wwyd? inappropriate forced religion and patriotism - Page 2

[alicia622]

Stuff like this makes me so angry. I'd definately share my concerns to the school and although I voted that I'd protest/not attend the program, I would have to consider how important it is for my child to attend before making a final decision.

[fek&fuzz]

Originally Posted by artgoddess

Do I need to look Christmas Shoes up on the web, or am I better off not knowing?

noooooooooooooooo. don't look. don't listen. shield your eyes and ears.

save yourself, for some of us it's too late.

Enjoy this one instead.

[JustVanessa]

I would be more offended by the religon issue than the patriotism. You can always discuss the war at home. I feel very strongly about religon in schools.
What about all the little Muslim (or whatever religon) at the school? Do they have to sing the god song too?

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by karina5

I agree that that song is about as Craptastic as it gets. Did Toby Keith sing it originally?

No, but he sings an equally puke-worthy one about 911.

[artgoddess]

Originally Posted by JustVanessa

I would be more offended by the religon issue than the patriotism. You can always discuss the war at home. I feel very strongly about religon in schools.
What about all the little Muslim (or whatever religon) at the school? Do they have to sing the god song too?

Muslims believe in God they just call him by another name, Allah. Atheists, however, do not believe in God. I hope the OP brings this to the attention of her schools principle and they change to another song.

[JamesMama]

Chiming in as a Christian with 2 family members currently serving overseas...

That song annoys the crap out of me. Not because of the Rah Rah Rah, go USA or the part about God...it just irritates me I don't like it.

That said, it doesn't annoy me enough to make a big stink other than maybe sighing and rolling my eyes as it starts.

[Brigianna]

I would protest the forced patriotism. It is not the school's job to advocate a political view. What annoys me about the hyperpatriot movement is how they act like it isn't even a controversial political opinion; it's just a "surely we can all agree..." thing. No, we don't all agree!

[bigeyes]

Good questions all around.

I think anyone who doesn't fit into the Christian mold just doesn't say anything. It annoys me a great deal, but I don't want to cause a problem for my kids. Anywhere else I have always just spoken up without worry, but since DSD just finally started fitting in I really don't want to rock the boat without a good reason. Well, more than good, really.

I'm just glad to know I'm not completely out of my mind for being offended by it. I keep wondering if I have any Wiccan neighbors, or Muslims, or any of several other religions. You have to remember this is the school that on multicultural day did 'woo woo' Native Americans last year. : The Holiday Program is still referred to as the Christmas Program iirc. No other religions are represented in the program in December.

So it's a combination of WTF are they thinking? plus I can't stand forced religion or forced patriotism, I can't stand this idiotic war over oil, and the song is utterly suck-tastic to boot.

So many reasons not to like it, and so many reasons any action I take is likely to backfire. : But you guys make me feel better anyway. Just knowing I'm not the only one who thinks it isn't appropriate helps.

[angie7]

Considering I'm an athiest, yeah, I have a HUGE problem with it. Even though I am not raising my children as athiest, I also dont want god pushed on them either.....

[onlyzombiecat]

I guess it would depend on how your kids feel about it.
If it would cause them pain (embarrassment, bullying, teacher/principal with grudge, etc.) I'd let it go, grit your teeth and put in ear plugs.
Do you have any other school options? It sounds like this school might not be a great fit.

[artgoddess]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

The Holiday Program is still referred to as the Christmas Program iirc. No other religions are represented in the program in December.

alright, see my post above that recommended quietly talking to the principle in private? Well scratch that. Raise hell woman, call the media if you need to, this is ridiculous.

[Pyxi]

I chose 'other'. I don't know how old your DC is, but I would talk to him about it and ask how he felt about singing the song, and explain your feelings, and ask him what he thinks you should do.

if he's too young for that conversation then i would tell him he can stand there and doesn't have to sing that song if he doesn't want to, and then AFTER the show is over I'd write to the school and let them know how you feel, but be discrete about it.

