No santa? Would you be mad?

[Stacykins]

I think it would be great if teachers taught about the real Saint Nicolas AND the fact that the Christian Christmas is just a plagiarized version of several pagan festivals (Natalis Invicti, Saturnalia, Yule, and Kolyada, just to name a few) and celebrated in mid to late December. They were just all lumped together, taking bits and pieces from each, and became a new celebration for the new religion.

 

[AlexMalix]

There's no Santa?!?! NOOOOOoooOOOooo!!

seriously though I think the teacher could have handled it better. I'm not saying lie about it, but she could have overtly changed the topic. Seriously, some families go Italian Mob on you when you mess with a made man like old saint nick

 

[Moabite]

My kids are scared of "Satan Claws"... He always brings them socks and dorky clothes... Bwah ha ha ha... Not really, but I do tease them about it.

 

[teach1rusl]

What grounds would the school district have on discliplining the teacher??? None that I can see. It's not a crime or against school policy to 1) be honest or 2) lack tact.
I do agree that she should have found a tactful way of avoiding the whole issue. I've taught 3rd grade before and been put on the spot by kids (yes, some still believe in 3rd grade); I just brushed it off with "Well some people do believe in Santa and some don't...families believe different things," and then quickly moved on to something else.
I grew up with Santa and the Tooth Fairy. I don't feel that's a bad kind of lie to tell kids any more than telling them a drawing or art project they made you is beautiful when it's obviously not.
Just because something is true doesn't always make it the best thing to say...Kind of like the "Do I look fat in these jeans?" The kindest answer would not be "Honey, you look fat in anything - the jeans have nothing to do with it."

 

[darkmatter]

I told my Kids that when you stop believing in Santa---------that's the year you get no gifts.

My Kids are in their twenties and still expect Christmas gifts! I also told my kids Santa will bring you better gifts if you leave out cookies and beer instead of cookies and milk.

 

[Beekissed]

I agree that the teacher could have handled it better....after all, teachers have been side-stepping this and other such issues for as long as teaching has been a profession. Do I think she deserves discipline? Nope. Just a mild chat about avoiding such frivolous issues that may rile a few parents...

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Quote:
OK I see your point. It is a sticky situation all the way around.

True that. Teachers really can't win these days.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Yep... i agree.

 

[rancher hicks]

On a serious note. I told my kids there was Santa was not real, but like Mickey Mouse the like.

BUT, due to respect of others.

I would handle this the same way as if this teacher told my kids there was no God. I would confront her and ask her point blank. " Are you telling my kids that I'm lying to them?" "What other things are you telling them that I lie to them about?"

I have been through the whole scenario and even though they were told that Santa was not real, they sat on his lap at the mall and got the candy cane and my brother used to show up dressed as Santa in our poorer days, bringing food and toys. They understood it was Uncle Fred.

It's not about whether there is or is not a Santa, it's about "respecting" a parents right to teach their own kids what they want them to believe. Santa is as harmless as Mickey Mouse.

Unless of course they teach them that Silkies are real chickens. Then I draw the line.

Rancher

 

[dainerra]

lol my daughter is 11 and still believes in Santa. We had a long talk about it 2 years ago when she came home and told me that some of her classmates were making fun of a younger kid for believing in Santa. She told me I told them that I will believe until I die because, even if it's not true, it's more fun to believe than to not believe"

She teases her sister (16) about not believing

Tells her that she's going to get rocks for Christmas, last year she even wrapped one and put it under the tree labeled "To B, From 'There is no Santa'"