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How do I deal with the problem of not celebrating holidays when I become a kindergarten teacher?
I am a Jehovah’s Witness and therefore don’t celebrate any national holidays, but "when I grow up" I want to be a kindergarten teacher. I already know FOR SURE this is what I want to be and have helped out in elementary schools to make sure it is the right thing for me. Now I am just wondering how I would deal with the issue of holidays since I know they are a big deal in the younger grades.
Any kindergarten teachers out there who can give me some advice?

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While we would not want to help celebrate pagan ideals I think Bandit had the best answer so far. Whatever school/school system you are in would give you mandates on how to handle things. From what I have read it seems more and more schools are trying to remove religous themes so it might not even be an issue. Just always remember to show the same polite respect for the beliefs of others as you want shown for our beliefs.

IshVarLan Salinger | Mar 30, 2007

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well don’t celebrate the holiday, but make that time of year fun for them…its okay for you to give your students santa worksheets or jewish worksheets and let them participate in that time of year. remember as a teacher the students can practice their religion, but you have to be neutral anyway, so maybe you can have more of a "winter theme" during that time, and maybe the kids can each talk about what they do during that time of year, and your team members will know how to help you
lucky | Mar 28, 2007

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You view it as a teaching lesson. You are teaching the kids about the different holidays observed by people. It does not mean that you are celebrating the holiday. It means that you have a brain sitting on top of your head. So use it.
Pax | Mar 28, 2007

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I’m not a kindergarten teacher, but these days very little can be done to celebrate religious holidays in school anyway, like Easter and Christmas. If they are celebrated, it is in a non-religious way. For example, around the time of Thanksgiving you might have a lesson in being thankful and why we have Thanksgiving. But just like anything else in school, there’s always something taught that other people are not going to agree with philosophically… whether it’s history, phonics, sex-ed, holidays, culture, religion, mythology or health and diet information. Your job is to expose them to things they are going to encounter in American culture. You can teach aspects of holidays in our culture without having to gleefully wish everyone "Merry Christmas." Just say something like, "You too!!" and move on.
Angie | Mar 28, 2007

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Approach holidays as being part of different cultures. You can still make crafts around holiday times that aren’t actually holiday-related (flower projects around Easter, for example). I would recommend explaining your position to parents at the beginning of the year and inviting the "grade mothers" to host parties & crafts so that you can still honor your religious beliefs while allowing your students to have fun. I think some of my students’ parents were floored when they learned I wasn’t doing ANYTHING for Easter. They’re REALLY used to it in the younger grades, so doing nothing at all would be a big shock. Best wishes!
Elizabeth | Mar 28, 2007

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We aren’t allowed to celebrate any holidays at all at my school. Halloween is a "fall festival", Christmas/Hanukkah is "winter festival", Easter is "spring festival" and so on.
Kathy J | Mar 28, 2007

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First, most religious holidays are approached from an understanding others perspective, not celebratory – and you certainly should be okay with teaching kids the cultures and traditions of all people without endorsing or celebrating it yourself. Second, allowing the kids in your class to celebrate a holiday and celebrating it yourself are two different things.

Ex: I’m not Jewish, but my students learned about Jewish holidays, I had Hanukkah worksheets to teach them about the traditions. That doesn’t mean we celebrated it in my classroom or that I celebrated myself. I had Hanukkah symbols as part of my classroom decorations, but not part of my personal desk area.

Or just because the kids have a Valentine’s party that you are in charge of doesn’t mean that you have to celebrate the day. It’s a great learning experience for the kids. Tell them you don’t celebrate Valentine’s day, so instead of a valentine they can draw you a pretty picture. If you are uncomfortable with having to plan the party, ask a parent volunteer to do it.

Or give holidays a different name. At my son’s school they have a "Fall Ball" on Halloween.

There are lots of ways! But you will have to seperate your role as a teacher with your personal beliefs. Teaching about something, and honoring other’s traditions, does not mean you have the same beliefs.
Aspen | Mar 28, 2007

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Actually, your school will provide guidelines for how any holiday situation is handled.
bandit | Mar 29, 2007

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when you grow up why wouldnt you want to be a pioneer and just have part time employment to support your needs. im sure your parents could help you make more of your future then spending 4 to 7 years in college where there is all kinds of loose conduct to get into trouble.and your studies would definately take you away from your close friends at your kingdom hall.
gary d | Mar 29, 2007