Summer Institute 1 Fellows
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Religion in school
This is such an upsetting discussion for me and always makes me want to cry. We spend a lot of time discussing how people view race, and white priviledge (not a point I'm arguing), but haven't disucssed religion and priviledge. In much the same way whites have priviledge, so do Christians. When you are a Christian, the world surrounds your beliefs. Many people don't see that others see the world differently and they don't have too because they're the majority. Again, this year, there was a Christmas tree in the lobby of my school. Why is the symbol of one religion (and yes it represents a very important holiday) in the lobby but no others? I feel that nothing should be in the lobby. Don't throw a menorah and kinara out there so then it's okay to put up the tree. What about the students who don't have a defined religion or do not believe in G-d? What do we do for them? This year there was no Halloween dance because it is a pagan holiday. Maybe we have a few pagans. Who has the right to tell someone what to believe? Of course, my religion has formed my feelings on this matter, but this issue isn't about a specific religion. It's about the school being a place where everyone belongs.
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4 comments:
Gail,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about religion. I'm surprised that your school even allowed a tree, it seems in public places we eliminate all signs of religion. I think it's because politicians/those in the public spotlight don't know how to handle all that can come their way so they don't address it. Is it similar to not addressing homosexuality, etc.? It's a very fine line we walk to include everyone or to to just squash the whole issue so no one feels left out.
I didn't think any schools still put up symbols like Christmas trees. I am very surprised that they put up a tree and do not recognize any other religion. As a teacher,I feel that if I want to recognize Christmas I have to acknowledge other religious holidays. I feel it should be an all or nothing subject. My last principal encouraged that we did not have parties to celebrate holidays, but rather read a book or do some other literacy activity to acknowledge the holiday. He also encouraged us to be mindful that all of our students did not celebrate the same holiday. Halloween is the same way. Our school does not put up any decorations, but we do have a multicultural winter concert. I also find it interesting in that many of the teachers in my school do not celebrate Christmas. However they are the ones who get most upset about not having parties. They also seem to have the most elaborate parties. What would happen if you put a menora in the lobby?
Hi Gail,
In neshaminy school district the children are taught about all of the holidays. My son brought home a dradle, I thought it was great because he had learned about other religons in school. This is one time that I think religon could be okay in school as long as everyone is included on the lesson it can be a learning experience. However, there are children whose parents dont follow an organized religon and I always worry about them.
Halloween can not be a pagan holiday since it started in the catholic church in Ireland. Halloween is a harvest festival celebrated in several European countries to celebrate the end of the harvest. Wearing mask & jack-o-lanterns were used to scare away the spirits that might harm the crops. The holiday was bought to the states by several different European groups.
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