Students learn about special day

So, you can teach kids to worship the dead (alters are for worship, right?) but you can't even mention Jesus Christ in these government run indoctrination centers? Who makes up these rules?

Fight the Slavery wrote:

So, you can teach kids to worship the dead (alters are for worship, right?) but you can't even mention Jesus Christ in these government run indoctrination centers? Who makes up these rules?

I think all 21st-century Americans should be familiar with Diwali, Dia de los Muertos, EDSA Day, Eid al-Fitr, International Women’s Day, Yom Kippur, Juneteenth and a lot of other holidays and traditions celebrated around the world and right here at home. Learning about other people and other cultures was an important part of my own education (and was probably the reason I went on to major in anthropology in college!)

And you know, it’s perfectly all right to mention Jesus in the public schools as long as it’s in a history or social studies context:“Christians believe that Jesus Christ is divine, while Jews and Muslims consider him one of the prophets.”

I am a Christian, I love Jesus Christ and try to follow Him in my life. I don’t want the public schools telling me or my kids or my grandkids what that means. We’ll do that in church, thanks!

We wouldn't want the children forget that they live in Northern Mexico.

On November 11th will there be any mention in the schools of Veterans Day?

I seriously doubt it.

The University of California System, California State University System and the California Community Colleges sacraficed Veterans Day as a legal holiday in turn for honoring Caesar Chevez's Birthday holiday.

Locally, Memorial Day has been more or less hidden behind Fiesta Days. Seems that those who made the ultimate sacrafice is less important than celebrating our Hispanic heritage.

Dumping real American heros in favor of "inclusiveness" and political correctness seems to be the American way any more.

Fred in Vacaville wrote:

On November 11th will there be any mention in the schools of Veterans Day?..... Dumping real American heros in favor of "inclusiveness" and political correctness seems to be the American way any more.

Well, Fred -- I don't know about the schools, but Amistad will celebrate Día de los Muertos on Nov. 6 and Veterans Day on Nov. 13! Check our schedule:
http://www.amistad-vacaville.org/fallsked.htm

:)

As usual the libs are attempting to confuse the issues by claiming there is only one. " 'It's just nice to be bilingual,' said Lutz, who now looks forward to El Dia de los Muertos each year.'It's the only time out of the year a family member can be a part of ... or live again.' " Exactly what does being bilingual have to do with celebrating a deceased relative? Lunacy and compassionate remembrance are only separated by a thin line.

This isn't about cultural diversity or simply acknowledging the fact that other countries celebrate holidays differently. It is about the attempt to denigrate, demean, and destroy the culture of the United States by diminishing our traditions through adding those foreign to us but native to many, many of whom are here illegally.

While I have no problem with the explanation of foreign holidays or customs, I find it problematic that we attack our own based on religion, primarily that of Christians, when this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles.

The following is a good example of liberal thinking without addressing the reality.

Marian Conning wrote:

<quoted text>
I think all 21st-century Americans should be familiar with Diwali, Dia de los Muertos, EDSA Day, Eid al-Fitr, International Women’s Day, Yom Kippur, Juneteenth and a lot of other holidays and traditions celebrated around the world and right here at home. Learning about other people and other cultures was an important part of my own education (and was probably the reason I went on to major in anthropology in college!)
And you know, it’s perfectly all right to mention Jesus in the public schools as long as it’s in a history or social studies context:“Christians believe that Jesus Christ is divine, while Jews and Muslims consider him one of the prophets.”
I am a Christian, I love Jesus Christ and try to follow Him in my life. I don’t want the public schools telling me or my kids or my grandkids what that means. We’ll do that in church, thanks!

So it is okay to teach the kids about Allah and Muhammed in school but not about Jesus? While this is being done, I believe both Marian and I are on the same page that this has no place in school, except in religious based ones.

The solution to this is to either teach a class in comparative religions or leave it out entirely. The second question is to customs related to religions. Again, these could all be taught in one class.

