Thread: Stupid christian school GRR! AAIRGH!

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My child goes to a christian school at the insistance of his mother. I'm rethinking my agreement to that more seriously now.

The school does not acknowledge halloween. No halloween themed images on shirts on casual day (yes this means no jolly roger flags on your shirt, you pirate lovers!), no halloween party, no dress up. My child had a casual day today. Thats it.

When getting dressed this morning, my child's sibling came into the room and I was explaining to my child that they couldnt wear any of their halloween shirts. The sibling asks "Why not?" I said because his school doesnt acknowledge halloween. "Why not?"

My child pipes in "Because Mrs. blahblah said that Halloween brings joy to Satan and witches".

WHAT? WTF?!?! I was FURIOUS. Don't go filling my son's head with the garbage, you backwards thinking in-a-box-living nutbag!

Now I need to convince my child that they arent hurting jesus when they go trick or treating on sunday.

I left the catholic church because of stupidity like that. And yet, it keeps rearing it's ugly head. Every day I find more and more reason to abhor organized religion.

Here's the email I just sent the teacher, anonymously. (I'm keeping things anonymous in the letter, and here, because honestly - I am fearful of lashback from this. I'm fearful of someone googling the letter I sent and tracing it back to me. Evangelicals scare the **** out of me, to be completely honest).

The letter:
I wanted to write an email because I have a concern that needs to be voiced. I am however sending this email anonymously, because honestly - at this point - I don't need to deal with any fallout or singling out this may cause.

My child is in your class. My child, like nearly all children, loves Halloween. It's the one holiday that does not discriminate against anyone. Everyone, the world over, can celebrate this holiday without being excluded because of race or religious belief or nationality. It's a holiday that, for children, is based around fun.

But for some reason, [SCHOOL] is terrified of this holiday, so much so that even on a casual day in April they cannot wear a t-shirt with a pirate flag on it, because it shows bones, an image of Halloween.

I know thats not your issue - thats an issue I have with the school. Its not your rule. It's a rule that I find to be utterly absurd... I went to catholic school for 12 years, celebrating Halloween every year (well, while we were young enough for it to be "cool") by dressing up, having a party, and and a costume parade IN the school. And, by some miracle, I was not tainted by the forces of evil. Again, I digress.

The reason I am writing this letter today is that while getting ready for school today, I was explaining that it was casual day, and asking what clothes my child wanted to wear. My child's sibling was in the room when I said that they could not wear any of the Halloween-themed shirts they own (Really? Even a jack-o-lantern? Again - I digress - but its hard not to be baffled by this), and the sibling asked "Why not?" I told them that the school doesnt acknowledge Halloween. "Why not?"

To which my child said "Mrs. [TEACHER] said that Halloween makes Satan happy". Now, those are not the exact words used, do not think my child or myself has misquoted you. I've changed what they said a bit (and toned it down - what I was told shocked me), because, to be completely honest, I am concerned that "Who said that?" will happen, the children will be asked, and if my child speaks exactly what I wrote, then any anonymity will be lost here, and I'm sending this this way for a reason. Regardless, the exact words used truly stunned me.

I liked [SCHOOL] because it was a bible based church. None of that sillyness that the catholics make up, no rules and regulations not from the bible.

Where the heck Halloween makes Satan happy came from, I'm not sure. Nowhere in my mind can I find a way to associate a child dressing up as Hannah Montanna or Iron Man and going door to door getting free candy with his or her friends with satanism, dark arts, evil, sin, or something as small as an impure thought.

I understand the school has rules. I understand the school refuses to even acknowledge Halloween (which shows nothing but ignorance to me - Halloween never has been associated with the devil. Hundreds of years ago I can see where christians would frown on the holiday because of it's acknowledgment of spirits walking the earth, but not today. Its name is even a derivative OF a christian holiday). I understand it's a christian school which teaches christian values.

But telling my child that Halloween (again, paraphrased) makes "Satan happy" is infuriating. Thats not in the bible. It has nothing to do with Christianity, and it has nothing to do with my child's education. If you have children who rightfully want to know why they cant acknowledge Halloween in school, give them an honest answer, but don't go poisoning them on a holiday, that to them, is nothing but fun, dressup, and a bag of candy. Any quasi-tangential connections to spiritualism that Halloween used to have has nothing to do with the modern Holiday and my child dressing up and having fun.

