I actually went to a Church of England junior school (government paid for) that had prayers and hymns integrated into our assemblies, and, as much as I didn't mind them, looking back it wasn't right to expect us to participate in worship. State schools should remain without religious affiliation.
However I actually think some celebration of holidays is good, it's just the way in which it's done. I mean, many people celebrate Christmas despite not being Christian - it's become as much a tradition amongst the secular as the religious, it's a cultural holiday as much as a religious one. So I don't see the harm in celebrating Christmas in a school environment, as long as they do it in the most inoffensive way possible.
Halloween too! I mean that's lost most of the spiritual meaning and is just a cultural holiday on which people dress up in crazy outfits and celebrate all things gothic and spooky.
My school also celebrated Harvest Festival, which is actually a pagan tradition sort of adopted by Christianity in some parts. The nice thing about that holiday was we celebrated it by donating items of food, and that food would then be sent to impoverished people around the world.
So these kinds of holidays can teach a lesson (such as charity), and they can be done without an emphasis on religion. There is something exciting for children about these annual events, when they can get involved in something different within a school environment. I think it would be a shame to lose that sense of fun.
Public schools banning Christmas carols?
↑ View this comment's parent
← View full post
I agree with you.
I actually went to a Church of England junior school (government paid for) that had prayers and hymns integrated into our assemblies, and, as much as I didn't mind them, looking back it wasn't right to expect us to participate in worship. State schools should remain without religious affiliation.
However I actually think some celebration of holidays is good, it's just the way in which it's done. I mean, many people celebrate Christmas despite not being Christian - it's become as much a tradition amongst the secular as the religious, it's a cultural holiday as much as a religious one. So I don't see the harm in celebrating Christmas in a school environment, as long as they do it in the most inoffensive way possible.
Halloween too! I mean that's lost most of the spiritual meaning and is just a cultural holiday on which people dress up in crazy outfits and celebrate all things gothic and spooky.
My school also celebrated Harvest Festival, which is actually a pagan tradition sort of adopted by Christianity in some parts. The nice thing about that holiday was we celebrated it by donating items of food, and that food would then be sent to impoverished people around the world.
So these kinds of holidays can teach a lesson (such as charity), and they can be done without an emphasis on religion. There is something exciting for children about these annual events, when they can get involved in something different within a school environment. I think it would be a shame to lose that sense of fun.