My child is a star!

The second and third graders had their annual winter presentation for their parents about a week before school let out for winter break. I had heard a bit about the program for several weeks before the great production. Mostly I had ridden herd on the violin practicing. Actually, that consisted of telling the child that I don't believe in fighting about extracurricular activities, so if she chooses to practice she gets to keep the violin. If she chooses to not practice she is welcome to go with me to return the violin. She practiced daily prior to the program. I can't say her technique or tone has increased in relation to the amount of practice, but she did memorize all the music she was required and some she was not.

But that didn't make her a star. That just made her a little more confident than some of the other violin students.

What made her a star was her refusal to accept one of the starring roles in the production. She was the only second grader offered the part as one of the three narrators. She declined because she didn't want to do more than any of her classmates. (I think that translates to she doesn't want to be different. Chill says maybe she is trying hard to get to go to the same school two consecutive years--something she has not accomplished during her three years in school).

Anyway, those not assigned a major speaking part were put into two categories: Clouds and Stars. She really, really, really wanted to be a cloud. However, she, like a majority of the kids, became a star. Parents were given no directions regarding how to make a costume other than anything goes and it can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. No two were supposed to be identical (guess stars are like snowflakes in that respect). I saw one kid with a very elaborate costume that included glittery face paint. Most kids wore t-shirts with stars attached--either by safety pins or painted on. A few wore shirts with pre-printed stars. Only a handful were in something that would pass for a Halloween costume (my hope for next year).

But what surprised me the most was the complete and total lack of separation of church and state in the content of the play. While the Christmas program at the catholic school last year did not mention Jesus at all, this one was about stars competing to be the star that led the wise men to the Christ child. Once God had chosen the star who displayed humility and who understood that Jesus was the true star of the show, kids wearing traditional Sunday School nativity costumes wandered onto the stage and the show ended with a Christmas carol.

I really am living in a different culture than what I have experienced most of my life. I wonder how many non-Christian children were involved in this production. Seems to me that I want my church to teach religion to my child and the school to teach her academics. I would think all parents would feel that way--but then I guess some parents want their own particular brand of religion taught to their children and their neighbor's children, and what the neighbors want for their own children is not important?