However it might be better to teach the kids how to read, write, and do math before working on cultural events. Considering the abject failure of most schools in this regard, and the complex and diverse nature of society across the globe, concentrating on the basics and our own national holidays should be enough for your children.

Why does everything have to turn into a controversy? It seems that some people can't just be content with acceptance of our cultural diversities. The United States came into existence as an immigrant society and in and of itself it is and always will be multi-cultural.

Find something else to argue about.

sunny wrote:

Why does everything have to turn into a controversy? It seems that some people can't just be content with acceptance of our cultural diversities. The United States came into existence as an immigrant society and in and of itself it is and always will be multi-cultural.
Find something else to argue about.

Well that's a fact! All of the other cultural diversities seem to be against my cultural diversity. I experience this prejudice on many holidays I used to be able to openly celebrate.

I'm a Caucasian Christian male and I'm American.

gary wrote:

<quoted text> Well that's a fact! All of the other cultural diversities seem to be against my cultural diversity. I experience this prejudice on many holidays I used to be able to openly celebrate. I'm a Caucasian Christian male and I'm American.

Well, I’m a White Christian American woman and I cannot for the life of me see how someone else’s cultural identity diminishes my own! I celebrate all the Christian festivals – Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, God’s Friday, Easter, Pentecost and All Saints Day – and they all have great meaning to me. It does not diminish either my cultural identity, or the spiritual meaning Christian holidays have for me, if someone else celebrates Samhain, Diwali or Dia de los Muertos. Why on earth should it???

Why can’t you celebrate your holidays even as others celebrate theirs? You can cook your special foods, sing your special songs, go to church, have a big family dinner, exchange gifts or blessings with friends and relatives, get as drunk as is your custom (but just stay off the roads in that state)– who on earth is keeping you from celebrating your Christian holidays??? Nobody is stopping you!

Is it that you want to celebrate Easter in ignorance of Eid al-Fitr – is that it?

It’s a new day in a flat world, friend. We’re not the only ones on the block anymore. Never really were...

It isn't appropriate for a school to "observe" a foreign national or religious holiday outside the context of class instruction or subject matter.

Fred in Vacaville wrote:

On November 11th will there be any mention in the schools of Veterans Day?

To answer this question simply, no.
The reason for this is because we will not be in school on November 11th. But that doesn't mean we won't this week and next. I always cover different holidays and important events and talk about their significance with my class. Even though our program is Spanish immersion, majority of our students are not Latin American. Why would I teach about culture and diversity and not include them? That's a bit hypocritical, isn't it?

Fight the Slavery wrote:

So, you can teach kids to worship the dead (alters are for worship, right?) but you can't even mention Jesus Christ in these government run indoctrination centers? Who makes up these rules?

First, it's not a worship of the dead. Do you worship your dead when you visit their gravesite? All the holiday is is to remember your loved ones and ancestors. The family gets together, you have some good food and some good memories.

Second, we look at the cultural aspect, not the religious. We compare the changes of this holiday from ancient times to after the Spanish colonization. We also compare this holiday to personal family traditions that the students have.

This program is a choice, an option for parents and students that want something different in their education. It doesn't suit everyone, and if it's not for you, you don't sign up.

Immerse: To plunge into somthing that surrounds or covers. Doesn't leave much room for the basics, does it?

LMil56 wrote:

Immerse: To plunge into somthing that surrounds or covers. Doesn't leave much room for the basics, does it?

Uh, yeah it does. They are getting the same academic content as their English-only counterparts, it is merely delivered in another language. No one forced the families to enroll in the immersion program, it was their choice. There are many cultural backgrounds represented by this program (Caucasian, African-American, Asian, Russian, Hispanic, etc.) who are all learning a second or third language at a young age. You should go to their Fiesta Navidenas, which celebrates and educates participants about holiday traditions and customs all around the world, or their Carnaval in the Spring.

Really, it's all about kids having fun and learning.

