[HANASHIR:12868] Re: request for satb on all levels

[Marti Nerenstone <mnerenstone...>]

I don't know about Canada, but in the United States we have laws concerning the
"separation of church and state" which includes public schools - sounds as if
some eductional/outreach activity is in order - I suggest folks talk with the
local chapter of the ADL (Anti-Defamation League)

Karen Gall wrote:

> Oh this sounds so familiar.
>
> Our children were the only Jewish students in their elementary school.
> Each year I would go into the school and explain about Chanukah and bring
> latkes and cookies and dreidles, etc. I also would go in to speak to one
> other class whose teacher always included a multi-cultural approach to the
> season in her class.
>
> My children happened to love to perform. Our oldest daughter, in particular,
> had a particularly wonderful voice and won honours at all the music
> festivals.  This reflected well on the school music teacher who did not
> particularly encourage her or even compliment her on her achievements.
>
> Each year I would talk to this teacher about including some Chanukah related
> song so our children would feel comfortable and welcome at their own school
> concerts.
>
> I suggested an international or multicultural approach to the event and also
> suggested that there be more secular/winter-related songs as well. Every
> year there were excuses.  It didn't matter how early I spoke to her I was
> told: "the Christmas Concert is already set and we can't make any changes".
>
> Or one year, there was the excuse that the French Immersion teachers
> insisted on their songs being in French.  I even found a little French ditty
> about counting the Chanukah candles - but no, that year my daughter's class
> was going to do a French Canadian folk dance.
>
> I offered music.  I offered tapes.  I offered to arrange the songs for the
> appropriate age levels of their classes.  I offered to come in and teach the
> music. The answer was no, no, no.
>
> I went to the principal....and was told the music teacher made these
> decisions.  I went to the parent-teacher committee and was told that "Canada
> was a Christian country and anyone who wasn't should go back to where he
> came from".
>
> Two years after my youngest child left the school, I was phoned by one of
> the new teachers in the school.  The new principal had decided to have a
> "Christmas around the World" theme for the Christmas Concert.  He assigned
> Chanukah to the grade 2 & 6 classes.  The music teacher had told this
> teacher that I might be able to help.  Once again, I went in to that school.
>   I brought my tapes and books and candles and dreidles.....  When I was
> finished, the music teacher said to me.  Oh, I didn't know what Chanukah was
> about.  You have music?  Can I borrow your tapes.....?
>
> What your friend has encountered is antisemitism.  I am sure that there are
> members of our list who are involved in choirs and who can point you in the
> direction of specific titles and arrangements of challenging music, arranged
> for satb, for all levels of choirs.  Try Transcontinental music.  Their
> catalogue is on-line.
>
> And good luck to your friend.
>
> Karen
>
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