Christians only please? Dia de los muertos school assignment?

I'm not Christian, but Jewish. For this question I think I'm probably better qualified than most Christians to answer since as a member of a minority religion this comes up more often for me than for you.

Why don't you do a little more research on the holiday, then take it to a few more people and your pastor as you say. If you find that the assignment truly offends your (and by extension your daughter's)conscience, then tell the teacher you're refusing the assignment and request an alternate.

That's certainly what I'd do if assigned something by a professor that I felt required me to celebrate a Christian holiday. In fact, I've had to do that more than once.

That is a little too sensitive a project to ask kids to do. I can understand that it is a significant holiday in Spanish speaking countries, so the object of learning about it is valid, but basically asking all students to make an offering to spirits goes a little too far. It is asking students to take part in a religious activity which not all students will agree with. I would simply let the teacher know that the activity crosses the line and have your daughter put together a "memorial" for the project. In the future, the teacher will need to more carefully outline a non-religious alternative to the "ofrenda". Clearly stating that students may simply make a memorial collage to celebrate a passed relative would be acceptable. As that is not clearly stated in the project, it looks like the kids have to make an "offering" to spirits. A celebration of a past life would be acceptable to all students and get across the idea of the holiday.

You're already not responding reasonably! La Dia de los Muertos is a special holiday in Mexico. The Spanish teach is just trying to change things up a bit to make it more interesting, to connect the language to an existing culture that speaks it, to connect the lessons to the season, and to help the students understand more about the tradition of another culture. What's the big deal?!

Why do you find something wrong with a photo of a dead relative and some mementos? You don't do that? Christians do it all the time. Perhaps you have a problem with the fact that the people who celebrate their ancestors on this day are predominantly Catholic and, for some strange reason, you think it's somehow connected to giving offerings to the dead. Do you realize how strange that sounds? How about just doing the assignment and learning something new?

Where, even in your description of the assignment, does it say that the teacher wants the students to "give offerings to the dead?" Not even the Mexicans, who regularly celebrate this day, make offerings to the dead. They remember their loved ones who have gone before them. You people don't do that? You don't have funerals or memorial services? You don't have eulogies? It's the same thing!!! <<shake of head; you people!>>

It is just a school assignment nothing more. There is nothing wrong with setting a day aside to remember those that have passed on. I mean we celebrate Martin Luther King Day as well as other days set aside as holidays( which incidently is a shortened form of Holy Day). Do not go off on a religious diatribe just because you believe that it will be an offering to the spirit of the one who has passed or attach some other kind of detrimental meaning to it.

When I was in High School my spanish teacher did something very similar. "Day of the Dead" is equivalent to our "Halloween"...they don't do trick or treating and the celebrations are very different but the ideas around the holiday are similar: Death.

It's not really a worship thing. More just a respect to the loved ones they have lost. The display the teacher wants is not really an "offering" it's more like a display of all the happy memories you had with that loved one. It's very similar to a Wake for a funeral. When you go in, you see pictures displayed in memory of that person. I know "day of the dead" sounds morbid but it's not. It's just a very important holiday to the Spanish and a great way for students to understand the language in a more cultural depth with spanish food and celebration.

I think you should lay low on this one. i am not of religions affiliation sorry but picking you battles is important. If you get the same reaction from other moms in the area then maybe its worth talking to the teacher about. But i see it more as a school project than a religious service. I'll bet in science class she has to do assignments concerning evolution too and that makes alot of people around me mad. But the kids grit their teeth and do it anyway because its the school's choice.

I would talk to your pastor about it, and do some research. I would also feel kind of uncomfortable with that assignment, since Dia de los Muertos ceremonies sometime sinvolve leaving offerings for dead relatives, etc. Maybe you could contact the teacher and ask her to give your daughter another assignment that is less in conflict with your beliefs?

First it depends on the school. This is a spanish tradition its like halloween if that bothers you and chrsitmas too then dont have your child attend that day. Many people dont think about their loved ones so this day is to remember them. Its actually a little nicer than halloween. Speak to the teacher and let them know your child will not participate.

Hmm... Well... what I would do is talk with your daughters teacher and tell her how you feel. I am a Christian as well and my birthday is on Dia de los muertos (November 2nd). As I am also a Christian.... I was brought up that... giving offerings to the dead is WRONG!!!

I would talk with your local pastor as well and see what he says. He might have some insight that you may not be seeing.

I know that when I was in the 6th grade and was taught about "evolution" my mom talked with our pastor and he told her that... while we may not believe in evolution, we should learn about it so that we may know why it is wrong. We can't say... this is wrong without knowing why it is wrong.

In doing both of these things, you might be able to get your daughter an alternative assignment.

Good Luck!

I am a Christian and I think it is a school assignment and nothing else. They are learning about another culture, that is why she is taking Spanish, isn't it? I personally think you are making to much of this. It can only be an "offering to the spirits" if that is what your daughters intent is. If she just does it as a school assignment, then there is no problem in my opinion.