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?

[sorenofthejnaii]

I wonder if the OP has chosen her school yet?

[RichardBucket]

StandingonaBeach, you do realise you're on Mumsnet and not Britain First's facebook page, don't you? You may feel more at home there.

[peachpudding]

StandingonaBeach, what has celebrating Christmas got to do with Sharia Law, are you on mushrooms?

[straightouttacompton]

Yes, of course Sharia law is going to be imposed on us all .

[Lweji]

Yep well Peachpudding, when sharia law is on a street near you, good luck!


Yes, that´s what happens when schools go secular.

[StandingonaBeach]

Yep well Peachpudding, when sharia law is on a street near you, good luck!

[straightouttacompton]

Hmm. I'd also be interested to know the name of this school.

[peachpudding]

My DC went to a C of E primary, did plays in December but never a nativity, had a winter fayre with santa and a disco, spent a day making xmas cards for their parents. Is that celebrating xmas? seemed pretty normal at the time.

As for Easter, cant remember any celebrations in seven years, except the teacher brought chocolates in.

Ironically Halloween was banned, god knows why, which upset a LOT of parents because Halloween is a big deal for the kids in my part of town.

Some of the teachers would slip their creationism into lessons but I let that nonsense go because it was usually from doddery old women and DC were clever enough to understand that people like that used to think the earth was flat...

[PurpleDaisies]

Where is this school that doesn't "celebrate" Christmas?

I'm a Christian. I'm totally fine with people not choosing to celebrate Christmas (and schools not forcing children to take part in religious activities such as plays). They have to learn what Christmas is all about in re anyway, along with the other big religious festivals. What does it matter if there's no nativity? Just go to church if it bothers you.

[sorenofthejnaii]

Just out of interest, who is us?When you say 'our way of life '

[Dawndonnaagain]

More erosion of our culture and heritage

Our way of life is being eroded. School nativity plays, making Christmas cards and Christmas ( not winter) fayers are all going out the window in the name of political correctness . Sitting just learning about it is not the same.

Utter Tosh!

[sorenofthejnaii]

What is a Christian country? Christianity is practiced by a minority of people. What do you think a Christian country would look like?

[peachpudding]

Yes,well we are sleep walking into this. You wait, in 20 years time,if we carry on the way we are,the U.K. Will no longer be a Christian country.

LOL so this thread has descended to the gutter.

We are not sleep walking into it we are running, with our hands in the air, cheering hooray because we don't believe that religious crap anymore.

[phlebasconsidered]

Standing, aside from Daily Mail land, i think you'd find it high on impossible to find a primary school that doesn't celebrate Christmas. Even in a school in Kings Cross that was predominantly Muslim and Hindu populated, we always sing some songs, make cards and decorations.

People who say schools don't do these things are generally getting their "facts" from Facebook, the mail, or their mate who heard about it.

Personally, the reason we don't do a traditional nativity is because it's very boring for the littlies. We do a concert instead. They learn the traditional story in class by acting it out of doing other fun stuff.

I really wish people would check facts before trotting this garbage out. This Christmas in schools bollocks and the usual cry of "They don't even learn about kings and queens in history!" (They do).

[Paperkins]

I'd love that!

RE has to be taught on the curriculum and it's been great for DS to learn about such stuff (no religion at home) and talk about it with us, but I don't think there is any need to celebrate anything like that at school. They may do a 'winter' assembly or something at the end of term? DS's school used to focus on changes in nature for summer, winter, etc. but now there is a christian element brought in by recent changes and I hate it. I wouldn't mind if it was a mix of religious stuff in assemblies but for a non faith school to choose one (christianity) is a bit much for me.

Religion and it's celebrations are for the family and at home/place of worship or in school if it's a faith school.

Roll on secularism!

[StandingonaBeach]

Yes,well we are sleep walking into this. You wait,in 20 years time,if we carry on the way we are,the U.K. Will no longer be a Christian country.

[sorenofthejnaii]

You really just want the photos of your little child in the Nativity play
Your position can be considered offensive to Christians

Singing Little Donkey

[sorenofthejnaii]

Our way of life is being eroded

I bet if you or a DM journalist asked on MN what their school did at Christmas, the overwhelming majority would do cards, make decorations and have nativity plays.

Even schools which aren't faith schools. Christmas is also a traditional family time in the UK regardless of faith.

But I bet even then, you sound like the kind of person not to believe that as it doesn't suit your narrative.

[Lweji]

Our way of life is being eroded. School nativity plays, making Christmas cards and Christmas ( not winter) fayers are all going out the window in the name of political correctness . Sitting just learning about it is not the same.

Jesus wept. Literally.
He'd be comparing these statements to the farisees.

[StandingonaBeach]

Our way of life is being eroded. School nativity plays, making Christmas cards and Christmas ( not winter) fayers are all going out the window in the name of political correctness . Sitting just learning about it is not the same.

[Lweji]

What I find the most striking is that the OP can't be arsed about Christianity, but is concerned that school teaches her children, but only the Christmas festival.

OP, BTW, Easter is the most important Christian festival. Not really bothered, are you?
You really just want the photos of your little child in the Nativity play.
Your position can be considered offensive to Christians.

[sorenofthejnaii]

I'd love to ask the OP what her concerns are.

Schools have to study Christmas and other Christian festivals. So they will learn about Christmas at school.

Schools don't have to do a nativity. Many do but it's not compulsory. It is great fun watching your child do this play and sing the traditional songs. It's also an incredible effort at school to get this ready.

I assume it's the nativity you're concerned about. If the school suits your needs in other ways, is this a red line for you?

Looking forward to hearing your reply on this when you return to this thread.

[geekymommy]

Being offended by Christmas and not wanting our kids to celebrate it in school are two entirely different things.

[phlebasconsidered]

Standing, nothing is being eroded. The op is bullcrap. Christianity and its festivals HAS to be studied as part of the national curriculum. There is not one single LEA school that does not do this.

[StandingonaBeach]

Would put me off and I am not religious . More erosion of our culture and heritage