At our recent kgtn conference, John Hornblow challenged and provoked the issue of Christmas. For me, Xmas issues go much deeper than his implied cultural difference issues. All year we promote children directing their own learning. Why would we then, from Labour Weekend till 21.12 provide Xmas resources, sing Xmas songs, decorate the kgtn with the intention of creating this 'magical' time of the year. Is it magical because of the glitteryness or because of the imminent presents. It certainly is not because of 'love and goodwill to all men'. Instead, adults set children up for less than desirable behaviour and then say "If you don't behave, Santa Claus won't come." No magic there. Financial issues deepen along with stress at work, stressed marriages, too many office parties, sadness, loneliness, confused children, tired shopping mothers. No magic there. I see commercialism, materialism, greed, shiny junk mail, TV advertising adding to all these social issues.
Then with yearly clean up due, the teachers throw out the Xmas tree. It's been up for so long it is yellow anyway, but imagine when the children see the tree on the compost pile. The magic gets very confusing now. Is Xmas really three days away or is it over?
So with some 9 weeks till Xmas, teachers have forgotten all about the possibilities that children bring when we follow their own interests and children direct their own learning. Yes they may choose Xmas as an interest, and that is fine for as long as it is their interest. Children who are empowered in their own learning are able to use resources to create expressions of Xmas in their own way. But meanwhile the caterpillars are growing, the vegetables are ready for harvest, the sunflowers are reaching the sky, there are rocks to be overturned, there are other songs and stories that we love too.
And yes cultural differences must be listened to. Te Whariki our valued curriculum states under 'Contribution Goal 1, Children experience an environment where there are equitable opportunities for learning irrespective of... ethnicity or background. ... Children develop confidence that their family background is viewed positively within the earlychildhood setting.' The choice left for families who do not celebrate Xmas is either to remove their child from kgtn during the lead up to Xmas (9 weeks) or to ask their child to sit out of mattime while the Xmas songs are practised. Both choices are very sad and confusing.
