Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Islamaphobes whom said they would pull their kids out of school if their kindergarteners learned that Muslims kneeled and said God is great, what part offends you? I mean, do they know that Christians go to church and take communion or Jews to to synagogues and pray? I promise you your kids are not going to convert if they learn about Muslims. They might end up more *gasp* tolerant though.

The problem in some (not all) cases is that they don't teach comparable things about Christians, Jews, and even atheists. Certain schools and certain teachers seem to have granted Islam special status by nature of Muslims being perceived as "oppressed"

If America were a Christian country, as some are saying, would there even be a need to teach kids that, for example, Christians say the Lord's Prayer?

The founding fathers specifically stated this was not a Christian country.

Go back to history class…

Someone needs to since the PP was correct. Washington firmly stated that all religions would be equal under the Constitution, with none holding a special place in the new democracy. Further, the First Amendment explicitly provides that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Article VI of the Constitution specifies that “no religious Test shall ever be required” for elective office. Both are inconsistent with the idea that the United States was founded “on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” In short, the US is not a Christian nation.

I wish they'd erase it. My kid brought home all kinds of unhealthy candy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Islamaphobes whom said they would pull their kids out of school if their kindergarteners learned that Muslims kneeled and said God is great, what part offends you? I mean, do they know that Christians go to church and take communion or Jews to to synagogues and pray? I promise you your kids are not going to convert if they learn about Muslims. They might end up more *gasp* tolerant though.

The problem in some (not all) cases is that they don't teach comparable things about Christians, Jews, and even atheists. Certain schools and certain teachers seem to have granted Islam special status by nature of Muslims being perceived as "oppressed"

If America were a Christian country, as some are saying, would there even be a need to teach kids that, for example, Christians say the Lord's Prayer?

The founding fathers specifically stated this was not a Christian country.

Go back to history class…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Islamaphobes whom said they would pull their kids out of school if their kindergarteners learned that Muslims kneeled and said God is great, what part offends you? I mean, do they know that Christians go to church and take communion or Jews to to synagogues and pray? I promise you your kids are not going to convert if they learn about Muslims. They might end up more *gasp* tolerant though.

The problem in some (not all) cases is that they don't teach comparable things about Christians, Jews, and even atheists. Certain schools and certain teachers seem to have granted Islam special status by nature of Muslims being perceived as "oppressed"

Public school product here and child of Asian immigrants.
I didn't learn a thing about any religion nor their history. I didn't understand the divisions within Christianity, the significance of Martin Luther, Judaism, not a thing about Jewish pogroms in Europe, Islam and the Crusades.
All I knew was that the Jews were blamed during WWII (not given any context as to why). Wasn't aware there was a Catholic / Protestant animus. Didn't know that Muslims worshipped a different God.
I only became aware of this stuff when reading some of the "Great Books" canon in college. Boy did I feel like a rube.

I got the sense that non-Asians were exposed to this stuff at home with off the cuff references. Even if they didn't share a religion, they were all in a loose cultural club that often brushed up against one another and that gave them exposure to each other.
I came away with a strong notion that a half year long class in world religions might do some good, especially for the children of immigrants who decide to settle in this Judeo-Christian society. Because that's the framework that shaped the values of western society so maybe some context would be good.

+1!!!

This is such a ridiculous thread. No one is *erasing* Valentine's Day or Halloween!

Go take a look at the thread about ES Valentine's Day celebrations and you will see that nearly every ES has a Valentine's Day party or celebration in some way, shape, or form. It hasn't disappeared. Yes, there may be rules about no nuts, or making sure that kids who bring in cards so do for all of their classmates so no one feels like Charlie Brown on V-day. I don't have a problem with that.

