Schools Should Take The Time

To Celebrate

To the Editor:

As a new Newtown resident, I am awed by the small-town charm and beauty. The Labor Day Parade, Halloween on Main Street and the town’s Christmas tree lighting were all memorable events that exceeded my expectations. Newtown is truly a unique place to live! Clearly, retaining and nurturing a sense of community is desirable and important here.

But hold on a minute! This is all in stark contrast to what I have seen in my children’s school. Our family has been disappointed that at Head O’ Meadow Elementary this part of our heritage and culture is completely absent. According to a school official I spoke with, this is to “preserve the separation of church and state.” But wait a minute, not all holiday symbols are banned; the White House had 40 Christmas trees in it. How sad that at our school, there were no signs of any celebration going on, naked walls. When I inquired about how I could help with a class party, I was asked, “Why do the children need a party?,” which I would ask back, “Why did the staff need a holiday party?” I am also puzzled as to why some schools and classes had simple 30 to 60-minute celebrations, and some were not? The response was, it’s not in the third and fourth grade curriculum. That’s just not fair to them to see other grades having celebrations!

Is anyone else alarmed, saddened, or even disgusted by this?

I think we can all agree that high academic expectations and standards for our children are of the utmost importance. I also believe that students, regardless of their age, need to feel a sense of community in their classrooms and schools to be able to create an environment in which they can meet and exceed those academic standards.

Therefore, the parents of one of the fourth grade classes found it necessary to hold a winter holiday party at one of the student’s houses. The children enjoyed themselves and celebrated together, and it didn’t matter what their culture was, all that mattered is their was joy and laughter. We even yelled jingle bells when taking their picture as loud as we could. So on behalf of those who wish to be verbal about the holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa or whatever your family celebrates! I encourage those of you who complain about different holidays to reconsider. Don’t take the magic out of the holidays, or the magic out of these children’s lives. The world is hard enough with 9/11 and wars going on.

As far as the musical “Celebrate You, Celebrate Me” just a few days before the holidays, the parents all commented it would have been nice to hear some holiday music, from the “approved list” from Newtown School District, i.e. “Let It Snow!” Tolerance for one another in this country is developed when we learn to appreciate each other and learn of the joys within each of our cultures, not by avoiding all holidays all together.

The saddest comment I heard, was when my son came home from school one day and with tears in his eyes and said, “Mom, it doesn’t even feel like Christmas!”

I believe that spending 30-45 minutes of class time a few times a year celebrating together is an investment well worth academic time lost. It’s an investment in building and valuing community now and in the future. What’s happening in your child’s school?

Cheryl Arend

14 Castle Hill Road, Newtown                                 January 14, 2005