I agree that communicating with the teacher about concerns is a great idea. Anytime a parent has a question or concern about an assignment, it is good advice to contact the teacher to get a better understanding of the assignment.

I like the idea you have about the student looking into another culture. I could see reasoning behind letting him learn about a culture that is different from his own. I do believe that the parent needs to communicate with the teacher about concerns.

I like the idea of allowing students with first hand knowledge of particular cultures to share their own experiences. This could add a personal touch to the assignment and allow the students to learn even more from someone who has experienced a culture first hand.

I completely agree. I do not think you should be upset because he was not asked to bring French or Romanian food. If he were to bring those types of food, he would not be learning something new about another culture. Although it's great that he has a strong French and Romanian culture, the purpose of the activity is to learn something new about different cultures.

I agree exactly. Opening the student up to as much culture and food as possible will help them learn so much more.

I agree exactly. Opening the student up to as much culture and food as possible will help them learn so much more.

I agree exactly. Opening the student up to as much culture and food as possible will help them learn so much more.

I think its a great opportunity to open up the child's mind to a new world

I agree that they should not be upset about the situation. I think another good way for the student to express his culture would be to compare and contrast his Christmas culture to the German culture. This way he is sharing his culture as well.

I totally agree with this statement, this is for students to be exposed to other cultures, but if you feel concern you should contact the teacher.

I agree! Perhaps he could even bring a dish from the country he's assigned to as well as an additional one that represents his heritage.

This was the exact same idea I had after reading the post. Perhaps the son could create his assigned dish as well as bring another dish to represent his heritage. He should do this only if Romanian and French dishes have not already been assigned though, because if he brings a dish and is able to elaborate on the dish and French or Romanian cultural experience better than the student who was assigned the dish, a problem could arise.

I think that the teacher wanted to expose every child to a different culture other than their own as well.

I agree that the teacher wanted to expose all of the children to new customs, this is why their child was given a country that they were not familiar with.

I have to agree that the teacher wanted all of the students to be exposed to a new region around the world. So by giving him an unfamiliar place he was learning something new that he could compare to his prior knowledge. -Kayla Mullins

I agree with you that this is suppose to be a new learning experience of different cultures around the world for them to learn. It is also beneficial to the parents to learn about the cultures to because if their child has a friend from that culture they will already have some information about it.

America is a very diverse country that has many different cultures. I agree that this assignment allows the student to learn about another culture in the hopes that he will learn to respect all cultures even the ones that are different than his.

I agree, that the teacher was simply trying to expose the student to more cultures and increase his global awareness. Like many others have said, though, if there is a concern, you should always communicate with the teacher! It is better to talk it out the allow problems to grow.

I agree with your solution. I think it would be beneficial to learn about a new country. Perhaps he could take his newly acquired information and compare and contrast it to his French and Romanian roots.

I agree; I feel that the child will get more out of this assignment by exploring and new and unfamiliar culture.

I agree with you that the teacher is trying to give the student an opportunity to learn about a new culture different form their own. I'm sure that they are other children in the class with a wide variety of ethnic culture who were also assigned different cultures to learn about. This will enhance the assignment for the students.

I like this idea. If he wants to share some things from his culture that he already has background on, he can do so in addition to the assignment that the teacher has assigned.

I agree that the student will get the chance to explore another country and will get to learn about that country.

I think that you are correct. I did not think about him learning about a "new" culture. Part of the activity is for him to be learning and he might not learn as much if he learns about his own heritage. I like the idea of the student getting to put input in when they discuss French and Romanian food.

I agree. Your son could be used as an aid and source for a student who was assigned France or Germany. This way he could still use his knowledge to be helpful and he could feel proud of his culture. Both you and your wife could also be helpful for that student assigned either France or Germany. This way all the students will be doing some new research.

I agree. I know it's easy to get wrapped up in the "should-have-dones" and "whys" but I think the teacher just wanted a fair opportunity for her students to learn about a new culture. It makes it fair to her students who don't have a different heritage. Everyone is required to go home, learn about a culture that they don't already know, regardless of their own, and determine a food to bring in. She isn't trying to help him learn more about his own heritage, but rather expand his learning opportunities and challenge him to learn about one with which he doesn't already know.