Regarding Halloween - there haven't been in-school Halloween parties in YEARS. Our block has a neighborhood Halloween party, then the kids go trick-or-treating. And when Halloween falls on a weekday my kids might also be invited to a party the weekend before. My kids' clubs and sports teams and our church (yes, even our church!) often have Halloween-themed activities. The aftercare program at the ES has a big party. Honestly, our kids don't give a sh__t that there isn't ALSO an in-school celebration. I think you'd find if you ask your kids, they'd feel the same. You're just having a sad because it's not like when you were a kid and apparently the class Halloween party was one of your most cherished memories. I'm sorry for you. Honestly, as a parent, there is already way too much candy from all of the non-school Halloween activities so I'm grateful there isn't more junk coming home from school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Islamaphobes whom said they would pull their kids out of school if their kindergarteners learned that Muslims kneeled and said God is great, what part offends you? I mean, do they know that Christians go to church and take communion or Jews to to synagogues and pray? I promise you your kids are not going to convert if they learn about Muslims. They might end up more *gasp* tolerant though.

The problem in some (not all) cases is that they don't teach comparable things about Christians, Jews, and even atheists. Certain schools and certain teachers seem to have granted Islam special status by nature of Muslims being perceived as "oppressed"

If America were a Christian country, as some are saying, would there even be a need to teach kids that, for example, Christians say the Lord's Prayer?

The founding fathers specifically stated this was not a Christian country.

Hindu here and I'd fully support a comparative religions semester. It can only make one more open minded - after all, we live in a very diverse society. And celebrations should incorporate everyone. When my kids were in Preschool (Montessori), we had families talk about Christmas traditions in Norway as well as in Mexico. We had Jewish families talk about Hanukkah and Passover; the kids even made latkas from scratch one year. We made Chinese lanterns for Lunar New Year, and read books about Eid (and parents brought in food). But even in the late 1980s in mcps, my mom made me a snack to talk and share about Diwali. People liked it, and we didn't have enough of the snack! Rather than restricting, we should be all inclusive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Islamaphobes whom said they would pull their kids out of school if their kindergarteners learned that Muslims kneeled and said God is great, what part offends you? I mean, do they know that Christians go to church and take communion or Jews to to synagogues and pray? I promise you your kids are not going to convert if they learn about Muslims. They might end up more *gasp* tolerant though.

The problem in some (not all) cases is that they don't teach comparable things about Christians, Jews, and even atheists. Certain schools and certain teachers seem to have granted Islam special status by nature of Muslims being perceived as "oppressed"

Public school product here and child of Asian immigrants.
I didn't learn a thing about any religion nor their history. I didn't understand the divisions within Christianity, the significance of Martin Luther, Judaism, not a thing about Jewish pogroms in Europe, Islam and the Crusades.
All I knew was that the Jews were blamed during WWII (not given any context as to why). Wasn't aware there was a Catholic / Protestant animus. Didn't know that Muslims worshipped a different God.
I only became aware of this stuff when reading some of the "Great Books" canon in college. Boy did I feel like a rube.

I got the sense that non-Asians were exposed to this stuff at home with off the cuff references. Even if they didn't share a religion, they were all in a loose cultural club that often brushed up against one another and that gave them exposure to each other.
I came away with a strong notion that a half year long class in world religions might do some good, especially for the children of immigrants who decide to settle in this Judeo-Christian society. Because that's the framework that shaped the values of western society so maybe some context would be good.

Agreed. Much more helpful than having some kids randomly recite alluhu acbar or the Prayer of Satan or something in the name of inclusion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Celebrating something and learning about something are two totally different things. The latter is appropriate at school, the former isn’t.

Making a little Diwali lantern is not celebrating Diwali? Other examples included kids getting and playing Dreidels for Hanukah.

If you really believe this, please suggest an activity that would be comparable to these activities, but "learning about" rather than "celebrating" Halloween or Valentines but would not directly contradict the email instructions I quoted.

OP I celebrate Diwali and I am with you 100%! I have been the parent who's gone im and read a book / made a craft with the kids. BUT our MCPS does the mainstream holidays too - we have a Halloween party, a Valentine's party today.

