Here is an interesting topic. This elementary school has banned Santa, Thanksgiving and the Pledge of Allegiance.
The reasons, of course, are born out of a desire to be inclusive.
I personally, think this is a very bold move. I do think that celebrating the harvest and wintertime are good ways to help children feel included and teach them that the whole world does not believe as they do.
I personally think that the words "under God" should be removed from the Pledge. I do not recite the Pledge, but I will stand quietly while it is being done. I think removing the words that were added during the red scare would make it more inclusive and reflective of our country.
Religious freedom in schools is always a tough topic to tackle, and one elementary school principal seems to be doing it the best way she knows how. Though many parents are in an uproar because traditional religious beliefs and cultural symbols like the Pledge are being challenged, there’s still one motivating factor for these changes that we can't ignore: Celebrating our differences will always make us stronger as a nation, and teaching our kids to respect diversity is an invaluable way to prepare the next generation.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
I can understand that reaction. However, I can't help but think that JW children would feel so happy not to have to go do math problems in the office while their classmates sing songs and do Santa art.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
just me wrote:I can understand that reaction. However, I can't help but think that JW children would feel so happy not to have to go do math problems in the office while their classmates sing songs and do Santa art.
I was thinking along the lines of Thanksgiving. A secular holiday. I don't have any thing against JW's believing what they want, but to me it seems like a joyless religion.
just me wrote:I do think that celebrating the harvest and wintertime are good ways to help children feel included and teach them that the whole world does not believe as they do.
When you say celebrating the harvest and wintertime, what kinds of things/activities/experiences are you thinking about?
Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.
Chinese Proverb
The CCC wrote: I was thinking along the lines of Thanksgiving. A secular holiday. I don't have any thing against JW's believing what they want, but to me it seems like a joyless religion.
Oh, I'll admit my first reaction was "where's the fun in that?"
As far as Thanksgiving goes, I don't have a problem with a harvest party since that is basically what it is anyway. Teaching kids a false history and dressing them up as pilgrims and Native Americans to do it isn't really necessary. Of course, teaching them the real history would be a bit much at that age.
It didn't mention anything about Halloween, Valentine's Day or other minor holidays. I wonder if there is a policy on those.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
I'm more for inclusion than exclusion. I would prefer to see schools add more of other culture's holidays than remove all of them. Just my opinion.
The Chinese, who make up a large part of the student body at this school have a major solstice festival that falls within a few days of Christmas. I have no issues with them marking it, or celebrating it in schools. The more holidays the merrier is how I see it.
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people, Jeremy.- Super Hans
We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.- H. L. Mencken
The CCC wrote: I was thinking along the lines of Thanksgiving. A secular holiday. I don't have any thing against JW's believing what they want, but to me it seems like a joyless religion.
Oh, I'll admit my first reaction was "where's the fun in that?"
As far as Thanksgiving goes, I don't have a problem with a harvest party since that is basically what it is anyway. Teaching kids a false history and dressing them up as pilgrims and Native Americans to do it isn't really necessary. Of course, teaching them the real history would be a bit much at that age.
It didn't mention anything about Halloween, Valentine's Day or other minor holidays. I wonder if there is a policy on those.
I'm older than dirt. I never dressed up as a Pilgrim or Indian. I did dress as a Russian acrobat once, but that wasn't part of school. It was part of acrobatics class my mom signed me up for. I really enjoyed it.
just me wrote:I do think that celebrating the harvest and wintertime are good ways to help children feel included and teach them that the whole world does not believe as they do.
When you say celebrating the harvest and wintertime, what kinds of things/activities/experiences are you thinking about?
For harvest, I think of my kids' preschool teacher who would ask each child to bring a food to be part of their feast (no penalty if you can't). I would imagine lessons about agriculture and animal husbandry, sharing bounty, visiting farms, hayrides. For older kids, learning how to preserve food is a great science experience.
For wintertime, eh, hadn't given it much thought. But using snowflakes and footballs in counting rather than Santa. Teaching about the cycles of the moon and sun, hibernation and how animals deal with harsh weather, migration patterns. I'd focus a party on the theme that during the winter family and friends like to come together to visit and it's a time where many help those in need. I'd do food drives, coat drives and that kind of thing so that the children could actively participate in helping their community.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
The CCC wrote: I'm older than dirt. I never dressed up as a Pilgrim or Indian. I did dress as a Russian acrobat once, but that wasn't part of school. It was part of acrobatics class my mom signed me up for. I really enjoyed it.
Really? Gosh, we sure did. We were always making pilgrim hats and feather headbands. My kids' all did, too.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
I never dressed up as a Pilgrim or Indian. I did dress as a Russian acrobat once, but that wasn't part of school. It was part of acrobatics class my mom signed me up for. I really enjoyed it. 