STORM2K

MIRAMAR, Fla., Dec. 4 — As far as some Florida parents are concerned, first-grade teacher Geneta Codner is a true grinch after she told her class that Santa Claus was “make-believe.”

SANDRA JOLLY said her 6-year-old son’s Christmas was spoiled when the substitute teacher made the statement in class on Monday.
“He had this sad, lost puppy dog look on his face. This unhappy, empty look,” Jolly said. “He said his teacher informed the entire class that Santa is make-believe.”
D.J.’s teacher was reading a story about the Tooth Fairy when the class started discussing what was real and what was not, said district spokesman Joe Donzelli.
When the subject of Santa came up, the teacher started questioning parts of his story — How could a fat jolly man fit down a chimney? How could reindeer fly around the world in one night? — and told the children that wasn’t possible. “It’s all been blown out of proportion,” Codner said. “I’m sorry (parents) think I meant it that way. We were just having a discussion. I don’t know where all this hurt came from.”
The teacher said none of the children acted upset or sad during class.

this is so sad. i have a 8 year old who is turning 9 in jan. she still believes but questions it. if i were the parents that teacher would get a piece of my mind. we r suppost to believe what r teacher and parents say. she is a sorry person and i am being polite.

Stormy - the same holds true for my 8 year old - she's questioning it and even says its you and daddy - but I told her if you don't believe then there are no gifts.

Some folks just don't get it. Perhaps all the kids were in shock after his little disclosure. He would get an earful from me too.

Patricia

My Dad (in one of his better moments) went so far as to drag strings of sleigh bells across the roof after we were all in bed...and I was about 8 at the time. What's more, he had someone make him a set of wooden "reindeer feet" with which he left a trail on the front roof for us to marvel over (we slept in the two upstairs bedrooms).

I may be somewhat of a "grinch" about it, but I would NEVER steal the magic of the season from little children, who so desperately NEED it to counter all the strange and ugly "adult" stuff (news, TV shows, etc) they're bomarded with, 24/7!!!

Thats horrible, and I'd be devestated if that had happened to my children....

FYI...one of our school assignments was to write Santa a letter online at Northpole.com. He answers every single letter to your children...well, my 12 and 11 yr olds did this, (believeing in their hearts, I'm convinced!). Well, while shopping at the mall lastnight, my 11 yr went to talk to Santa...(she didn't sit on his lap, but she stood next to him and talked candidly with him. Before she had a chance to tell Santa herself, what she wanted for Christmas, HE told her " I bet you want clothes for Christmas, jeans, a cell phone and shoes".....She was dumbfounded...these were the exact items she had in her listed letter to Santa 3 days before! How cool is that?! Now, who doesn''t still BELIEVE? lol