Illinois school district 'winter festival' instead of Christmas in order not to offen

[Logan13]

Illinois school district 'winter festival' instead of Christmas in order not to offend Muslims..
drudgereport
OAK LAWN, Ill. A southwest suburban school district has taken action, responding to the concerns of a parent who is Arabic.

But now, as CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, other parents are angry that traditional school holidays will be renamed or even eliminated.

"That does not represent all the Muslims, all of the Arabs at that school," said Qais Nofel, the father of a student in Ridgeland School District 122.

There was some heated discussion between parents outside Columbus Manor Elementary School in Oak Lawn on Friday. The thought of no more traditional holiday celebrations has many parents really upset.

For now, children in Ridgeland School District 122 will celebrate fall festival instead of Halloween and winter festival instead of Christmas.

Brenda Elvidge said, "It's not fair to our kids. This is America and that's an American tradition."

The decision affects the children at four elementary schools in Oak Lawn and one junior high school in Bridgeview.

The district has a 30 percent Arabic population. The superintendent says the reason for the change in tradition comes after one parent wanted Ramadan decorations put up inside Columbus Manor Elementary. They were taken down.

Superintendent Tom Smyth said, "I go back to our policy which says that public schools are to remain neutral in this respect."

Meantime, Arab children are being allowed to pray during what's being called their own time, that's lunch time, during Ramadan.

Parent June Quigley said, "They get to pray in our schools. That is religion in a public school."

Arab-American parents have different views on the issue.

Sala Abour said, "To take away Halloween and Christmas from little kids, that is very wrong."

Nofel said, "We go and we celebrate the holidays and traditions here, but we do have the right to be Muslims as well."

Other parents say the controversy is overshadowing what really needs to be addressed at all five schools in the district.

Ronnie Carroll said, "The fact that they are cash strapped. Our classroom size is way above the average mean, 38 children in our first grade classroom. The concern should be our school, not the whole holiday issues."

Those issues along with the holiday controversy are going to be addressed at a school board meeting on Tuesday. Members will decide if holidays will be celebrated or not.

Meantime, the Illinois PTA district director says the state is now investigating this issue and there's a meeting with the superintendent next week.

[Bigen12]

Logan,

Enhance your calm.

We must all think Joy Joy thoughts!

We all know that You are an incredibly sensitive man, who inspires joy-joy feelings in all those around you.

[RA]

Shut up and pass the salt.

Logan,

Enhance your calm.

We must all think Joy Joy thoughts!

We all know that You are an incredibly sensitive man, who inspires joy-joy feelings in all those around you.

[scriptfactory]

I think some Muslims still don't realize that Christmas is no longer a religious holiday for many (most?) people in the US. Still, schools are there for education, not celebration, so it shouldn't matter...

[RA]

If I moved to a muslim country would I expect them to change their customs to accomodate me? Would they? No and No. If they dont like it I really dont care...put that in your turbin and smoke it.

I think some Muslims still don't realize that Christmas is no longer a religious holiday for many (most?) people in the US. Still, schools are there for education, not celebration, so it shouldn't matter...

[Kärnfysikern]

stupidity stupidity stupidity. Maby we should force western women to wear a burkha so not to offend muslims? Im sure semi nude women is far more offensive than celebrating christmas?

[Tock]

Well, here in sunny Dallas, Texas, the schoolkids come from families that are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Buddist, Wiccan, Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, American Indian, and more. They are all taxpayers, they all pay for the school facilities where the school has their celebrations. That being said, which religion or religions are observed, and which ones are left out, and why?

Seems to me the best solution to the problem of deciding which religions are observed and which ones are not, is to observe none of them, and keep the school what it's supposed to be: a school.
They don't have to ban the subject in the classroom entirely, though. If they were so inclined, Buddists could wish Christians a Merry Christmas, Hindus could wish Jews a happy Haunakah, Christians could wish Wiccans a happy Solstice, etc etc etc, and kids could talk amongst themselves the things they expect to do over the holidays.

I dunno what the big problem is with keeping a school just a school.

[Psychotron]

I played Oak Lawn in high school football. Good times.

Anyways, I think this stuff is getting out of control.

[Fat Guy]

Illinois school district 'winter festival' instead of Christmas in order not to offend Muslims..
drudgereport
Other parents say the controversy is overshadowing what really needs to be addressed at all five schools in the district.

Ronnie Carroll said, "The fact that they are cash strapped. Our classroom size is way above the average mean, 38 children in our first grade classroom. The concern should be our school, not the whole holiday issues."

Those issues along with the holiday controversy are going to be addressed at a school board meeting on Tuesday. Members will decide if holidays will be celebrated or not.

I think this is the real point to the whole article… otherwise this is a puff piece that appeals to racial tension which plays to the whole controversy of the Middle East and the war. Oh yeah one more thing, I agree with the decision to get rid of the concept of Christmas in public schools for two reasons:

1. Keep Church & State Separate and CHRISTmas implies a religious concept.

2. Christmas is over commercialized anyway and we don’t need to be indoctrinating the children with some phony concept at school.

That’s just what I think which doesn’t mean much anyway…

[Coop77]

If I moved to a muslim country would I expect them to change their customs to accomodate me? Would they? No and No. If they dont like it I really dont care...put that in your turbin and smoke it.

This isn't a Christian country.
But if you were in one of those countries that does have an official state religion, would you have a problem with your tax dollars going toward indoctrinating your child with another religion's customs & holidays?

[RA]

Whats the predominant religion in the US? It is a Christian country bro ...and like I said above, I would not expect that if I lived in a muslim country that they would ever change because Im not muslim.

As far as what Tock said......We dont keep school just for the three R's. We push sex ed and all kinds of other crap that doesnt have anything to do with acedemics....

