12:25
Subject: Re:Teaching holidays at school
As a Christian:
I think the content of the instruction should be age dependent. For K students, a surface description of HOW a holiday is celebrated (lights/candles, put up tree, give gifts, have special foods, etc.) is appropriate, but the religious meaning behind them is not.
I think in higher grades, a brief summation of the basic beliefs of religions is not only appropriate, it’s necessary. Ancient civilizations were built around their religious beliefs, and even modern nations were defined and shaped by the prevailing religions of their time and place. The Crusades, Reformation, Inquisition, the Buddhist influence on Asia, and the current Jewish/Palestinian conflict are only a few of the relevant topics that depend on a basic understanding of major religions. Beyond that is the profound influence they’ve had on art, literature and general culture.
I think the content of the instruction should be age dependent. For K students, a surface description of HOW a holiday is celebrated (lights/candles, put up tree, give gifts, have special foods, etc.) is appropriate, but the religious meaning behind them is not.
I think in higher grades, a brief summation of the basic beliefs of religions is not only appropriate, it’s necessary. Ancient civilizations were built around their religious beliefs, and even modern nations were defined and shaped by the prevailing religions of their time and place. The Crusades, Reformation, Inquisition, the Buddhist influence on Asia, and the current Jewish/Palestinian conflict are only a few of the relevant topics that depend on a basic understanding of major religions. Beyond that is the profound influence they’ve had on art, literature and general culture.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 12:00
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
As a Christian when we did "our" holiday for a multicultural holiday thing in public school, we picked St. Nicholas Day because it's part of our ethnic heritage while Christmas has so many different cultural aspects (I mean - it's celebrated in wildly different ways around the world) we couldn't accurately represent them all. And like you, we focused on things that weren't expressly religious, but were included in the St. Nicholas story - like how he helped the poor.
That said, a "Christmas baby" whose birth is celebrated at Christmas and whose death - it's actually his resurrection - is celebrated at Easter actually leaves the uniquely offensive parts of Christianity OUT. Nobody told your kid Jesus is the only way to heaven, or even that there is a heaven and hell concept. It's strictly true in an a-religious sense that Jesus's birth is why there's a Christmas (and you can ignore the debate about whether Christmas stemmed from Roman religous celebrations and this is still true) and his resurrection is why there's an Easter.
I'd imagine what you might be bristling about is that this was possibly teacher led. If it was students, maybe it would be more even, right?
That said, a "Christmas baby" whose birth is celebrated at Christmas and whose death - it's actually his resurrection - is celebrated at Easter actually leaves the uniquely offensive parts of Christianity OUT. Nobody told your kid Jesus is the only way to heaven, or even that there is a heaven and hell concept. It's strictly true in an a-religious sense that Jesus's birth is why there's a Christmas (and you can ignore the debate about whether Christmas stemmed from Roman religous celebrations and this is still true) and his resurrection is why there's an Easter.
I'd imagine what you might be bristling about is that this was possibly teacher led. If it was students, maybe it would be more even, right?
Anonymous
12/10/2025 11:55
Subject: Teaching holidays at school
I am Jewish and have a kindergartener in public school. We love the school and the teacher. My question (details below) is about the line between teaching holidays and respecting different cultures in public school and teaching religious material.
Last week, in preparation for the holiday season, the teacher asked if we could send a book about Hanukkah to school that she could read to the class to teach them all about Hanukkah. We sent in a book (Little Red Ruthie, which is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, but with latkes) and our kindergartener got to tell the class about Hanukkah before they read the book. The class discussion centered around cultural aspects, like food and playing dreidel, not on religious teachings, which I think wouldn't have been appropriate for public school anyway, so I was happy with the whole thing.
This week, my kindergartener came home telling us all about Christmas. He has learned some things so far from his friends and from his after school center, but this information apparently came from a video the teacher put on in class at school, and my son learned that Christmas is about "the Christmas baby" who was born on Christmas and died on Easter, and I'm really bristling at that. I only have my kindergartener's summary of the video to go on, which might not be an accurate retelling of the content, but on the other hand, what he took away from it is maybe more important than how it was technically conveyed.
(I want to say here that the school has overall been really good about not making everything Christmas-centric. They're doing winter-themed activities and decorating with snow and snowmen, not trees and stockings. The class doesn't have an elf or anything like that.)
I know it's hypocritical of me to think it's ok for my holidays to be taught in class, but not Christmas, but that's not really what I'm saying. I guess I'm wondering where you would draw the line between:
1. An acknowledgement of the multiculturalism of the class and teaching all the different holidays the students celebrate
2. Religious material
Last week, in preparation for the holiday season, the teacher asked if we could send a book about Hanukkah to school that she could read to the class to teach them all about Hanukkah. We sent in a book (Little Red Ruthie, which is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, but with latkes) and our kindergartener got to tell the class about Hanukkah before they read the book. The class discussion centered around cultural aspects, like food and playing dreidel, not on religious teachings, which I think wouldn't have been appropriate for public school anyway, so I was happy with the whole thing.
This week, my kindergartener came home telling us all about Christmas. He has learned some things so far from his friends and from his after school center, but this information apparently came from a video the teacher put on in class at school, and my son learned that Christmas is about "the Christmas baby" who was born on Christmas and died on Easter, and I'm really bristling at that. I only have my kindergartener's summary of the video to go on, which might not be an accurate retelling of the content, but on the other hand, what he took away from it is maybe more important than how it was technically conveyed.
(I want to say here that the school has overall been really good about not making everything Christmas-centric. They're doing winter-themed activities and decorating with snow and snowmen, not trees and stockings. The class doesn't have an elf or anything like that.)
I know it's hypocritical of me to think it's ok for my holidays to be taught in class, but not Christmas, but that's not really what I'm saying. I guess I'm wondering where you would draw the line between:
1. An acknowledgement of the multiculturalism of the class and teaching all the different holidays the students celebrate
2. Religious material