I also think it is easy to get caught up in a reason to be mad or argue. When in the reality of things the child is going to be able to learn about a new culture all together. I understand it takes away a "connection" from the child's own culture, but it is so exciting to learn about a new one.

I agree that is is possible that the teacher wanted to make this assignment a learning opportunity for your son. It is not often that students are given such assignments where they learn about cultures they are not familiar with. i think it would be a good idea to let your child do research on the culture of Germany and he could even compare it to his knowledge of Romanian and French cultures.

I also do not think the teacher intentionally ignored the student's heritage. I commend you as a parent for thinking the situation through rationally. I know in order to avoid these types of situations I will assign countries randomly to students. I also want students to learn about countries they may not be familiar with, which is why I do not allow them to choose their own. This lessens the possibility that students will even get a country that have done research on in the past.

I agree that it is good that you are seeking advice from others before possibly starting an argument with your child's teacher. If you still don't feel the assignment of Germany is justified after talking to others, you should ask the teacher for further clarification on their decision.

The parent could also get in contact with the teacher and request that the son have a chance to share his own culture at some point in the school year.

As an alternative, the student could be allowed to discuss elements of Romanian or French Christmas celebrations if these countries were assigned to a different student in the classroom. Because the student is knowledgeable about Christmas in Romania and France, his information would be valuable and could help inform his classmates about the customs of these cultures.

I agree that the purpose of the assignment is for the children to learn about unfamiliar cultures. By assigning countries that are his parent's homeland, he would not be learning anything new but only make a food that is probably a regularly prepared dish in his home.

I agree, it is definitely an issue the parents should take personally. It is possible the teacher intentionally assigned countries that do not relate to the ethnicity of the students. If a student is assigned their own cultural backgrounds, it could give them an advantage over students who are not assigned a country in which they are familiar. By randomly assigning countries all students are on the same playing field.

I like your idea of if each child is on an equal playing field if they were randomly assigned countries to study. Then they would all be able to learn something new about a country. I do think it takes away a "connection" from the student seeing that it is not about their own culture.

I definitely think this is a great learning experience for the child. I can see your point as to "it wouldn't be fair" if the student was assigned a country they are familiar with. I can see that being similar to assigning another student the U.S. for their project. I agree that the father should not be upset and just take it as a way to learn new information.

I agree that the teacher is most likely trying to expand each student's knowledge base and research techniques! Being upset is understandable, however, the goal is to broaden each child's understanding of different cultures, so letting him learn about different region's and their customs was a smart idea!

Assigning the students the countries related to their own cultural background may not have been the goal of the lesson. As you stated, the teacher is apparently wanting the students to learn about cultures other than their own. When you are assigned a country in which you are familiar, there is little learning involved. I feel the parents should embrace the assignment as a learning opportunity for their child.

I agree that the teacher is probably trying to get the students to further their knowledge in culture's different from their own. By having them bring food from a different culture, they would have to complete some research first, which would open their eyes to different parts of the world.

You make a valid point. I think that, although the assignment lends itself for all students to learn about new cultures, there wouldn't be any reason that the son could not do the assignment for Germany, as well as share information about French and Romanian cultures, too. I think this is a fabulous time to learn about different cultures and embrace differences.

I agree with you 100%. I don't believe that the student would gain much from preparing dishes that he and his family are already familiar with. I believe that the purpose of this activity was to educate and inform students of the many different traditions, beliefs, and culinary delights that are associated with Christmas and the holiday season in countries around the world. I think that the parents would have to be much more involved in helping their children learn about and come up with dishes from their countries if they were unfamiliar to them. It would give them the opportunity to learn about new holiday traditions together as a family. This activity is great for a 2nd grade class because at the end of the activity, everyone gets to enjoy foods from all over the world. It would be a great opportunity to begin teaching the students about cultural diversity. I know that I would love the assignment and might incorporate into my classroom just so I could try the different foods and treats! Great post :)

The teacher wanted the students to expand their knowledge about Christmas around the world. The purpose of the project is to give the student an opportunity to learn about another culture that they may not be familiar with.

I agree with your post exactly. I believe the teacher probably had the idea of letting that child learn something knew since he does have such strong cultural roots from your countries.