I was teased and picked on terribly in school and I would hate to think that any action I took would lead to my child being tormented. Kids can be really mean and it's your job to protect him, not to call more attention to him.

[bigeyes]

We are probably among the bottom 5 for the nation school-wise. This is why I was wishing I had the temperament and the teaching ability to homeschool when we first moved here. Right now both of them have really good teachers, but next year, who knows? DSD has the same teacher DS had last year, and she is one of the few who we know are dedicated. Right now DS is self motivated and stays ahead of grade level without any prodding, and with her teacher's help, DSD is finally making progress this year. They are the closest school at 1/2 hour away and I'm thinking I'm going to have to figure out how to homeschool before long.

[hottmama]

I would be offended by both and would complain AND would skip the program.

[Holland73]

I work in an inner city elementary school with some of the most socially conscious teachers and principal I have ever met in my life.

My school doesn't even have a holiday program...we are having a Peace Celebration. My 1st graders are singing "I'd like to teach the world..." Other classrooms are reciting poems and quotes from people that promote peace.

I do not celebrate any holiday in my classroom. We do discuss and "learn" the various holidays/celebrations of many different cultures, but we do not actively celebrate any of them. We had a Fall Harvest Party and will be having a Snowflake Celebration before Winter break.

If I were in your situation...I would NOT attend and I would also make my concerns known to the principal and school board. It is NOT acceptable.

[VisionaryMom]

I have an issue with forced patriotism. I also hate how people say "support the troops" and then make it synonmous with "support the war." I would pull my child, but then I'm probably going to scar them for life with my political actions, so I wouldn't necessarily take my advice.

[Meiri]

I don't know. I find that the supposedly non-offensive secular songs our school uses are fairly craptastic too.

First thought that occurs to me, besides telling my third-grader that she doesn't have to sing the song if she also disagrees, is to buy and wear a "God Bless the Whole World, no exceptions" t-shirt to the performance--and take my coat off so it would be seen.

[OllieMama]

I just had the (dis)pleasure of attending my niece's (dh's niece's) (PUBLIC school) "Christmas" program. ...which was held at a church... But it gets better...
The first line of the first song basically went "I love to go shopping at the mall," which really set the tone for the evening. After one more song about how great consumerism is, there was one almost secular song entitled "Christmas In America is Okay with Me" and then one paying generic lip service to diversity (children dancing around holding big puzzle pieces ) without even mentioning any other seasonal holiday, and then the obligatory winter and snow song, and then ALL the rest of them (I'm not exaggerating) were about the "true meaning of Christmas." That is to say, songs about the star of Bethlehem, wise men, some baby Jesus songs, and one about peace on Earth. Peace on Earth-- harmless right? Well, of course that's something that can be achieved with "God as our Father." Really? Can't find any song about peace on earth without talking about God? okay then...

So all in all, it was the most incredibly exclusive, religiously-fueled school program I've ever seen. But I guess you can get away with that in rural Georgia, where my husband and I may well have been the only non-Christian agnostic/atheist types in the crowd of a couple thousand. Had my child been in school there, I might not have let it slide. But I wasn't in a position to do anything about it. Plus, even if we had made a stink, my in-laws would have been horrified, as they are super conservative Christians. They already think we're going to hell. This would've taken the cake and sealed our fate. Blah

[Redifer]

Didn't vote yet, but I'd definitely have a nice little meeting with anyone and everyone in the school building. Complete with a list of songs that ARE appropriate in a school setting, with no reference to patriotism and religion. Forced political and religious views have no place in a school setting.

If you want to sing those songs in your own home, fine. But don't drag that crap into a school system.

[sunnmama]

Originally Posted by Redifer

Forced political and religious views have no place in a school setting.
.

Do they recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day? I guess I would not really be shocked that a song that includes God and patriotism would be included in the program if they recite the Pledge every day.

(I don't support the reciting of the Pledge in public schools, fwiw)