Holidays are a large part of a society's culture. I hope children continue to celebrate not only their own culture's holidays, but others as well. It's a terrific way for kids to learn about other people. I feel strongly that we should have freedom "of" religion, not freedom "from" religion. I hope the kids study Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Christmas and Hannakuh this time of year. It's a time filled with meaning for many cultures and to wipe all of that out of the classroom is to deny our children a basic understanding of what's going on in the world. My daughter came home from pre-school yesterday asking if we can celebrate Hannakuh this year as well as Christmas (I think she likes the idea of 8 days of presents) I'm very happy that they're learning about this holiday at school. Sometimes the only thing children know about these other cultures is that they are fighting in wars, we're fighting them, they have terrorists, those people kill each other... Wouldn't you rather they learn about what is sacred to them, what they believe in, how they celebrate and what brings them joy?
Cherisa Templeton >From: "Jen Olsen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [Winona] holiday decorations >Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 12:32:50 -0600 > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
--- Begin Message --- [Winona Online Democracy]Hello-I recently finished volunteering at a local elementary school, and as I was walking around the school I noticed an abundance of traditional holiday decorations; hanging in classrooms,and the hallways. I noticed things like piligrim decorations, with sayings such as: "We should give thanks," I also noticed christmas trees with decorations that obviously the students had made placed on the trees, through out the school. As I looked at all of these holiday decorations it made me think of my own elementary school days, where we would have traditional holiday decor throughout the school. However, now as I am older and more aware of different cultures, I struggle with this traditional way of decorating the schools; and celebrating the holidays in schools. I am having a difficult time in deciding what the schools should do, should they continue to put these decorations up, should they be adding all holidays from every culture or should they quit entirely. I am not qu! ite sure what should be happening.
I am throwing this question out there should schools hang up holiday decorations, or should they stop this process entirely?
Thanks
Jennifer Olsen
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