I agree with your post, however I think it would be cool for the students to have the opportunity to take ownership of who they are especially when their parents (not just distant relatives) immigrated into the United States. I think the students would enjoy telling about their families. They may actually learn something from their research on their own culture as well. I would expect they would listen to the presentations of the other students in the classroom allowing for learning opportunities as well.

I agree with you on the purpose of the assignment. The teacher wanted children to learn about diverse cultures which were different from the ones they already know about. Your suggestion on bringing in an additional dish from France or Romania is great. I would go a step further and by preparing a short presentation about the dishes and holiday traditions that your son could present to the class.

I agree, I think the assignment was to learn about various cultures as well. Great idea with bringing in two dishes!

I agree that the boy is practiced in the French and Romanian culture, however his teacher assigning him Germany will allow him to get to know another culture. All of the students in the class are being assigned a country that they are not familiar with so it is only fair that he be assigned one that he is not familiar with as well.

You are thinking in the same way as I am. By completing an assignment over a different culture, the student will have new experiences that will allow them to actually learn something new. If he were to complete the assignment over a culture in which he is already familiar, very little learning will take place.

I completely agree. Although it is awesome that he knows a lot about several cultures, it is good for him to learn about other cultures as well. The assignment is a learning experience, and it was not meant to express what he already knows about other cultures.

I agree with your response. I believe the teacher just wanted her students to learn about other countries and did not intend for parents to get upset over the project.

I feel as though the teacher most likely assigned the countries randomly as well. I think it may be a bit unrealistic to expect the teacher to assign the country based on what culture the student actually is because, chances are, that there are more students from a single country or the same backgrounds, and then the students would have very little opportunity to learn from about different experiences.

I agree that communication is the key. I would not be helpful if a simple Christmas assignment got out of hand by a simple misunderstanding.

This is very true. I'm sure the teacher has a reasonable explanation for why she gave your student the country she did. Rationally speaking it out is the absolute best way to go.

I don't think it would hurt for the parent to talk with the teacher about the assignment, but as a parent myself I understand the importance of getting children and adults out of their comfort zone. The child is already exposed to their culture, but they need to broaden their thinking as well as the parents about the different cultures that reside in the US.

I think you are correct...the teacher did not mean to assign a different culture but just wanted to make sure that every culture was represented.

I agree that the teacher is probably wanting him to learn about an unknown culture. Maybe you could offer to help "consult" the students who were assigned Romania and France.

I agree that the teacher will most likely allow your son to provide input on his heritage when those countries are discussed. By allowing him to learn about a new country and share about his own, the assignment will be a great learning experience for your son.

I agree with you. I believe that the whole idea behind the assignment is for the students to get an idea of the different cultures around the world. If the child would have been assigned a culture that he was already familiar with then it almost would have been an advantage because he would not have to do as much research. Assigning hi a different country allows for him to do research and learn the ways of another culture.

I agree with you. If the teacher did know the student's heritage she probably wanted him to explore other cultures - and there is nothing wrong with that.

Yes as a teacher, we need to have knowledge of the students' background. Christmas is a religious holiday, so really the unit should not be about Christmas. I remember when I was a student in elementary it was a kid in my classroom that was Jehovah Witness and they consider Christmas as a piget holiday. The teacher would call our parents seasonal parties. For example a christmas party was consider to be a winter party, Thanksgiving was called a Fall party.

I totally agree with your posts. By the teacher assigning students countries they are unfamiliar with, the students are forced to learn new things and appreciate other cultures.

I agree that the parent should not be upset because the purpose of the assignment is to learn about other cultures. It would not make sense to assign the student his own culture.

I am intrigued about your solution to the problem that the parent presented about bringing food from the other culture to learn more about another country. I think this perspective is a great one to support the teacher's reasoning of not asking the student to bring French or Romanian food to the celebration. Communication is always the solution to problems that I suggest to people that are unhappy with a situation.

I also agree that the teacher probably would have been easy to approch with this issue. I also think she would be willing to allow your son to teach the class about his heritage along with the region she assigned to him. -Kayla Mullins

I couldn't agree with you more. Once the teacher is made aware of the issue, I am certain she will make every effort to accommodate the parents wishes. Teachers need to be allowed to make mistakes just like everybody else.

