Printer-friendly versionEach year at this time, teachers are faced with a dilemma: How to balance the holidays to create the most inclusive environment?
As Hanukkah comes to a close and Christmas approaches, many teachers will decorate with candy canes, glittered Christmas trees and construction-papered dreidels.
But there are more holidays being celebrated this month.
Consider that sundown today begins the month of Muharram, the liturgical new year of the Islamic calendar. Meanwhile, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day on Wednesday. December also marks Kwanzaa, the Hindu family holiday Pancha Ganapati and Yule for pagans. Many secular people either have winter solstice parties or observe no holidays at all.
Maura Cullen, a well-known diversity trainer, suggests that education about religion does not have to wait for the holidays. It can begin as early in the school year as September by teaching students about the Jewish high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as well as the Islamic Ramadan festival Eid al-Fitr (when it lands in the fall).
“By opening our hearts and minds to all religious traditions, we are serving the greater good and our connections with others grow deeper,” Cullen writes.
Teaching Tolerance has weighed in on the subject previously. You will find helpful articles here and here.
Williamson is associate editor at Teaching Tolerance.
Comments
When my children were younger
When my children were younger I always felt the "December Dilemma" that is common among Jews. I resented all of the fuss over Christmas in my children's classroom. If my children participated, it went against their beliefs. If they didn't participate, they stood out which is not what they wanted at all. Sometimes I thought that I should bring in Hanukkah stories and food and a menorah. That felt wrong too. In the end, I decided that religion simply does not belong in the public schools. There are plenty of things to learn and fun to be had that is seasonal and academic.
I couldn't agree more. Talk
I couldn't agree more. Talk of various holidays shouldn't be banned as it is good to be aware of the various celebrations and beliefs, but it should be up to families to go into depth. Seasons and children's interests are enough to shape our preschool curriculum.
Obviously you can't
Obviously you can't celebrate, or even commemorate, every single one of them. Celebrate Christmas of course, and Hanukkah too and get as many children to join in on the festivities. If they decline or are not interested, don't force them to celebrate but celebrate nonetheless.
Since Christmas is already
Since Christmas is already celebrated throughout the dominant culture and all kids likely know about this holiday, why not take the time to teach Kwanzaa or another holiday that is less well known?
There should be no teaching
There should be no teaching of Kwanza because no one will be allowed to tell the truth of its origin. It actually has racist roots born in a prison in the mid-sixties by a black radical who wanted nothing to do with white's Christmas. Somehow it has become this esoteric celebration of black liberation inclusive of absoliutely no other race or belief system.
The dominant culture rejects this hostile, racist pity party because Christmas is a time to remember our commitments to our fellow man and to celebrate our God. If we taught the dominant culture to a lot of these separitist groups we may find our selves more unified.
I mean---is that so hard to grasp?
When my children were younger
When my children were younger I baked round chalot to share with their class on Rosh HaShanah and would explain the bread is round because the year is round. At Chanuakah I have a fabric menorah the students can add a new candle to each day and I made latkes with applesauce to share our food traditions.
Now I am studying to be a teacher and I plan to learn about many more religions to share throughout the year with my students. I believe the more knowledge we can share with the children about the religious diversity within our great country the less intolerance and ignorant comments we will hear in the future.