DO the children even understand the holidays real meanings?

I'm not American, so obviously I don't understand what Thanksgiving is all about. I can remember learning at some point that the reason Indians were called such, is because Columbus was looking for India. He wasn't aware that American existed (hence why he 'discovered' it), and so decided it was India when he got there. Or something like that. I think that political correctness has gone way too far now, there are so many things that can't be taught or discussed for fear of upsetting someone from a different culture. I imagine that most people setting these rules are not from a minority themselves, and so don't have the first idea how others may actually feel. The one that sticks out for me is that children no longer sing 'Baa Baa Black Sheep', because the powers that be are worried it will offend a black person.

Well my children's school has done a great job of making sure that the true meaning of Thanksgiving comes through. As a matter of fact they did a program on it the other day- and it was great and got the entire point across. So both my 11 year old and 8 year know what it means. But I do know schools that don't teach the proper facts. Of course the parents are just as responsible. Hope this answer your question good luck and happy mylotting.

Great discussion! I think it's safe to say most children don't understand the true meaning of most of the holidays we celebrate in the U.S. Not only the "big ones" - Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc. - but also the "legal" holidays we all use as an excuse to have a cookout or use our day off to go shopping. Everything has gotten so completely commercialized the true meanings are overlooked even by adults. Thanksgiving happens to be one holiday that my grandkids did learn about in school. Several years ago, when they were small, they made up their own "program" for us on Thanksgiving Day right before dinner. My grandson was a Pilgrim and my granddaughter was an Indian - that's right, they called her an Indian. It's amazing how many holidays and celebrations we used to celebrate in school when I was a child that they're not allowed to today in case someone is offended. We used to dress up in school for Halloween then have a "parade" around the block by the elementary school. We exchanged Valentines on Valentine's Day. We had Christmas parties at Christmas. I'm sure there were some kids back then who didn't participate in some of these parties but I really don't recall. There was certainly no controversy about it. I do remember being friends in high school chorus with a Jewish girl who still took part in our chorus Christmas events. I think that's an excellent way for young people to learn early to respect each other's beliefs and customs. Annie

Do the adults?

Umm.. I suppose that the Elementary school teachers just throw out bunch of stupid things about thanksgiving nowadays? I'm not an American (yet) but I will be an American citizen (someday). If I remember correctly, isn't the thanksgiving holiday supposed to be all about the pilgrims from the Britain to thank the Native Americans, because the pilgrims couldn't get suitable lifestyle in the new world (back then) and the Native Americans (forgot which tribe) helped those pilgrims to live in their lands, and taught them this and that thing.. (their ways of hunting, eating, farming, etc etc) so to thank those Native Americans, that is really why the Americans celebrate the thanksgiving day.. am I right? (or wrong? lol) that's how I was taught when I first learned about the thanksgiving day, and I'm 99.9% sure that I got those facts right.. lol

Every thing we held dear has been eroded away in political correctness it is the same in England we cannot have a black board in our class rooms any more,we have to have a white board and now they think it might up set the white population,so I suppose it will become a information board.I don't really care what it is called and I don't suppose the ethnic people really give a damn either do why do they make problems that are not there.

I think that they have taken way too much out of the schools. It is getting more like they don't want them to believe in anything. My son came home and told me his friend got in trouble for using the word God, and he was using it properly. If I was that boys parents, I would be furious. It is sad!!

i do not think they know.they are just happy in their own world and enjoy their holidays and gifts of course.i have not seen anyone who is more carefree than them. happy mylotting.

yes you are right Indian was the term in history and if you are writing a historical paper you would write Indian, but if you are talking in todays language, native american, or canadian or whatever is the politically correct terms. You can however say, columbus came over and discovered the native peoples living here and he called them Indians because he thought he was actually in India and did not know there was a whole continent in between.

Never will in MY house!

I think it is terrible too. I try to teach my daughter the ways that I was taught when I was growing up. I do not want her to miss out on things just because the times have changed.

if my kids were young(they are in their twenties thank goodness) now I would probably home school them that way i could teach them the way i want them to learn. I hate all this politically correct stuff. Cant say anything anymore without offending some one. And i agree I remember the pilgrims and the INDIANS!!! And that is what i would teach my children about. Thanks for the discussion.

Well now a days children does not know how holidays should be utilized. they either sleep or keep loitering about. At our time we did recreation but now a days children are too lazy to do it and they simply sit back either watching TV or a movie or a computer game or music...

This is where parents have to step in and just teach the children what they want them to know. Schools have become...well...test-oriented. Schools in the state of Kentucky have to follow guidelines and are not allowed to deviate from those guidelines. Since Santa Claus isn't in the guidelines, they aren't allowed to teach it. Furthermore, there's a lot more than just the lack of holidays not being taught in schools these days. Many of the children aren't getting a real education at all. They are being taught to take tests. Not to learn. Many students can't read, write, or work simple math because of the "No Child Left Behind" plan. It's really sad that every child is getting left behind. The school systems weren't like this 15 years ago. Hopefully something will change or my children will be homeschooled.

It may happen everywhere. In our country, many kids begin to forget some of our traditional festivals. On the contrary, some festivals in English-speaking countries are known to them, such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc. Many younglings follow the ways people celebrate in their original countries. On Christmas Eve, they will send each other gift, eg. apples. In the supermarkets, you can buy many Christmas gifts. Christmas air pervades the world. I don't mean to say that these festivals are not good, but, I feel sorry that they nearly forget many traditional festivals of our country. In my opinion, we can celebrate the foreign festivals for it can make our life colorful and widen our horizons. However, it is improper to forget our own festivals. So the government has taken measures to remind them of the tradition. Nowadays, we can have one day off on some traditional festivals. Tipical culture is the root of a nation, we shouldn't forget it.