I appreciate the discussion. Again, I know that we all are doing what we think is best for our kids. All of you PTO ladies do a terrific job for your schools, and therefore kids.
Our elementary hosts Breakfast with Santa each year and it's one of our most popular events. We have more volunteers than we know what to do with, which is a nice problem.
We changed it to Holidays around the Year a few years ago with a mulicultural focus. There are various craft/activity stations. But Santa is still a big part of it. He arrives on a Firetruck or on the back of Sheriff's motorcycle.
Our menu is very simple. Donuts, orange juice, hot chocolate, coffee. One ticket (a dollar, maybe?) buys a donut and a beverage. (Or maybe it's 2 donuts and a beverage.) A different colored ticket is used for Pictures with Santa as we need to control the supplies and time. It's just enough to cover the cost of the film so $1.00 or $1.50 using a Polaroid.
Ours is also on a Saturday morning, something like 8:30-11:00.
If you do a key word search, you'll find several older postings with discussions and ideas.
I don't see it as a case of offending people, it is simply about being inclusive. Why not have a holiday celebration that is not faith specific? That way everyone feels welcomed.The way you say "insist on being sensitive to all faiths,"
that makes it sound like a bad thing. What is wrong with including all? Sometimes it does take a little more work, though. I find the payoff to be well worth it.
Well if you really insist on being sensitive to all faiths then don't celebrate at all because in that case you offend Jehovah's Witnesses or people who believe that by celebrating at all during that time is to celebrate satan and paganism. (look up Saturnalia or the feast of the son of Isis- B.C.)
I agree that efforts should be made to be sensitive and aware of others and their beliefs but where do you draw the line?
[ 07-18-2005, 05:33 PM: Message edited by: Michelle B ]
Let me back up by saying that I am not attacking you for doing this. I feel very strongly that we all are doing this for the reson of helping our children at school. You should be commended for your invaluable service that you provide. It just concerns me when I see stuff regarding religion in the public school system. It is such a slippery slope to go down. I would like to see everyone err on the side of caution on this matter. I would agree that not all people who celebrate Christmas are christian, but make no mistake about it, Christmas is a christian holiday. Also, Santa is a symbol of Christmas. Much the same as a menora or dreidel being a symbol of Hanukkah.
I would agree that everyone makes a choice as to what they participate in. This is 2005 and everyone needs to be sensitive to other faiths. Do you offer anything for those other kids? As I stated before, Santa is a symbol of Christmas.Christ-mas. I have no problem with it as long as other options are available. I want to teach my children about respecting other religious beliefs. This is an increasingly global world that we live in. Tolerance should be taught at all levels.
Just my 2 cents worth.
