Teacher Taking Out Religious Songs in Holiday Concert

My child’s school is putting on a holiday concert. My main complaint is the way the music teacher plans to celebrate every ethnic holiday without celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. He is planning to sing the dreidel song, a song about poinsettias for Las Posadas, a song about Kwanza, and then “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”. When I suggested “Away in a Manger”, he said that he was sticking with his original program. It is either a time to recognize all holidays or it isn’t.

Teachers work hard to find an acceptable balance while still tapping into the fun of the holidays for all children. I have a feeling your question will stir quite a reaction, both from those who agree with you and those who don’t, but I must admit that I feel for the teacher in all of this. His is a tough job: please everyone. As much as I am sure he would like to, it just isn’t possible.

Your music teacher is obviously trying to touch upon those holidays celebrated by all children. Rather than focusing on what he isn’t including, look at what he is. The dreidel song does not address the religious significance of Hanukkah, it is a song about something children play with as the holiday approaches. The Santa Clause song is a fun staple many children associate with the Christmas holiday. These titles suggest to me that we are talking about very young children who just need a chance to sing and learn about celebrations.

Charity Taught in the Public School Classroom

My daughter’s teacher deserves some kind of medal. She proposed a project to her fifth grade students, and it ended up changing our family. All of the kids decided to raise money to buy presents for abused and abandoned children. The teacher proposed fundraisers like car washes, cookie sales, even housecleaning (all to be done by the children). My daughter offered to clean the houses of three of my friends and was able to contribute $75 from this alone. My daughter even asked if I would spend half of the money I was going to spend on her (she still wanted a few gifts herself) and give the other half to the cause. In the end, the kids raised a ton of money and they spent the week before vacation planning to buy shoes, clothes, coats, books, and toys for these children. Several parent volunteers did the shopping, and we had to rent a small moving truck to haul all of the gifts. Watching those children pack up the truck brought tears to my eyes. They learned the biggest lesson this year, and we are going to continue this spirit of giving as a family in the years to come. This teacher taught us all what it means to give.

I bet this will be one of the most memorable years in your daughter’s schooling. She will look back on this year, and she will remember something awakening within herself. Your daughter participated so fully in this activity because it felt right to her. She wanted to help. Children want to give and reach out to others, and this teacher showed her students how. Of all the lessons we teach our children, it is the life lessons that remain the most important. It is so nice to hear about the amazing things teachers do.

Comment on this week's column

Comment on this week's Column. I discussed whether a first grade child should limit talk of God in school and how the parent of a junior high student who is failing three classes should respond.

My column is published each Wednesday. Read it at http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sections/life/education/

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