I agree that communication is very important. I believe that the teacher just assigned the countries randomly to the students and did not intend to upset anyone. If the parent would like to help his child with a dish related to their cultural background then he should discuss it with the teacher.

I agree completely with your suggestions. I think the point of the assignment is to research; if the student shares a culture that they are already familiar with there wouldn't be any need for research. With that being said, I am sure that the teacher would be thrilled with the idea of parents coming into the classroom to provide the students with additional information about their specific holiday routines. Students love guest educators!

I like your idea of having students share some topics from their personal Christmas traditions and comparing it to the country's traditions. I definitely think at some point the students should be finding more information about the Christmas traditions and not just making food. If the purpose was to expose students to new countries and traditions, I think there should be a part of the assignment that requires students to actually tell facts about their findings.

I agree with your thoughts, and think that giving each student the opportunity to learn about different cultures and countries is a wonderful experience! It also involves the family and can bring up some great discussions at home about different things that he can learn.

Great post. I agree with you. The teacher may be trying to get the student to learn about a different heritage than his own. He may can contribute his knowledge of his heritage in another way or project.

Absolutely, your son's input when his culture is presented will be valuable and will create good discussion.

It's funny how parents often do not see the whole picture of a classroom, just their child. We, as egocentric individuals, are guilty of the exact same thing. As you mentioned, I, too, believe the goal of assigning the child with a different county other than that of his heritage was to provide the students with the opportunity to learn about a different culture. We all need help seeing and understanding the "big picture" of this beautiful world that we share.

I agree that perhaps the teacher chose the countries in order for the children to explore out of their comfort zone. As stated previously in my post, not every student can have the "American" dish, so they need to learn something new.

I agree with you. The teacher may have wanted the students to view different cultures from their own. This would allow the students to understand more in dept about another country. The student could add or reassure what another student is presenting about his culture.

I also felt that the teacher wanted the children to learn about 'new' or unfamiliar cultures, which is why the child was assigned a culture he was not familiar with.

I agree giving a student a country of his own heritage would be doing him a disservice because he would not be able to learn about a new culture like the rest of the class.

I would agree and assume the countries were assigned randomly (I do that in my class to avoid any of these types of issues). As you said, there is also the idea that the teacher wants to expose students to a variety of cultures and traditions. If you feel strongly about it, ask if the teacher would allow you to bring in some elements of French and Romanian Christmas traditions. I am sure they will not mind (I know I wouldn't).

I agree that perhaps the teacher simply wanted the student to learn about a different culture. I think that it is totally up to the teacher as to what country she assigns each student. I think that it will be very beneficial for the student because they will become more knowledgeable about several different cultural traditions.

I also agree with you. I think that parents have rights to question the assignment. However, as a teacher, sometimes I think parents are too quick to react to something that has happened to their child, and not really think about the entire class in general, which is how a teacher must view an assignment, grades, or whatever it is. In this situation, I believe the teacher wanted students to learn about another culture. To avoid fighting or confusion, she chose to randomly assign cultures to students. This way, students are learning about a new culture and not one with which they already know. It also makes it fair to students who might not have a diverse heritage. They have the same assignment and requirements and do not have any "easier" of a time completing the assignment.

The teacher has no excuse in not knowing her students. As educators we must be culturally aware and sensitive toward the culture of our students and always seek opportunities to incorporate such knowledge in the learning environment.

I think it's quite possible that the teacher simply forgot about the child's heritage. I think we all know how busy things get in families and school around the holidays. People make mistakes and overlook things at times, even teachers. She needs to be given the opportunity to be made aware of the issue and fix the problem.

I definitely think that the teacher should know the culture of each student. Knowing their heritage shows that the teacher takes interest in each of her children. In order for the best learning to take place, the teacher must be able to utilize each student's culture and embrace it in the classroom. If the teacher is looking to do an assignment like this, I think having each student bring in a dish from the heritage is the best idea.

The first thought that crossed my mind after reading this scenario was the first statement you shared here: Perhaps the teacher was unfamiliar with the child's culture, or simply forgot. With so much on your plate as a teacher, it is very easy to overlook or forget certain 'obvious' things you know about your students.

I agree with you. The teacher may have forgot about your sons culture. With all the responsibilities a teacher has, it may have slipped the mind of the teacher.

