The private schools cater to the wants of the parents. If the parents are (majority) western then they will expect the schools to celebrate Christmas. Also - most people want their kids to be taught be English teachers who will be accustomed to making a fuss for Christmas.
Its a business at the end of the day - the customers requirements will drive the product.
Yes, the schools get time-off for the Eid holiday, but no events occur for this special occasion in the manner that they do for Christmas.
I don't think that majority non-muslim student body is a good enough reason. Living in a muslim country, it is a great educational opportunity to deepen the cultural understanding of their surroundings. This should be built into the curriculum in some form.
However, there is no Islamic tradition of massive commercialised celebrations for these events. Eid is traditionally a celebration spent with family. And Islam does not need to compete with the Christian/wetern tradition of celebration.
If its not in the culture, why should it be in the schools? That said, any parents that want their school to do something should just form a group at that school and take a proposal to the management. If its a good school, they should listen.
Its not just the schools - when did you last see Eid decorations??
In Qatar, we have holidays for Christmas.......falling on Friday hence Sunday, Dec 27 is off for us :)
Point here is discrimination..
my kids were fasting and struggling during the month of Ramadan (since last 2 years), bcoz schools were opened in Sept....anyways that time has gone...
same as over here... christmas is not a national holiday in muslim countries... but there's also no holiday on christmas... even though not optional...!
I did not ask schools to specifically celebrate Eid. My, was a question only to reach an understanding. I see an insecurity or resentment in the answers I am receiving :-)
For example, there are hundreds/ thousands of Muslims studying in Westren schools. Spending a whole week to celebrate a westren event as a routine non-optional activity plus giving day off as well does not make sense and look funny when we compare to the silence observed for local events such as Eid.
“Government schools not celebrating Eid”. First, this is not true. Second, using the same token, if a western school does not recognize Eid for an activity day before they split for holidays, then why make other non-local or non-Muslim holidays so integrated non-optional parts of curriculum/ school activities?
Please I am open to understand your true view point, but let’s discuss it with an open mind and truthful to the subject. After all its a discussion.
@ QHell,i believe you answered your own question mate,"they get time off for Xmas & New year" just like they do for Eid...as genesis rightly pointed out,even Govt. schools get days off,there's no celebration as such in the schools,the celebration is with family & friends...
They get time off to celebrate chrismas or new year or x,y,z, but then why such events are promoting but not Eid as a local custom for awarness and bringing people together?
If you look at it, its a bit funny, if not serious :-)
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The private schools cater to the wants of the parents. If the parents are (majority) western then they will expect the schools to celebrate Christmas. Also - most people want their kids to be taught be English teachers who will be accustomed to making a fuss for Christmas.
Its a business at the end of the day - the customers requirements will drive the product.
Only Love & Respect of Others Make us Human.
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There are many countries which celebrate Eid with hundred of years tradition. Sami Yousef depicts a nice example in "This is the day of Eid" video.
GCC is not a good example, where most of us leave for other places to spend our holiday in Dubai or elsewhere:-)
But, then I am not talking about forced celebration. I am trying to understand the following in-terms of academic contest.
Cultural awareness
Cultural competency
Raising kids in 3rd culture!
same is true here in Dubai...
Yes, the schools get time-off for the Eid holiday, but no events occur for this special occasion in the manner that they do for Christmas.
I don't think that majority non-muslim student body is a good enough reason. Living in a muslim country, it is a great educational opportunity to deepen the cultural understanding of their surroundings. This should be built into the curriculum in some form.
However, there is no Islamic tradition of massive commercialised celebrations for these events. Eid is traditionally a celebration spent with family. And Islam does not need to compete with the Christian/wetern tradition of celebration.
If its not in the culture, why should it be in the schools? That said, any parents that want their school to do something should just form a group at that school and take a proposal to the management. If its a good school, they should listen.
Its not just the schools - when did you last see Eid decorations??
In Qatar, we have holidays for Christmas.......falling on Friday hence Sunday, Dec 27 is off for us :)
Point here is discrimination..
my kids were fasting and struggling during the month of Ramadan (since last 2 years), bcoz schools were opened in Sept....anyways that time has gone...
Next year, they would suffer only a week :)
Only Love & Respect of Others Make us Human.
===========================================
My focus will still remain Qatar and its local customs and events. What is cultural respect, cultural competency, or cultural awareness?
Off course, KSA did not lead or invent these words
same as over here... christmas is not a national holiday in muslim countries... but there's also no holiday on christmas... even though not optional...!
I wasn’t referring to the holidays.. What I meant is, there is no celebration at schools
Eid is not a National Holiday but an optional day off for Muslim community :(
Discrimination in celebration of religious festivals.....
Say in schools, prior christmas and new year, authorities decorate the whole school with Trees and Light unlike during Eid......
Now comment For and Against....
What do you mean not Governmental schools celebrate eid??!
Of course they do. Are you talking about Independent schools? coz they have 10 days off.
Only Love & Respect of Others Make us Human.
===========================================
I did not ask schools to specifically celebrate Eid. My, was a question only to reach an understanding. I see an insecurity or resentment in the answers I am receiving :-)
For example, there are hundreds/ thousands of Muslims studying in Westren schools. Spending a whole week to celebrate a westren event as a routine non-optional activity plus giving day off as well does not make sense and look funny when we compare to the silence observed for local events such as Eid.
“Government schools not celebrating Eid”. First, this is not true. Second, using the same token, if a western school does not recognize Eid for an activity day before they split for holidays, then why make other non-local or non-Muslim holidays so integrated non-optional parts of curriculum/ school activities?
Please I am open to understand your true view point, but let’s discuss it with an open mind and truthful to the subject. After all its a discussion.
Thanks
@ QHell,i believe you answered your own question mate,"they get time off for Xmas & New year" just like they do for Eid...as genesis rightly pointed out,even Govt. schools get days off,there's no celebration as such in the schools,the celebration is with family & friends...
They also have international week to celebrate cultures of all the children in the school.
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"HE WHO DARES WINS"
Derek Edward Trotter
Not even Government schools celebrates Eid. Why do you expect international ones to do so?
In addition, I do know that many international schools does explain to children why do Muslims celebrate both Alfitr & Al adha Eids
QHell, I assume that the most of the Kids in these western schools are not Muslims so why should they celebrate a Muslim event?
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"HE WHO DARES WINS"
Derek Edward Trotter
Only Love & Respect of Others Make us Human.
===========================================
They get time off to celebrate chrismas or new year or x,y,z, but then why such events are promoting but not Eid as a local custom for awarness and bringing people together?
If you look at it, its a bit funny, if not serious :-)
They get time off to celebrate Eid, don't they. I don't think any western school will be open during this festive period?
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"HE WHO DARES WINS"
Derek Edward Trotter