Christmas or Christmas Day is a Christian holiday which is celebrated annually, usually on December 25 by both Christians and non-Christians around the world to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. It is the time for people to share joy, bliss and festivity. Christian religious views were first spread to Cambodia in the 1660s, imparting its values to Cambodian civilization. Nowadays, although the majority of Cambodians are Buddhists, most of them also celebrate Christmas. In recent years, however, there have been arguments about whether Christmas celebration should be allowed in Cambodian public schools. In my opinion, celebrating Christmas in Cambodian public schools because someone or some group finds it enjoyable should not be allowed because it can be carried out in other places; it creates chaos to and pollutes the environment of the schools; and Cambodian public schools are expected to promote Cambodian culture.
First of all, supporters of Christmas celebration in Cambodian public schools argue that students’ solidarity, teamwork, and closeness can be enhanced by allowing the celebration to take place in the public schools. Such celebration does not only bring fun, but it also, at the same time, tightens students’ relationship with one another. Undeniably, I am also of the same opinion about the merits students received from the party. However, it should be noted that Christmas celebration can also be carried out in other places and still has the same effects. Students can pick a restaurant or rent a bar outside schools to throw a party. Even doing so causes them some money, the way they are served in a restaurant or a bar is better than inside their classrooms. Remember, classrooms are places for studying, not partying.
Next, there are also some pro-Christmas celebrations people who claim that it is their right to have fun and enjoy with their peers at schools, where every one of their friends can join them. I feel that I have to take dispute with this argument. Of course, they have freedom to have fun but it must be limited within school rules and regulations. Moreover, having a party at schools creates chaos to and pollutes the environment of the schools. Imagine the class next to yours is throwing a Christmas party. Laughing, Christmas carols, cheering, and screaming sounds all are audible to your class, distracting your concentration on your study. Not only the noises they make are annoying, but also the spills of their drinks and the leftovers of their food make the classroom and the school looks filthy. So, why Christmas party should be allowed to take place at the public schools?
Lastly, supporters of Christmas celebration believe that if Christmas is celebrated in the schools, Cambodian students tend to understand more about different cultures and have different perspectives about the world. Students are more likely to become tolerant and open to new ideas. Admittedly, the idea is good, but there is something wrong in it that I want to argue. Actually, it is good to learn about others but students can learn about them not only through celebrating but also reading books or watching TV. I have to say that it is not necessary for students to have a party in order to understand about a culture. In addition, Cambodian public schools are run by the government of Cambodia which is supported by the taxes we Cambodian people pay. So is it justifiable to use our money to promote other’s cultures?
All in all, though, allowing Christmas to be celebrated in the public schools is not a good idea. There are so many appropriate places out there for us to celebrate. We should not choose the places where we study and suppose to promote our cultures to celebrate it. As I have mentioned earlier, most of us are Buddhists, we also have our own culture to celebrate. We are Cambodians; we have to do things in our Cambodian ways first.
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