Public School Problem

[enchiladaair]

Hi. My kids go to a public school and every Christmas, they have a Christmas program for the kids to sing songs. They don't sing Christmas song, though. They sing songs that have nothing to do with Christmas, then they call it a "Winter" Program. I've written to the music teacher who is in charge and nothing has happened. I tried to join a local PTA, but there aren't any, not even in the entire state. I've thought about starting my own, but I don't know what to do to get it going. Does anyone have any advice for this?

 

[tiredwalker]

Please note that this is said with all honesty and projects no anger or hostility on any level:

This isn't a problem; they are doing what they are supposed to do. Public schools can't require a captive audience to sing songs that praise a diety or a philosophy whether it is Christianity, Judism, Islam, or Atheism. I'm sure you wouldn't want them to have to sing songs glorifying the universal benefits of reason over faith. It is just the same as I don't want them to force my child to sing about Jesus or God or Allah. Religious beliefs and non beliefs should be taught at home, not at a governmentally funded school. If you really have a big problem with this, get them involved in your church's Christmas progam or send them to a Christian school.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

What are some of the songs they sing?

My daughter's school does not do religious songs for their holiday show but sing Christmas songs. Her class is doing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Her teachers sing "Let it snow." Her best friend's class is singing "Frosty the Snowman." I don't see anything wrong with that.

Now, if they were to sing "O Holy Night" I'd also hope that they were singing a song that celebrated the winter holidays of other faiths and belief systems as well.

We celebrate both the cultural holiday of Christmas as well as the faith filled holiday of Christmas but the latter is my responsibility at home, not that of the community at large and especially not the school's.

 

[PolarBear3]

Religious beliefs and non beliefs should be taught at home, not at a governmentally funded school. If you really have a big problem with this, get them involved in your church's Christmas progam or send them to a Christian school.

We celebrate both the cultural holiday of Christmas as well as the faith filled holiday of Christmas but the latter is my responsibility at home, not that of the community at large and especially not the school's.

I agree with both of these points. My son attends public school, but I don't concern myself with the school holiday program - it's a fun program for the kids and I don't expect it to be faith-based (nor would I want it to be). If your church doesn't have kid-friendly Christmas activities (hymn sing, caroling, Advent wreath making, etc.), you may want to volunteer to organize something at your church or enjoy these kinds of activities at other churches. And think of things that you can do at home like reading the story of Christ's birth from the Bible.

One of the wonderful things about living in the U.S., in my opinion, is that publicly funded schools or any other government entity cannot tell me or my children what to believe or how to express my faith. It sounds like the public school is doing it's job and you can teach your children what you believe they need to know at home and through church.

Merry Christmas!
Kathy

 

[enchiladaair]

I've asked the school to conduct a survey for the parents to take to see which songs they would like to hear their children sing. wouldn't you say this would be fair?

I guess I'm just all bent out of shape over it because we just moved to another town and the schools that my kids went to before, that I went as a child, still sing traditional Christmas songs, still have prayer in the school, etc. It's just such a change.

Of course I teach my children at home. The home is the first school, the parents are the first teachers. But why take God out of the schools? I'm not a liberal Christian, therefore I don't agree with letting my beliefs be taken out of everything. It's like if I like the color purple but others don't, and just because they don't like the color purple, they remove it off the market. It's the same thing.

 

[beehoney]

Wow. Now I understand why so many Christian parents home school their children in the U.S.

 

[Black-bird fly]

Of course I teach my children at home. The home is the first school, the parents are the first teachers. But why take God out of the schools? I'm not a liberal Christian, therefore I don't agree with letting my beliefs be taken out of everything. It's like if I like the color purple but others don't, and just because they don't like the color purple, they remove it off the market. It's the same thing.

I hope you didn't feel that we were implying that you weren't teaching your children at home. Thing is when you put your children in public school you do so with the knowledge that state funded education is void of any faith focus.

I think it would be fair to poll the students on what songs they would like to sing. I'm still curious which one's they are doing that are troublesome for you. Honest curiosity.

Sorry you are finding this situation so frustrating.

-JulySheMustFly (I have some log-in problems)

 

[PolarBear3]

I've asked the school to conduct a survey for the parents to take to see which songs they would like to hear their children sing. wouldn't you say this would be fair?

I guess I'm just all bent out of shape over it because we just moved to another town and the schools that my kids went to before, that I went as a child, still sing traditional Christmas songs, still have prayer in the school, etc. It's just such a change.

Of course I teach my children at home. The home is the first school, the parents are the first teachers. But why take God out of the schools? I'm not a liberal Christian, therefore I don't agree with letting my beliefs be taken out of everything. It's like if I like the color purple but others don't, and just because they don't like the color purple, they remove it off the market. It's the same thing.

I can see how moving to this new district would be a hard transition. But the school district you've moved to is more like the districts I've lived in and I think more typical of public school districts.

In my opinion, I don't think this issue is like taking the color purple off the market. Schools are not like markets where you get to buy what you want and leave what you don't like in the store. Plus, Christian schools are available.

I've always thought that a public school would never be able to teach my child what I want him to learn about God because it would be too watered down or not agree with my beliefs. Maybe the school district you came from got it right for you and your family, but what about the other families? Would it have gotten it right for a Presbyterian family or an Episcopalian family? What about a Jewish family? Or how would you feel if the public school was teaching your children liberal Christianity? The purpose of a public school is not to teach faith. Religious schools do that (and churches and parents of course).

 

[GolfingMom]

I can see how moving to this new district would be a hard transition. But the school district you've moved to is more like the districts I've lived in and I think more typical of public school districts.

In my opinion, I don't think this issue is like taking the color purple off the market. Schools are not like markets where you get to buy what you want and leave what you don't like in the store. Plus, Christian schools are available.

I've always thought that a public school would never be able to teach my child what I want him to learn about God because it would be too watered down or not agree with my beliefs. Maybe the school district you came from got it right for you and your family, but what about the other families? Would it have gotten it right for a Presbyterian family or an Episcopalian family? What about a Jewish family? Or how would you feel if the public school was teaching your children liberal Christianity? The purpose of a public school is not to teach faith. Religious schools do that (and churches and parents of course).

My son's teacher has asked each child to share about their holiday celebrations - what they celebrate, how they celebrate, what it means to them. We are able to bring in any items, including food that shows the other kiddo's how we celebrate. This will be part of their social studies for the day We're looking forward to it!