and everybody's looking for grounds for grievances and victimization.
Most kids "get it" that if they're a reasonably small minority their every quirk will not be fully accommodated in a maximalist way. Systems are set up for the majority. That's how they're set up in every country. That's how they're set up in ethnic neighborhoods and immigrants' home countries. That's how things have to be done to keep everybody sane.
Some, however, consider that to be disrespectful of their symbols and they get very, very aggrieved. Esp. if their religion teaches they are better than others. It's a topsy-turvy universe for them, and it's wrong. There are 5 students keeping such-and-such a holiday, so the school shouldn't test or have special activities on those days. There must be no down-side to a particular faith, even in diaspora. Some don't even like the idea that their kid misses class and has to make up work. This, frankly, is insanity.
So I don't keep Xmas or New Year's. I find winter break to be truly, truly irritating. If I just took off the sabbaths I should I'd have no personal leave days left, just sick days--and between my illness and my kid's sick days (when he needs one of us there) we'd sacrifice income for that. That means there's no cushion for additional problems--need to take the car to the shop for some emergency, or be home because the AC or heat is out or the washer flooded the laundry room. That's how it works being a minority. Most things are set up for most people; small minorities don't dictate outside of their own community. Provisions are made for them, and that's it. And those provisions aren't always the most manageable.
When teaching English in Prague during summers, I had no problem being off for Cyril and Methodius day. I expected to teach on the 4th of July. The very idea of claiming discrimination was laughable.
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