I created this email address for the express purpose of sending this email, and possibly one to the school to detail my feelings on all of this. There is no need to reply. I may never check this email address again. I'm not sure there's anything you could say regarding this that I even want to read. Worst of all, a defense of the position with bible verses to "prove" your point would only raise my hackles higher. Reply if you feel the need, but I will likely not check this email account again and it will likely go unread.

I needed to get this off my chest, because as I drove to work this morning, I was getting more and more angry, thinking of the words to use to my child to convince them that trick or treating on sunday was not going to hurt jesus or put them out of god's good graces.

Wonder how they got that in their head, huh?

Wow, they're not even going the "Fall Festival" route!

From a friend on another board:

Students at my school are not allowed to wear costumes until 2:00 for the benefit of 10 Jehovah's Witnesses that attend school. Or event is called "Fall Fun Day", and fall colors and designs are allowed but not ghosts or witches. Kids are not allowed to wear masks, hoods, makeup, or bring fake weapons as part of their costume so most kids wear the same crap every year and wear something different at home.

I hate that in a country where freedom should be encouraged we make ridiculous accommodations that have to affect everyone, even at the elementary school level. What message does that send? It would be better for kids that don't celebrate to have non-participatory activities so that all students that actually celebrate can do so and students that can't don't have to.

That sux. My son also goes to Christian school. They had a Halloween party, costumes and all. I guess it depends on the school. The youth pastor is big into horror flix and Halloween. Good luck and Happy Halloween.

Originally Posted by Misdomt

That sux. My son also goes to Christian school. They had a Halloween party, costumes and all. I guess it depends on the school. The youth pastor is big into horror flix and Halloween. Good luck and Happy Halloween.

My sisters kids go to one of the most conservative bible bashing christian schools in NJ - and THEY are having a Halloween party today.

*shakes head*

Tough situation.

My kids go to a regular suburban public school and even they don't do anything for Halloween or even have a fall festival. But, of course, no one at the school is banning Halloween-related tshirts either. They just can't wear costumes.

Unfortunately, I feel that as long as you have your children enrolled in a private/religious school - you have no say. They make the rules, whether you think they are right or wrong.

With that said, I too believe the notion of Halloween being a day of worshiping Satan would just go away too! It's up to you to teach your kids what you believe and what you feel Halloween is about. It can be a bit tough since we generally teach our children to respect and follow what the teachers say.

Good luck and if it's any comfort, you're likely not the only one that has to deal with these types of issues.

That teacher needs to be investigated. I'm not 100% but if he is telling children crap like that it may be construde as abuse.

My kids have " Crazy Hat & Silly Sock Day " I'm sure will quickly have it's own Forum. They have off on Monday for All Saints Day, which I think ( not sure ) was created by Christians to try & take over & stamp out the Pagens celebrations. ( Yeah Good Luck With That One ) I hope that teacher doesn't eat any candy or he would be in alliance with the Devil. Just because I used a capt D doesn't mean anything & are not the views of this writer.

As others mentioned, it varies from school to school but you are going to have a hard time changing their mind on what they believe.....That's a hard issue when the parent and teacher aren't on the same page becaue it sends mixed signals to your kid...You are sending them to a christian school to instill certain "values" but when certain "values" aren't shared, it can create a problem such as this....You don't want to tell your kid not to listen to what they are saying because that just confuses them, loses respect for the teacher and eventually causes a big mess the whole way around....I'd probably have a talk with my child versus the teacher because the teacher is probably set in their ways and your not going to get anywhere....It's one of those complicated talks but explain that religon is ultimately what HE decides it means- of course the bible lists what absolute sins are but alot of it is up to you to decide what it means....I would tell him that in this particular instance that you and "teacher" doesn't agree with what Halloween means BUT he should listen to what she has to say because she's very smart blah blah blah.....This will get you more much more mileage and keep your kid on track at the same time....Of course just my opinion ....ZR

The only thing you did by writing such a letter was waste your time. The fact of the matter is that the headmaster/principal is the one who needs to hear what the teachers are telling the children. That can be accomplished with a personal meeting. If the principal agrees with the teacher's "teaching", then end the conversation, politely, and move your child to another school next year. If the principal isn't in agreement, the teacher will be summoned, questioned, and told to reteach the children why the school doesn't celebrate Halloween.

Narrow mindedness is a plague that seems to affect those with very conservative "christian values". You don't need to have your children grow up to be unaccepting of other points of view. As others have noted, not all "christian" schools teach such a curriculum. Taking your child from the school, and encouraging other, like minded parents to do the same strikes deeply into the school's income and reputation.

Craig

Here's a saying I like for your teacher, school, etc. " a empty head often has the biggest tongue"