Winter holidays at school.

[Zoe Girl]

I am just irritated,

I am at a new school and they are getting things decorated like they do often. The entire teacher's lounge is Christmas, The copy room is Christmas. The books for share between teachers are 100% Christmas. Not even a variety of winter themes/books/etc. I have not seen this in awhile, the places I have worked have been more of a variety I think. It is just in the teacher area, I am wondering what classrooms will be like.

I have a bulletin board outside of our space and I am changing it to the winter theme. I have some color copies of favorite winter children's books to put up. I have a variety of snowflakes in blues and whites. I am also going to put up a mountain scene and some winter sport images (since we are in Colorado). It is going to be very nice,

[Teacher Terry]

It should be against the law to decorate before thanksgiving). I also think that it shouldn’t just be Xmas stuff up because not everyone celebrates it.

[mschrisgo2]

I'm surprised, ZG. For the last many years (8-10?) we have not been allowed to have ANY Christmas as part of Winter in the public schools in California. Even the concerts could not have any "Christmas" music, not even Jingle Bells for the kinders anymore. I always wonder when our schools will reach some reasonable balance- ? Good for you, for planning a more inclusive "winter."

I always had my students write about their Favorite Winter Holiday, only about 20% of them wrote about Christmas. There was a lot about Thanksgiving, seeing cousins and grandparents, a lot about winter birthday parties, and lots of snow trips.

[Zoe Girl]

My last school had choir concerts with a variety of music, Christmas, Hannukah etc. It was comfortable because the holidays were not treated like we were all the same, but that culturally most of us know about Christmas and Hannukah, etc. There were people I knew were Jehovah's witnesses and they were pretty comfortable, very few times they felt they couldn't participate. One didn't do choir but it is optional and the choir director was very up front about what types of music they would be singing. I do know the one school in my former district that was a large percentage Muslim and immigrant asked the school to do no holidays so they respected that.

I am happy about the board I am working on. The focus on great children's books seems to be my theme this year. My assistant is Jewish and I am Buddhist so very aware of the differences. I also know several families are Jewish and often talk to Joey about holidays or culture. My best friend when I was in 3rd grade was Jewish so I always did holidays with his family. I don't really bring up that I am Buddhist but it is not a secret. I guess it just really surprises me, and I feel a little awkward now.

[bae]

We celebrate Yule in this household, and, well, the festivities probably aren't appropriate for "civilized" schools.

[Zoe Girl]

Can I come to your holiday bae? Pretty sure it is more exciting than mine

[Gardnr]

I think everyone should put up what they celebrate. If I say Merry Christmas to someone and they say Happy Hanukkah, terrific. or Kwanza, or Happy Holidays.

As for me, it will always be Merry Christmas. Mutual respect is most appropriate.

[Tradd]

I don't get bent out of shape about it. As long as the decorations aren't religious, just general secular Christmas, good to go in my book for a public school. I send a card that says Merry Christmas out to everyone, but it's a photo card with pics of me diving. If people get their nose bent out of shape about that, that's their problem.

I do think some school districts do go too much the other direction. A friend of mine told me a few years back that her kids' school had a winter program that included holiday songs from multiple faith traditions except Christianity. New principal who thought that was just the ticket. I was told enough parents raised a ruckus that it never happened again, even parents from other faiths raised concerns about it.

[JaneV2.0]

Or Diwali, this time of year. Or Santa Lucia Day. There are winter festivals of all kinds, so I figure "Happy Holidays!" covers them all. I don't care what holiday greeting others use.

[razz]

This is an emotional issue for many. i respond to each as it seems appropriate and let the rest go. Should there ever be an opportunity to raise concerns about how other rituals are being celebrated, i would indicate an interest in some diversity.

ZG, you have no history at this school so do not know what has been discussed and dealt with in earlier years or the consequences and reasons for now doing what they are doing. If you make assumptions about them, you will probably be in error. Celebrate winter scenes etc as you are doing indicating your joy in the time of year. Christmas trees, Santa, etc are all pagan-based so there is some diversity there already.

FWIW, I celebrate with Christian thought but use the 30" choir kids that my DH made me 48 years ago, several green arrangements with large illuminated candy canes, a wreath and a little reindeer on my front entry table with colourful balls on his back resting on a Merry Christmas cloth.

I was getting annoyed at the commercialism of the whole season and then let it go as I alone am responsible for my reaction to this. I prefer to contribute joy, peace and harmony.