to not want DS to go to school which doesn't celebrate Christmas?

[Clarathemagnificent]

We are currently researching primary schools for DS who is due to start next September.

There is one which is literally metres from our front door which has a good local reputation and excellent results.

However, there is one thing which doesn't sit right with me and that is that the school doesn't celebrate Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas. There is no school nativity and so on. They have a 'Celebration lunch' at Christmas but the word Christmas is deliberately not used so as not to offend those of other cultures.

This makes me extremely uncomfortable because although I'm not a Christian myself, I feel it's an important part of our culture and identity as a Christian country. I also disagree with the idea that celebrating Christianity can be offensive to others and think this very notion is divisive in itself. It concerns me a great deal especially considering we are from an ethnic minority.

AIBU to consider not sending DS to this school purely for these reasons even though by all other accounts it's a good school?

[DelphiniumBlue]

I think this might change due to current emphasis on British values, and I think I recall reading that Christianity was making a comeback onto the curriculum too. Might be worth checking this out before making a decision, and maybe asking the school how they will be dealing with the new curriculum requirements.
Hopefully someone on MN can give more certain information than me! Possibly post in the Staffroom section?

[HarryPottersMagicWand]

It would put me off completely.

We celebrate Christmas in this country as a whole. I hate this PC bollocks that celebrating something that is typical of our culture might offend others.

Christmas at school is great! Making cards, Christmas fair, Christmas lunch, nativity plays (actually ours is a faith school and often have different plays but with a message behind it), making decorations. It would be a shame to miss out on stuff like this. My favourite time of year!

[Mouikey]

Maybe it's worth approaching the school
To see how they approach RE more generally. I assume they celebrate no religious festivals of other faiths including Halloween or harvest festival?

[GladAllOver]

Agree with that ^.
It must be all or nothing.
And the business of not offending is bollox. Every religion should respect every other.

[ConcreteUnderpants]

It would deter me somewhat as well, OP, and I'm of a different religion.

As the PP said, do they not celebrate anything? How on earth are we to change things and increase tolerance if there is no education or joyful experiences of other faiths??

[KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes]

I'd quite like that.

Christmas is materialistic wankery. If I believed in Jesus I'd probably be quite bummed out by all of this tinsel and stuff.

You can do Christmas at home in the holidays.

[IsItMeOr]

YANBU to choose a school that suits you.

Personally I would be happy with that, as we are well able to celebrate Christmas, halloween, chinese new year, easter, etc at home.

[SlightlyperturbedOwl]

I'm an atheist and it would put me off, just because it is part of our national heritage. I don't go a bundle on overselling the religious stories, but Santa, presents and Easter eggs are important to me as family celebrations. My ideal would be for a school to celebrate everything, Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah and every major festival, learn about the cultural relevance and most of all learn to value the values of others, whatever they are.

[BossWitch]

Such a shame. I used to teach at a school which was about 90% Muslim. They loved "celebrating" Christmas! We had a couple of real trees around the school, forms would organise secret santa, Christmas lunch in the final week, big Christmas show on the last day. I'm an atheist and I used to have really interesting conversations with a lot of the older students about the cultural vs religious aspect of the festival.

I'd be unhappy about the school's decision on this - not least because it suggests some fairly illogical / muddle headed decision making by the school's management and I'd be wondering what other crap policies they'd be implementing over the course of my dc's time there!

[WantToRunAgain]

Tough one. Do they really not do anything?

I used to run the drama club at my school and we always did a Christmas play rather than nativity cos there's only so many ways u can tell the same story!

I couldn't get overly fussed about it to the point I wouldn't go to the school - better than the alternative of constantly ramming religion down kids throats IMO.

[ohgoshIdontknow]

That would put me off the school 100 per cent.

[PaintedDrivesAndPolishedGrass]

As the PP said, do they not celebrate anything? How on earth are we to change things and increase tolerance if there is no education or joyful experiences of other faiths??

Easy, remove religion, job done. I'd be happy for my child to receive a religion free education.

[BackforGood]

It would be very offputting to me, but one thing I have learned is that there is no "perfect" school, so you have to weigh up all the pros and cons of this school and any other options you have, and try to work out which one comes out on top, taking everything you learn, into consideration.
The fact it is so near is such a plus point that you won't appreciate yet, at this stage.

[ConcreteUnderpants]

Easy, remove religion, job done. I'd be happy for my child to receive a religion free education.

Well as religion isn't likely to be eradicated worldwide atm, perhaps we should be encouraging the next generation to understand and get along better through knowledge and shared experiences, instead?

[ChatterNatterer]

Is it a religious school - jehovas witness/Jewish/Islamic? I'm just trying to ascertain why they wouldn't want children to celebrate festivals so ingrained in our society? Seems very bah humbug :(

[facebookrecruit]

Does this school acknowledge other religious festivals do you know?
My little brothers RC primary stopped nativity plays because of this reason - but made a big fucking hoohaa about another religious celebration
This offending other cultures thing is getting out of control especially as it seems not to apply to bloody everything and everyone!

[EastMidsMummy]

This sounds like bullshit. What schools don't celebrate Christmas?

[MyFriendsCallMeOh]

Do they really do nothing for Christmas? My dds goes to an international a school in the USA where schools are either religious or secular. Secular schools do not teach religion so there is no nativity at Christmas but there are songs and shows about Santa, Christmas trees etc. Easter is all about rabbits, chicks and eggs. There is no mention of religion but there is plenty of celebration.

[MilesHuntsWig]

Wouldn't bother me at all.

Then again we were put off the closest school to us as it was very religious and supported various extreme Christian charities.

Personally I'd prefer a school that educated about all beliefs including atheism or none at all, like this one, for consistency.

[SouperSal]

I'd love it if DD's school didn't do Xmas or Easter (except as part of RE lessons).

[LaurieFairyCake]

Wouldn't bother me at all

And I'm a Christian, church goer and married to a lay minister.

[LaurieFairyCake]

And all schools educate about different religions, it's part of the curriculum.

But lots do very little practising of it (which is fine)

[BeMorePanda]

It seems odd that they would remove all religion, but give the reason for not celebrating Christmas is to avoid offending other (presumably religious) people.

I think you should check the details again op as it doesn't sound right to me.

[Dontlikejam]

Yeah the Daily Mail/ Britain first would love to know which school. Id get on to them, quick sharp.

[MilnersGold]

I would love this for my DC. DC2 is a total atheist, believes in science, not God. She feels very uncomfortable during all the assemblies etc etc that involve religious stuff.

DD1, not sure. Wants to make her own mind up. They are about to be Y6.

I have stressed to both DC it is their choice not mine.

Neither have been christened or anything else. DD1 likes the idea she can be christened / baptised at any point when she is older.

Hell (if it exists!) will freeze over before DD2 does religion. NASA or ESA is her goal in life.

I made it very clear to both DC it is their choice, not mine, what they choose to believe in, or not.