I think there is too much catering and people can lose the feeling of commonality and celebration. Do I want religious instruction in school? No. Can kids made dreidels and also gingerbread houses? Yes!
Especially for the holidays that are not explicitly religious (unless you look back to long-ago history) there doesn't need to be so much sensitive about everything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was in elementary school (mcps), back in the 80s, we used to make dreidels out of clay for Hanukkah. I also remember eating gefilte fish. We were not a Jewish school at all. Most of us were minorities! I also remember making lanterns for the Chinese new year. We celebrated Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas.

I remember looking forward to the Jewish holidays because they had so many fun festivals. I think participating and learning about other cultures and religions can help bridge understanding and bring us together rather than divide us. There’s so much division and division breeds misunderstandings and resentment. MCPS used to be a place where you could learn reading, writing an arithmetic, but also have a rich cultural education. It’s a shame that it doesn’t seem to be that way anymore.

The OP is complaining that their child made a Diwali lantern in class. Did you make Diwali lanterns in class, when you were in MCPS elementary school back in the 1980s? I certainly did not make Diwali lanterns in class, when I was in elementary school (not in MCPS) in the 1970s.

According to U.S. Census data, there were a total of 49,466 Indians living in the Northeast (includes New England and Mid Atlantic) in 1970 out of a population of 49 million. A little bit higher proportion in the Western part of the U.S., but seriously, PP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Islamaphobes whom said they would pull their kids out of school if their kindergarteners learned that Muslims kneeled and said God is great, what part offends you? I mean, do they know that Christians go to church and take communion or Jews to to synagogues and pray? I promise you your kids are not going to convert if they learn about Muslims. They might end up more *gasp* tolerant though.

The problem in some (not all) cases is that they don't teach comparable things about Christians, Jews, and even atheists. Certain schools and certain teachers seem to have granted Islam special status by nature of Muslims being perceived as "oppressed"

Public school product here and child of Asian immigrants.
I didn't learn a thing about any religion nor their history. I didn't understand the divisions within Christianity, the significance of Martin Luther, Judaism, not a thing about Jewish pogroms in Europe, Islam and the Crusades.
All I knew was that the Jews were blamed during WWII (not given any context as to why). Wasn't aware there was a Catholic / Protestant animus. Didn't know that Muslims worshipped a different God.
I only became aware of this stuff when reading some of the "Great Books" canon in college. Boy did I feel like a rube.

I got the sense that non-Asians were exposed to this stuff at home with off the cuff references. Even if they didn't share a religion, they were all in a loose cultural club that often brushed up against one another and that gave them exposure to each other.
I came away with a strong notion that a half year long class in world religions might do some good, especially for the children of immigrants who decide to settle in this Judeo-Christian society. Because that's the framework that shaped the values of western society so maybe some context would be good.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Islamaphobes whom said they would pull their kids out of school if their kindergarteners learned that Muslims kneeled and said God is great, what part offends you? I mean, do they know that Christians go to church and take communion or Jews to to synagogues and pray? I promise you your kids are not going to convert if they learn about Muslims. They might end up more *gasp* tolerant though.

The problem in some (not all) cases is that they don't teach comparable things about Christians, Jews, and even atheists. Certain schools and certain teachers seem to have granted Islam special status by nature of Muslims being perceived as "oppressed"

If America were a Christian country, as some are saying, would there even be a need to teach kids that, for example, Christians say the Lord's Prayer?

Anonymous wrote:Glad you guys are having a fun arguing about which religious group you hate most, but just to remind you, this thread is about holidays that virtually everyone perceives and celebrated as completely secular

Virtually everyone, except for the people who don't.

Anonymous wrote:Glad you guys are having a fun arguing about which religious group you hate most, but just to remind you, this thread is about holidays that virtually everyone perceives and celebrated as completely secular

Even Halloween is not perceived as secular by "virtually everyone"

Glad you guys are having a fun arguing about which religious group you hate most, but just to remind you, this thread is about holidays that virtually everyone perceives and celebrated as completely secular