The school I went to has had a Christmas concert since the 50's. We should change now because a muslim kid is attending that school. Bullshit.

This isn't a Christian country.
But if you were in one of those countries that does have an official state religion, would you have a problem with your tax dollars going toward indoctrinating your child with another religion's customs & holidays?

[TesticularFortitude]

there is no problem with making winter festival instead of christmas. it isnt taking away from tradition .it is allowing the children of all relgions to fell the same kind of excitment and none to be left out. what is wrong with having young student celebrate without cultural hierchy. comments stated above about what the middle east would do about amercan kids in their school is stupid. since when do we follow their lead.

[TesticularFortitude]

i retract the use of the word stupid in my previous post, BUT lots of things that have been done for years may be mistaken as tradition. many things have changed over the years. change isnt always bad. it doesnt matter what the practices were for the past 50 years. times change and so should the practice to follow. america has an open door policy. in order to be truley patriiotic, you gotta accept and embrace the AMERICAN attempts at multiculturalism. i would much rather see every religion flourish in america to create true multiculturalism as opposed to becoming a cultural melting pot. BUT if the best we can do is making non denomination policies, than that needs to be embraced in order for the youth to be less racially discriminant than we are.

[RA]

i retract the use of the word stupid in my previous post, BUT lots of things that have been done for years may be mistaken as tradition. many things have changed over the years. change isnt always bad. it doesnt matter what the practices were for the past 50 years. times change and so should the practice to follow. america has an open door policy. in order to be truley patriiotic, you gotta accept and embrace the AMERICAN attempts at multiculturalism. i would much rather see every religion flourish in america to create true multiculturalism as opposed to becoming a cultural melting pot. BUT if the best we can do is making non denomination policies, than that needs to be embraced in order for the youth to be less racially discriminant than we are.

The f*ck I do. People used to come to this country and want to learn the language and customs. Now its us that has to change for every tom, dick, and mohammad. Im going to fight it tooth and nail. Or just come to AR and piss and moan about it.

[RA]

You watch. Eventually you wont be able to display anything that is associated with Christmas. Last year some muslim complained about Christmas trees in a airport and they took them all out. If it offends you...GO BACK TO YOUR OWN FN COUNTRY!

[Kärnfysikern]

How many consider christmas a religious event and how many consider it a important tradition?

I dont give a rats ass about the whole christ deal. But christmas is a tradition that deserves to be preserved regardless of how imigrants might feel for it. We have had the same kind of debates in sweden and its all bullshit. There is no reason for swedes, americans ect to changes our traditions because imigrants might become offended.

But in in the end its the schools chooise, aslong as no one starts any bullshit about making it law either way.

[TesticularFortitude]

Im Canadian, born and raised in Canada. Religious holidays have no tie with being American or Canadian for that matter. I am not saying that we should go as far as to remove Christmas trees from airports, because that is a form of intelerance. But i am saying that having winter festivals in schools as opposed to christmas only gives the children to learn and become more tolerant to other religions. maybe even learn a thing or two about other religious procedures. I am jewish, and that has nothing to do with my citizenship. I am as canadian as any other - i do not feel that a school celebrating all religions is changing Canadian tradition.
I had a winter carnivale type thing at my elementary school as well. we had Christmas trees, and all other ornaments that represented every childs religion in the school ... everyone was given the opportunity to being in something form their religion which was relevant to their winter season holiday. I was not offended by any of it. in fact i believe i am a better person because of it. not to mention where i could have fealt left out, i was excited to share and learn.
please point out the problem? I am again willing to lear from you guys, so school me!

[TesticularFortitude]

I dont see where you guys are coming from when you are assuming that a winter carnivale excludes christmas. i think the idea is to show that christmas, though a representation of the predominant US religion, is NOT the only thing going on in december, and to think it is is ignorant. We dont want to breed ignorrance, but tolerance. Ignorance will sooner be the demise of a community whereas the coexistance of celebration will only make positive adjustments.

[RA]

Where do you stop bro? You said its not about taking Christmas trees down in airports but we are already at that point. I have tolerance but it has its limits.

I dont see where you guys are coming from when you are assuming that a winter carnivale excludes christmas. i think the idea is to show that christmas, though a representation of the predominant US religion, is NOT the only thing going on in december, and to think it is is ignorant. We dont want to breed ignorrance, but tolerance. Ignorance will sooner be the demise of a community whereas the coexistance of celebration will only make positive adjustments.

[RA]

btw, What is so offensive about calling something a Christmas concert??? Where is their tolerance??

[TesticularFortitude]

the christmas concert isnt offensive, but a winter concert includes all the little children who arent catholic or christian.

[Logan13]

How many consider christmas a religious event and how many consider it a important tradition?
I dont give a rats ass about the whole christ deal. But christmas is a tradition that deserves to be preserved regardless of how imigrants might feel for it. We have had the same kind of debates in sweden and its all bullshit. There is no reason for swedes, americans ect to changes our traditions because imigrants might become offended.

But in in the end its the schools chooise, aslong as no one starts any bullshit about making it law either way.

Tradition.
What's next, are they gonna demand that we wave every country's flag at every school as well? Enough is enough......

[Coop77]

Whats the predominant religion in the US? It is a Christian country bro ...and like I said above, I would not expect that if I lived in a muslim country that they would ever change because Im not muslim.

Even if 99% of us are Christian, it's not a Christian country. At least not as far as the use of public funds, such as in public schools. There's that First Amendment thing.. you know one of the basic principles the country was founded on.
Nobody is saying you can't celebrate Christmas. It just starts to be an issue when you want to use tax money, and involve everybody's kids.