I totally agree. Teachers want students to have new experiences and, if the student already knows about French and Romanian cultures, it might be better for him to complete this assignment over a different culture or country. In my opinion, the teacher is just trying to extend the student's learning and making it something with which he will not be bored.

I agree that the teacher may have known, but she may not have known or remembered. Plus teachers are only human and do forgot about some of these things when it's time to complete the assignment. More than likely it was just an oversight and it will do the child good to learn about another country.

I agree with your thoughts on this assignment and the potential logic and reasons behind this particular assignment. I believe that the teacher deliberately assigned each student a country. I think that the teacher assigned each student in each classroom countries around the world to make sure that the students understand that people in different countries celebrate Christmas in their own unique ways. They have beliefs, traditions, and culinary treats that are quite different from that of their own and I believe that this was the main intent of the assignment. I don't think that he/she intentionally gave Germany to this student, he/she probably just randomly assigned countries to her students. That is just what I assume to be true. I also like the idea of maybe having a day where each student is given the opportunity to share with the class their own unique culture. Great post.

I agree. I believe that this is a great opportunity for the whole family to get involved in the assignment. The mother and father could help their son learn about a culture that they may know very little about. This would also educate them on the beliefs, history, traditions, and culinary delights of the German culture. I would also suggest that the students all have the opportunity to share with the class where they are from on another day. Christmas around the world seems like an assignment that is intended to begin teaching the students the concept of cultural diversity. Great Post.

I too think that the teacher gave this assignment to have the students learn something new, and about a culture they weren't familiar with. I like your idea of contacting the teacher if it was necessary...or maybe just contact the teacher and ask for the reasoning behind the assignment. Great idea!

I agree that it's important for students to know their cultural backgrounds but I also see value in learning about another culture. :)

I teach high school-- part of me understands this assignment is to explore culture and then the other part of me really does not understand it because the students are too young to "cook," so it is almost as if the parent is doing the assignment with them. I just think that if the father feels so passionate about their culture, then he should politely contact the teacher.

I agree that the teacher is probably trying to expose the students to cultures they are not familiar with. Having them bring food from a culture completely unfamiliar to them will require a bit of research on the student's part which will open their eyes to different parts of the world.

I see your point and I agree. If the teacher had assigned the students their culture, mostly would be American and that would defeat the purpose of this being a multicultural activity. Allowing the students to learn about different cultures other than their own was the point the teacher was trying to make.

I agree that this could be a learning experience for the child, it could also be a bonding experience. If another students has Romania and France then they could help that student and possibly develop a friendship as a result.

I love your ideas about making the French/Romanian student a cultural expert for other classmates to consult. That would give him the opportunity to be an authority on his culture so that he could teach other student in the class. By working collaboratively all of the kids can be involved in the learning process and can have a grater appreciation of each other's knowledge.

I don't think this was anything calculated by the teacher to prevent the student from sharing his own culture. Rather, I think randomly assigning countries for the Christmas Around the World celebration is the only way to make the project fair. If not, it would be very likely that many students would be presenting for a few countries and there would be many countries left out of the celebration. It's also great for student to learn the cultures of new and unknown countries.

I think you could be correct about the teacher may have confused his heritage and thought he was German. Teachers, like everyone else, make mistakes. i also agree that it would not be a bad idea to email the teacher with your concern. i think this would clear up any misunderstandings for you and the teacher.

I don't necessarily think it would be inappropriate to assign a student with French and Romanian background the country of Germany. Perhaps the teacher wanted the family to learn about something new together.

I have to agree with Storm on this one. I believe that the teacher wanted this activity to serve as an opportunity for the entire family to learn about a culture that may be quite different from their own. I don't think that it is wrong to assign a family with French and Romanian cultural roots Germany because it will allow them to learn about a culture that is unfamiliar to them. They will learn about Germany's traditions, beliefs, culture, and culinary traditions of the holiday season and will be able to discuss how Germany's culture compares to their own. I don't think that the teacher was being malicious or mean in assigning their son Germany because he/she wanted to give his/her students the opportunity to learn about something new. He/She wants them to step outside of their comfort zones and learn about other cultures that exist. I believe that this lesson would be great for a 2nd grade class because at the end of the activity, everyone gets to eat! Great post. :)

For clarification, was the parent upset by this or the student? If the parent takes issue with the class assignment, then talk with the teacher and address their concerns. The assignment seemed simple enough, however, if you want your son to bring in a native dish, then ask the teacher if your son can bring in two dishes.

