'Tis the season for Christmas carols. Most of us in the good old USA, know the standards: Jingle Bells, Frosty, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, etc. But not my son's fourth grade class. They've missed something along the way.
My son came home from school, yesterday, with this news: "Mama, our sing-along was an epic fail!"
"Say what?" I said. "Explain this."
"We were supposed to sing 'Frosty the Snowman' and 'Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer' in music class. But nobody knew the words."
"Are you serious?" I asked.
He nodded. "They'd never heard of those songs."
Now, let me paint the picture of where I live. This is Atlanta, Georgia. And it's like living in the United Nations. There are so many nationalities here, and most of the people where I live, are Asian. My family and I are a definite minority. The kids are first generation Americans (my neighbors don't even speak English). So, naturally, their parents had never taught them basic American Christmas tunes.
"But don't they teach kids 'Rudolph' in first grade?" I asked. I clearly remembered my kids being quizzed on the reindeer names back in Ohio.
"Nope."
"So, maybe you can teach them. You know all the words."
"Mama, I'm not singing all by myself. Forget it. I'd rather deal with the epic fail!"
(So much for my great idea.)
You definitely live in a melting pot of cultures!
ReplyDeleteYes. It was a little shocking when we first moved here.
DeleteWhat surprises me most is that these kids must not have seen the classic children Christmas movies either. My kids watched them over and over again, which is one reason why they know the songs so well.
ReplyDeleteThose kids are too busy doing homework to watch TV!
DeleteYou'd think they would've heard the songs often enough to know.
ReplyDeleteYou would think. I have to wonder what goes on inside their homes.
DeleteIt's sad the kids don't know the words to these classics. I'm with M.J., looks like they would have seen the movies and known some about them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they only watch Asian programming.
DeleteI like the phrase Epic Fail.
ReplyDeleteI would have thought the school would have taught the children the songs in time for the holidays. shouldn't take long... they're pretty catchy tunes :)
I agree.
DeleteWow, does everyone there live under a rock?
ReplyDeleteEveryone except our family. ;0)
Deleteah, he will never be a UN ambassador....
ReplyDeleteNot if they have to sing. ;0)
DeleteI'm surprised none of them ever came across the TV shows. They're on several times during the season, but maybe they don't watch TV or don't watch Christmas shows. I could see that.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing they watch only Asian programming.
DeleteI never would have guessed
ReplyDeleteStrange, but true!
DeleteYou know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? I'll teach them the songs. Let me put on some pants and shoes. I'll be there before you know it.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Okay. Come on over!
DeleteIn school we learned the Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, song.
ReplyDeleteRight. What kid doesn't know that?
DeleteI wouldn't want to sing by myself either!
ReplyDeleteNot sure I would, either. ;0)
DeleteWe got to do a school field trip when I was very young. Second grade or under, if I'm remembering right. We preformed all the classic carols and gave out hand made Christmas cards to people in a nursing home.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds awesome! Kids around here need to do that.
DeleteI'd be with him on the epic fail over me leading a class in song!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I'd probably be the same way.
DeleteThat's interesting to know. A friend from Dubai just moved to Atlanta early this year and I usually see photos of how nice the suburbs are from her Whatsapp messages. Weird, that the kids never picked up the songs, I'm sure they play the Christmas Carols on the radio a lot?
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is, when I take my dog for a walk, and people have the radio on, it's all Asian music. I feel like I'm living in a different country. I don't think all of Atlanta is like this - just our little area.
DeleteI would be too shy to sing by myself and I'm horrible about remembering words to songs. How great that you live in such a diverse area.
ReplyDeleteIt's very diverse. There's an Asian shopping center down the road, and everything is written in Asian. Everyone inside speaks the Asian language, and very few speak English. It's quite an experience shopping there!
DeleteSo, it's a sure bet they also don't know "Randolph the Bow-Legged Cowboy", either. We always loved that holiday classic at Saint Stanislaus.
ReplyDeleteWell, the kids did, anyway. The nuns hated it. They much preferred "Silent Night" or some other such somber ditty.
Randolph the Bow-Legged Cowboy sounds cool. You'll have to teach me the lyrics. ;0)
DeleteI'm asking the same question, "Are you serious?"
ReplyDeleteYep. Totally serious!
DeleteI wouldn't want to sing it by myself either! Maybe they can play it for them on an interactive whiteboard (if they have one) with the words. I bet the kids would learn fast! :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
That would be a great idea. I'm not sure if all the classrooms are equipped with whiteboards (Smartboards), though.
Delete"Mama, I'm not singing all by myself. Forget it" is a cute dialogue of your son mam.
ReplyDeleteTypical Bubba!
Deletethey must know their own, they could teach one =)
ReplyDeleteand let me tell you, where i live in cincy, we have a huge international cauldron of soup here too.
always love your stories, esp now that your in atl!
Yep. I lived in Cincy for 8 years, so I know about that. But it's a whole new level here. Maybe I should try learning some of their Asian tunes!
DeleteI wouldn't want to sing by myself either.
ReplyDeleteI've encountered numerous children in Miami who don't know basic fairy tales--Snow White, Cinderella, etc. I was shocked. They were not exposed to the same books and tales I was. The same could be said about songs.
That's interesting about the books. I bet it's the same here, too.
DeleteI'm with your son. I wouldn't want to be the only one singing either. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susanne! Same to you!
Delete