Did you hear this week’s news about the Hillsboro (Oregon) school district banning Santa from classrooms? Teachers were told to refrain from decorating classrooms and hallways with religious themed symbols like Santa Claus. (Whether or not Santa Claus is a “religious-themed” symbol is an entirely different conversation!) They say it’s a way to “respect all religious beliefs.”
I say it’s taking the easy way out and missing an amazing educational opportunity.
What if, instead of banning Santa Claus and other holiday symbols from schools, we used this season to teach children a little bit more about seasonal customs from different cultures? I’m not, in any way, suggesting that public schools teach theology. Instead, through education*, encourage awareness, celebration and appreciation of cultural diversity.
I remember, as a child, learning “Chanukah, Oh Chanukah” and “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” in schools. I wasn’t taught all the reasons behind the Chanukah celebration, but I did learn that not all families celebrated Christmas like mine did. I learned that other religions also had traditional songs. I had fun learning them and enjoyed singing them at our school’s annual holiday concert. And, I did not convert to Judaism as a result.
When my kids were young, cultural awareness expanded from religious holidays to include Kwanzaa, a celebration of African American heritage and cultural values (celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year!). My own awareness increased as their homework assignments enlightened all of us.
Friday Food For Thought – Banning Santa Claus is Not The Solution
What if, instead of ignoring these important celebrations, we not only acknowledged them but also encouraged the natural curiosity of children by exposing them to some of the other traditions? What if they tried specialty foods, wore traditional costumes, learned about the heritage countries (where applicable) or simple words of another language? What if we included the Ramadan holy days of Islam in May and June? Passover and Easter in the Spring? The Chinese New Year at the end of January? There are so many learning opportunities through fun celebrations of culture: in history, geography, science, art, music, literature, arithmetic, and more.
What if, instead of sending the exclusionary message that some children can’t celebrate what is fun and important to them because “those people” might get upset, we employed an inclusive approach – teaching children that everyone celebrates different holidays and, not only is that okay, it is part of what really makes our country great?
Imagine the possibilities. Imagine the future. One way or the other.
*NOTE: All the non-music holiday links above are to History.com.
Image credit: “coexist_orig” by Matt Trostle, used with Creative Commons license.