Yes, there are a number of possibilities for what happened here and the best response is to go to the teacher and simply ask to see if she did it on purpose so your son can learn about a different culture or if she just didn't think about his cultural heritage.

I think that having the students sign up for countries is a great idea. It allows the student to have an interest in the country they are picking. The student may do a small amount of research on the country in order to explain why the recipe is a staple to the country. I do think though that the teacher should have allowed the students to have their parents help them make a food that is special to their culture. The student would be excited to show it off. Also, the students would gain a better understanding of the culture of each student.

Why is it "unacceptable" that even if the teacher knew the student's heritage and still did not assign him his culture? That is not the purpose of the assignment. The point is to learn something new and to have to do some research. I would be offended if I always was assigned a Korean culture every time an assignment like this was given out. I would never really learn anything new or learn research skills.

I do like the pro-active lines of communication you suggested with the parents. This case study seems to have a lot of the same responses and this is a unique suggestion.

This is a good suggestion. Some parents, depending on their background, may not support the assignment at all, and it's important to have open communication between the teacher and parents. I also think that it's important to inform the parents on the purpose of the assignment, which might cause less confusion from the parents. Additionally, maybe the teacher could allow the students to choose which country they researched and represented.

Parent communication is never a bad thing, so I agree with your solution. One thing that would need to be done in the letter, though, is to make sure it is as positive and culturally sensitive as possible. In other words, I think it would be necessary to show the educational value in the assignment, even if students are not assigned a country with which they are happy.

I think sending home a letter before the activity begins is a great idea. This would hopefully clarify any problems before they could even start. I have noticed that when the parents know ahead of time what is to be expected they are more open and willing to participate in whatever the activity is. Also, letting them know that you are available for any questions, comments or concerns will help.

I disagree. I believe the teacher did know about the student's heritage, but wanted him to learn something he was unfamiliar with. Assigning topics in this manner allows for all students to "expand their horizons." Too, if another student was selected to bring in a French or Romanian dish, the teacher could call upon the French/Romanian student to share with the class his heritage, resulting in a true "teachable moment."

I think you're right, I guess it would allow the students to be proud of where they came from.

The family tree idea is great! The only issue I could foresee with this is students who are adopted, students who do not know one or more of their birth parents, etc. I find it interesting that you would be upset by the way the countries were assigned. What if the teacher assigned Germany intentionally so that the student in question would have the opportunity to learn about a different cultural?

The family tree idea is great! And the teacher may have not thought about the students' cultures before assigning the project. I did not think about that viewpoint either.

Asking for clarification is a good solution. I am hoping the teacher did put thought into the assignment and did not simple overlook the child's heritage. As a teacher I know I would assign the student a new and unfamiliar culture in order to broaden their horizon.

I agree with you that the teacher may have randomly assigned the cultural foods that were to be prepared by each student. However, this statement reminds me that as an educator that I must have a reason for my actions to every occurrence. I think keeping open communication between teachers and families is beneficial in this certain situation. Problems need to be addressed so that feelings do not become upset or hurt during learning experiences.

@Taylor Roberson-I totally agree and I am sure that students' parents could equally get offended if they were assigned dishes based on their ethnic group or cultures. As you stated, the assignment seems like an opportunity for students to learn about other cultures than their own. The topic of cultural identity as it relates to the son's classroom experiences seems to be a sensitive subject for the father, at least that is what I infer based on his seemingly emotional response. Perhaps there are some hidden issues that surpass this assignment that actually needs to be addressed.

@ egyveW-Good point, the brunt of the parent's concern seems to be cloaked in ambiguity. Maybe if the teacher has an opportunity to explain in person her goals and objectives, the assignment will appear more meaningful or intentional. I have had situations where parents contacted me directly to get better clarity over a project. Once I was able to explain things openly, it cleared any or all misgivings.

I don't think this is an oversight by the teacher but was very much intentional. The goal is for the students to learn about the customs of other countries regarding Christmas. If you child were given France or Romania they would not have learned anything new and they wouldn't have to do as much research as the other students. The project is about learning something that different and new.