Kind of a parenting related poll...

As most of you know, I'm the director of a music program at an independent school. I always put on a winter concert. Well, I am always being pressured to sing Christmas and Hannukah songs from my headmaster and have steered away from them in the past because of complaints from the parents. Instead, I have the chorus sing songs about winter and peace and togetherness, etc. Well, I'm starting to get sick of having to ignore the fact that Christmas and Hannukah exist just because some of the parents do not like it. So I am thinking of going back to Christmas and Hannukah songs this year. My question is this: would you be offended if you heard your child singing these songs in a concert?
And if you were me, would you do these songs if it meant that one child in the school would not be able to participate because we were singing about Christmas and Hannukah? (I already know of one child who will not be allowed in the performance if I do this).
TIA!

Re: Kind of a parenting related poll...

I think you should go for it. The reason you are having a concert is to celebrate the holidays. People who can't handle it can go scratch.

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I would love it if my son performed some Christmas songs.

At the same time, being Catholic, I would appreciate the fact he was learning about and helping others celebrate their holiday by singing Hanukah songs as well.

Message edited 9/13/2006 2:29:01 PM.

Re: Kind of a parenting related poll...

Not a parent but heres my $.02. When I was a kid we sang the Dreidl song and santa Claus is coming to town. Anyone that has a problem with that is just not tolerant. I mean if you are an atheist or agnostic why would you pretend that there is no other way and raise your child that way? Go for it I say!

Re: Kind of a parenting related poll...

My school also always sang both- Christmas and Hanukah songs too. I don't think anyone got offended- so long as the Christmas songs aren't too religious. I love Christmas songs and I'm Jewish.

For that one kid who would not be allowed to participate, I suggest trying to talk to the parent to see what could be done that would make the parent more comfortable. You can chose to follow the parent's suggestion or not- depending on what it is.

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I say do songs about christmas and hanukkah. Does this family not leave their house in the holdiay season? I mean, the mall, restaurants, even doctor's offices are decorated and playing holiday music. Seems silly that they are so adamant about not celebrating diversity at their child's school, when that's what America is all about. JMO.

Re: Kind of a parenting related poll...

I say as long as you cover ALL the holiday songs (meaning from each religion/holiday) than I say go for it...

When I taught pre-k, I was told it was all or none.... That seemed to work out real well... and we never had a compliant...

No matter what you do- there will always be that ONE parent/person who has something to complain about.... Whether it be the fact you sang them- or the fact you didnt!

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After hearing the Driedel and Kwanzaa song for weeks last year, I can say that I was thrilled that my child (being raised a lapsed Catholic already) was learning about different cultures, songs & religions.

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I think you should go ahead and sing the songs. As far as the one child that will not be allowed to participate, it is unfortunate but when making decisions for a group, you have to do what is for the largest number of people.

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I say go for it. It's so ridiculous!

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Thanks girls. I think I'm just going to go ahead and do it. It's silly not to. The past three years that I've been at this school, I've avoided it because everyone told me to, but now that I'm the director of the entire music program, I don't care anymore!

Re: Kind of a parenting related poll...

IMHO- if one child can't sing them b/c of their religous background, why should the rest suffer? We are supposed to teach tolerance to other cultures so why delete them from your teaching? If the parents are so conserned about what their child is learning about other religions, then why don't they send them to a religous school? I know you are a private school and you know I work in a pubic school where we are kind of forbidden to do this for ps reasons(and seperation of chirch and state), but I always thought it was redicoulous not to talk about our cultures (especially since I teach kinder which most of the soc. curric focuses on) in a non religous way. Roudolph the Red Nosed Reinder and other "Christmas" songs are not religous per say and have a "holiday" feeling.

Good luck!

Lora

Re: Kind of a parenting related poll...

I'm curious to know why the 6 people who voted NO feel that way? Anyone care to share?

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I would love that my child was exposed to songs of different religions & their celebrations.

However, I discussed this with SIL once & she does not like the idea of her two DD singing Christmas songs (they celebrate Hanukkah) in school. She feels that her girls are bombarded by Christmas already and shouldn't be compelled to learn the songs. I'm sure other parents might feel this way too.

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You cannot please everyone so go ahead and do songs from each and too bad if some don't like it, you tried and at least you covered all bases..