Teacher Tells First-Graders There's No Santa Claus
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- vbhoutex
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I never presented Santa to my children as more than a concept, but they did believe. Part of the fun of the "non-christian" part of Christmas is the spirit of the season(the giving spirit). That should not be taken away from the children and when someone makes blanket statements such as she did, especially without the parents involvement, it does just that. IMO, that is wrong. My children, now 23 and 26, figured it out on their own during their elementary years, NOT IN 1ST GRADE, and came to terms with it after we discussed their feelings and helped them understand it. IT IS NOT UP TO ANY EDUCATOR to make those types of decisions concerning a child!!!!!
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- furluvcats
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OK, call me crazy, but I STILL insist on Santa being real to my kids, and they are 14 and 13 and in the 8th grade. Be fun loving people...its magical, and brings that extra something special to Christmas...I'll never say otherwise...and I think a small part of each of my kids does truly "Believe".
We are Christians, and know that this is Jesus's Birthday...and celebrate with a Happy Birthday Jesus cake...and never lose sight what Christmas is about...I guess we balance it all, and its fun...I can not imagine a child not having their stockings stuffed, or not being excited on Christmas Eve when they go to bed, wondering when Santa will come, and what treats he will bring...
For you folks that don't believe...BAH HUMBUG!!!! And I feel sorry for you!
This teacher was WAY out of line, and I'd have raised a HUGE STINK had it affected my child! You know what Santa is bringing her this year....COAL!
We are Christians, and know that this is Jesus's Birthday...and celebrate with a Happy Birthday Jesus cake...and never lose sight what Christmas is about...I guess we balance it all, and its fun...I can not imagine a child not having their stockings stuffed, or not being excited on Christmas Eve when they go to bed, wondering when Santa will come, and what treats he will bring...
For you folks that don't believe...BAH HUMBUG!!!! And I feel sorry for you!
This teacher was WAY out of line, and I'd have raised a HUGE STINK had it affected my child! You know what Santa is bringing her this year....COAL!
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vbhoutex wrote:I never presented Santa to my children as more than a concept, but they did believe. Part of the fun of the "non-christian" part of Christmas is the spirit of the season(the giving spirit). That should not be taken away from the children and when someone makes blanket statements such as she did, especially without the parents involvement, it does just that. IMO, that is wrong. My children, now 23 and 26, figured it out on their own during their elementary years, NOT IN 1ST GRADE, and came to terms with it after we discussed their feelings and helped them understand it. IT IS NOT UP TO ANY EDUCATOR to make those types of decisions concerning a child!!!!!
*Not worthy*

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#neversummer
Parents have a right to tell their children lies. Teachers don't have a right to tell their students that their parents are liars. I'd say if a student asks a teacher if Santa Claus is real, the teacher should refer them to ask their parents, who will probably lie to them.
I think in years to come archaeologists will think Santa Claus was a god. He certainly has sacrifices (milk and cookies for him, apple for red-nosed raindeer, carrots for the others), he's meant as a form of control (I'll tell Santa Claus durr) and has a whole assortment of legendary materials around him. He's also funded by the government because Norad tracks him around the earth as a PR thing. Will be interesting to see how he's interpreted in a thousand years, because I for one plan on still being around.
I think in years to come archaeologists will think Santa Claus was a god. He certainly has sacrifices (milk and cookies for him, apple for red-nosed raindeer, carrots for the others), he's meant as a form of control (I'll tell Santa Claus durr) and has a whole assortment of legendary materials around him. He's also funded by the government because Norad tracks him around the earth as a PR thing. Will be interesting to see how he's interpreted in a thousand years, because I for one plan on still being around.
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By the way if she was fired she wouldn't have been able to lie to the kids under order of the school about Santa Claus telling her he exists. That was the disciplinary action, having to look like a fool to a bunch of children. If they had fired her, I would at least hope the parents would own up to kicking her out of the school, though they would probably say that Santa Claus does this to people who don't believe in him and misbehave.
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- vbhoutex
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furluvcats wrote:OK, call me crazy, but I STILL insist on Santa being real to my kids, and they are 14 and 13 and in the 8th grade. Be fun loving people...its magical, and brings that extra something special to Christmas...I'll never say otherwise...and I think a small part of each of my kids does truly "Believe".
We are Christians, and know that this is Jesus's Birthday...and celebrate with a Happy Birthday Jesus cake...and never lose sight what Christmas is about...I guess we balance it all, and its fun...I can not imagine a child not having their stockings stuffed, or not being excited on Christmas Eve when they go to bed, wondering when Santa will come, and what treats he will bring...
For you folks that don't believe...BAH HUMBUG!!!! And I feel sorry for you!
This teacher was WAY out of line, and I'd have raised a HUGE STINK had it affected my child! You know what Santa is bringing her this year....COAL!
You said it much better than I did Furry!!! We still have stockings every year with surprises in them.
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I like the way my daughter's 3rd grade teacher handled it. My daughter's friend's were telling her there is no Santa at school, and parents lie so she asked the teacher. The teacher asked her what she believed in her heart, and my daughter said she believed in Santa. Then explained about Santa representing Christmas spirit without saying he was not real. She did not lie to my child, she did not step on any beliefs, and at the same time told her Christmas spirit was more important than the icon. Lare I had had the same talk but told her Santa is not real. And the best part is because no one stomped on her childhood fantasy, now at 13 she doesn't ruin it for her 5 year old brother. She helps him put out the cookies and milk, and rushes off to bed on Christmas eve. It is so cute to see her pretending for his sake.
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- southerngale
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vbhoutex wrote:furluvcats wrote:OK, call me crazy, but I STILL insist on Santa being real to my kids, and they are 14 and 13 and in the 8th grade. Be fun loving people...its magical, and brings that extra something special to Christmas...I'll never say otherwise...and I think a small part of each of my kids does truly "Believe".
We are Christians, and know that this is Jesus's Birthday...and celebrate with a Happy Birthday Jesus cake...and never lose sight what Christmas is about...I guess we balance it all, and its fun...I can not imagine a child not having their stockings stuffed, or not being excited on Christmas Eve when they go to bed, wondering when Santa will come, and what treats he will bring...
For you folks that don't believe...BAH HUMBUG!!!! And I feel sorry for you!
This teacher was WAY out of line, and I'd have raised a HUGE STINK had it affected my child! You know what Santa is bringing her this year....COAL!
You said it much better than I did Furry!!! We still have stockings every year with surprises in them.
You both said it well. I agree. My family has always celebrated Christmas as Jesus' birth. Our decorations have always included many manger scenes (my Mom has a lot!), etc. But we have also always done the Santa thing. As long as I lived at home, Santa came. Even in high school. Once we knew, my parents still continued the tradition. It was fun. I don't remember how old I was when I found out, but the first few attempts by some rotten kids in elementary failed. As Miss Mary said about hers, once I knew, I still sort of pretended not to know, because it was fun. (and why risk it!)
Anyway, I have wonderful childhood Christmas memories and I wouldn't change anything for the world. That teacher is a grinch!
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zoeyann wrote:now at 13 she doesn't ruin it for her 5 year old brother. She helps him put out the cookies and milk, and rushes off to bed on Christmas eve. It is so cute to see her pretending for his sake.
Yeah... I had to pretend for a few years for my sister who is 5 years younger than me. She's figured it out now.
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