The program is sold to these parents who for the most part speak little English. I would like to know how many of these kids are fluent in English when they are exited out from the program. Oh thats right parents were promised the program would continue thru junior high and then this year the children aren't given instruction passed fifth grade.
I was one of those parents that planned on registering my child at Cambridge. I however, chose not to once I had to deal with pushy adults telling me I was doing my child's heritage a diservice by not enrolling him in this immersion program.

Lets not be to critical. It is fun and for these kids to learn about all different cultures. What harm is it really? Day of he Dead is at least a real part of history that honor's the family. Halloween has become more commercial and fake, no real meaning at all.

momof3 wrote:

The program is sold to these parents who for the most part speak little English. I would like to know how many of these kids are fluent in English when they are exited out from the program. Oh thats right parents were promised the program would continue thru junior high and then this year the children aren't given instruction passed fifth grade.
I was one of those parents that planned on registering my child at Cambridge. I however, chose not to once I had to deal with pushy adults telling me I was doing my child's heritage a diservice by not enrolling him in this immersion program.

I'm sorry to hear that this happened. I'm not sure who spoke with you, but that is not something that we approve of, or encourage. We, as teachers, see that this is 100% parent choice. The only thing we do stress is that we depend highly on parent involvement, both at school and at home.

Contrary to popular belief, our program is predominately made up of native English speakers. The majority of our school's English-learners are NOT in the immersion program. Also, many of our students do very well on the STAR test.

Seems to be a double standard here. I guess if it's hispanic related it's ok. We are all being PCed to death. A death of the American culture.

Marian Conning wrote:

<quoted text>
Well, I’m a White Christian American woman and I cannot for the life of me see how someone else’s cultural identity diminishes my own! I celebrate all the Christian festivals – Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, God’s Friday, Easter, Pentecost and All Saints Day – and they all have great meaning to me. It does not diminish either my cultural identity, or the spiritual meaning Christian holidays have for me, if someone else celebrates Samhain, Diwali or Dia de los Muertos. Why on earth should it???
Why can’t you celebrate your holidays even as others celebrate theirs? You can cook your special foods, sing your special songs, go to church, have a big family dinner, exchange gifts or blessings with friends and relatives, get as drunk as is your custom (but just stay off the roads in that state)– who on earth is keeping you from celebrating your Christian holidays??? Nobody is stopping you!
Is it that you want to celebrate Easter in ignorance of Eid al-Fitr – is that it?
It’s a new day in a flat world, friend. We’re not the only ones on the block anymore. Never really were...

One is limited on what one can now celebrate in puplic schools. Many of these holidays are no longer allowed to be celebrated at work. And some Department stores even ban their employees from wishing customers Merry Christmas. Crosses are being banned on public lands. And I can go on.

So my option is to celebrate only at your church or in my home. This is America and I (or my children) should be able to celebrate at all the prior mentioned places. So you continue to carry on and be politically correct. But don't insinuate that I do not allow others to celebrate their holidays and that I go around getting drunk on my holidays.

You choose to make this personal and point fingers at me by using the word "you". I was stating an opinion. Well I can get personal too and point fingers. Do you see the finger I am now pointing at you? Don't get insulted. My finger is no more insulting than your insinuations. Nice intercoursing with you.

gary wrote:

<quoted text>
One is limited on what one can now celebrate in puplic schools. Many of these holidays are no longer allowed to be celebrated at work. And some Department stores even ban their employees from wishing customers Merry Christmas. Crosses are being banned on public lands. And I can go on.
So my option is to celebrate only at your church or in my home. This is America and I (or my children) should be able to celebrate at all the prior mentioned places. So you continue to carry on and be politically correct. But don't insinuate that I do not allow others to celebrate their holidays and that I go around getting drunk on my holidays.
You choose to make this personal and point fingers at me by using the word "you". I was stating an opinion. Well I can get personal too and point fingers. Do you see the finger I am now pointing at you? Don't get insulted. My finger is no more insulting than your insinuations. Nice intercoursing with you.

Besides, I don't need a holiday just to get drunk! Hic!