At Fort Worth in the USA, schools are not allowed to have Santa and gifts in classrooms – decorations are only allowed if ‘part of the curriculum’ and parties only if for educational purposes.
Keeping distractions (like an actual visit from Santa) out of class time – absolutely sensible and reasonable.
Keeping gifts out because they might have to include a religious message? Santa is not truly part of any religious Christmas. Surely if a child chooses to give a gift with a religious message that is the child’s choice? And the child may give a religious message to friends aside from a gift or Christmas card anyway. I am against religion in state schools (so yah Fort Worth for keeping the two separate) but don’t see that Santa and gifts need to be banned – just ban religious images and stories in the classroom.
Just let the kids have a bit of fun and enjoy the magic of Santa and Christmas – why stop them just because some adults are scared of religious connections causing trouble?
Very glad my kids are allowed to have Santa and Christmas at school – could do without excessive gift giving but that’s another topic altogether! How would you feel if your kids had this stuff banned? How would you have felt as a kid without Santa and cards allowed at school?
I hadn’t and probably will never connotate Santa with religion. I don’t believe it should be banned from schools because adults are worried about religious reasons. Most people celebrate it because it’s the holiday of sharing not a celebration of a religion. It should be something kids can experience and be able to remember even when they’re old.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Metarex. I agree that building and maintaining the magic of Christmas is about memories and pleasure.
I don’t agree with Santa being banned at schools. Our class talks about all of the different traditions at Christmas. We have a Christmas party and yes, Santa comes to visit. Is it a crazy day? Yes. But we do it on an early release day the day we get out of school for Winter Break. It is fun for the kids and gives some of them some Christmas magic that they may not get at home due to financial or personal family reasons (not due to religion) We have never had a family not let their child participate in our celebrations.
I’m really pleased to here of a school celebrating so openly, twinsmommy, and especially if you talk about various traditions to encourage tolerance.
I agree with twinsmommy and here’s why. In the US, there are kids who get their only meals at school, in fact there are special summer programs in Florida to make sure kids from poor families still get to eat during the summer since they won’t get the school lunches they depend on.
Well what if a school celebration is the only Christmas some kids get? It’s not worth it to ban those celebrations from schools just because of religion.
Religion is supposed to be about compassion and Christmas is about giving, not just gifts but kindness.
Out of a class of 30, if 3 of those kids are poor and you ban Christmas from the classroom, you just ruined Christmas for those 3 kids.
That’s a really good point, ACSAPA – not everyone can have a party or celebration so school can fill that need if we let it.
This is terrible that they would want to do this! Santa does nothing more then bring joy into children’s hearts. I would hate to be the parents of kids in this school only to see them crestfallen when Santa cannot come into the classroom because he is banned. Let Jesus and Santa into schools again if you want to stop the hatred that is being bred now.
Yes, if I was a parent at such a school I would think twice about leaving my kids there frankly. Santa is about love and generosity and what’s wrong about that???
School is a perfect place for children to explore and learn about cultures & traditions of Christmas all over the world. As adults we know the ties religion has with Christmas, but I don’t think religion belongs in the schools. Santa is the prefect vessel for teaching the spirit of Christmas without bringing religion into. Those beliefs should be taught at home and your church.
Absolutely agree pocs – use Santa and the spirit of Christmas in schools and leave religion for home and church.
Santa is a brilliant teacher of generosity, care and happiness.
This is height of silliness. Santa is more a universal symbol of love and generosity, which is why more people love Santa even if they are not of the Catholic faith.
Succinct and accurate, Magic Pixel.
I could not agree with you more Magic Pixel. Yet another situation where a few bad apples spoil the bunch. Why some people feel the need to push their beliefs onto others baffles me. It’s not just Christmas that is affected, but in my area Halloween is targeted as well. Can’t we just let kids be kids and enjoy some of the things we did as children.
I think it is sad that a school would do this. I love Santa and I love Jesus and I see no harm in allowing Santa to visit the children. My fondest memories are of Christmas parties at school.
It is sad, I think, too, Lisa.
Not allowing Santa imagery and participation Christmas events just feels wrong and like those kids are missing a huge part of their culture – and a heap of fun 🙂