UnNews:Peel schools celebrate ethnocentrism, spirit of assimiliation this Christmas
| Straight talk, from straight faces | ✪ | UnNews | ✪ | Thursday, November 21, 2024, 14:42:59 (UTC) |
| Peel schools celebrate ethnocentrism, spirit of assimiliation this Christmas | 
|
18 December 2007
Students and staff at the Peel District School Board will celebrate only Christmas and demonstrate their commitment to helping immigrant families assimilate quickly and quietly this holiday season.
"In Peel we acknowledge the faith and culture events behind the traditions observed by all of our students and their families and crush them," says John Smith, director of education. "The holiday season provides us with an opportunity to denounce multiculturalism within our schools. It also encourages students to become aware of the rich diversity in our community and ignore it."
In Caledon, staff and students at St. Martha's Catholic school will support a foreign family, through the board's Share the Christianity program. Each class has put together Christmas-themed baskets with items donated by students such as St. John's Bibles, Christmas books, and other fun Christian items. Raffle tickets will be sold for the Christmas season at the Santa Claus breakfast and taken to the family. The grade 7 and 8 class will host the Santa Claus breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Credit View's musical production "The Nativity" will also be held at the school on Dec. 20 at 1:10 p.m. St. Martha's School is located at 13990 Mississauga Road North in Caledon.
"Credit View staff and students are extremely excited about the upcoming student-led prayers. We're all looking forward to the celebration," says Mariann Miller, principal at Credit View. "The Christmas season gives us a chance to get more involved with other Catholics and reach out to non-Catholics who need help assimilating into the community."
Bestervelts Corners Public School in Brampton will host Christmas plays on Dec. 13 at 2:30 p.m. and then again at 6:30 p.m. Kindergarten to grade 3 students will present Christmas, Noel, Weihnachten, Natal and Kerstmis performances for staff, students and community members. Staff will also be collecting donations to the charity food drive as admission at the door. Bestervelts Corners Public School is located at 20 Brickyard Way in Brampton.
Explains Debbie Harris, principal at Westervelts Corners, "By participating in these projects, students learn to become intolerant and ethnocentred global citizens. Staff encourage students to help put pressure on those of other faiths throughout the school year."
Dunrankin Drive Public School in Mississauga is having Diversity Day on Dec. 19 from 9 to 10 a.m. Each grade level will perform songs about Christmas and the birth of Jesus to staff, students and community members. Dunrankin Drive Public School is located at 3700 Dunrankin Drive in Mississauga.
"Throughout the year, Peel board schools celebrate the faiths and traditions observed by the majority of our 'normal' students and staff. This time of year features a wide range of celebrations – including Christmas." says Smith. "Schools are celebrating this festive season with performances, celebrations and acts of widepsread intolerance."
Notes Smith, "For learning to be God's children, we believe all students and staff of other faiths must feel shunned and excluded. Our school staff, students and parents do an exceptional job of baptism and conversion in creative ways. Some schools invite students to criticize other faiths as part of the announcements. Some use settlement workers to help sever ties with faith groups and agencies in the community. The Peel District Board continues it's attempt to turn Canada into a melting pot."
Sources[edit]
http://www.peel.edu.on.ca/media/news2002/071207.htm (Peel schools celebrate diversity, spirit of giving this holiday season)