Posted on 12/26/2005 8:11:14 AM PST by Conservatrix
To the Editor:
"Last week I substituted at a local elementary school in Lebanon County. The lesson plan required me to read the 1882 poem “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore to two classes of students. While I can appreciate the poem for its literary value, the subject matter is offensive to me, and the reading of this poem to the children imposed values upon me which are against my deeply held religious beliefs. I could not in good conscience present the notion of Santa Claus as a truth to the children, and stated so.
No public school teacher should be required to teach a belief, or custom, or religion that he or she believes to be false, or be required to pass those purported falsehoods onto impressionable children, without the right to state a disclaimer. Furthermore, freedom of speech and religion, no matter how unpopular the speech or against cultural norms the religion, are protected rights under the Constitution of the United States. A secular public school should not be propagating any kind of religion. The belief in Santa Claus as a divine, magical, omniscient, powerful, giving, loving father-figure, to which children are taught to make supplications and requests, is a religion indeed-- a distorted substitute for the Judeo-Christian God; a false form of Christianity; a zealously-protected American idol.
In presenting the poem, I gave the children quick historical background about the Santa Claus myth-- its evolution from the historic Nickolaus, Bishop of Myrna in Asia Minor, who died in 343 A.D., to its amalgamation with ancient Western pagan traditions of German, Scandinavian and Dutch origins, to the current manifestation in the secular Christmas culture of today. (Dutch children, for example, would put their wooden shoes out at night for “Sante Klaus” to fill with candies.)
The current Santa Claus figure was popularized in the late 19th Century by artist Thomas Nast of Harper’s Weekly Magazine, who depicted “Saint Nick,” not as an elf, but a rotund, pipe-smoking man in a red and white suit. This is the deity to which countless public school children today are taught to make supplications, and about whom they sing their many songs at annual public school Christmas programs.
If people are upset about the revelation to children that Santa Claus is a myth-- which all children who are taught this lie find or figure out eventually-- perhaps it is because Santa is that zealously-guarded idol of their own modern religion. Therefore, as a religion, let Santa be kept out of the public school classroom (no more “Dear Santa” letters to line those school hallways)--or perhaps, in the interest of “diversity,” make his mythical, oversized personage share equal representation in literature, and song, and Christmas programs, with the other Person of the season: the Lord Jesus Christ, God made flesh, God with us."
ugh
I'm so prone to trial addictions! Always wrong on the verdict, though! Hopeless....
I know I'm correct on the verdict for this scrooge teacher, though! Santa came to my house!!
My parents never wrapped Santa's gifts since what was in the stocking were stuffers and the bulky presents that would have been a pain to wrap were underneath the stockings. All the under the tree presents were wrapped though.
I still ask people what Santa brought them for Christmas because it's alot more polite to me than to ask "What loot did ya get?"
And mean-spirited as well.
I might add that she most likely took a perverted sense of delight being the one to break it to the kids..and I don't buy her explanation after she got caught.
Her motives weren't pure at all. She's a miserable and cruel wretch.
sw
I agree.
Re: Saint Teresa of Avila
I viewed a Spanish TV film series on her life. It was an incredible series - even struggling with the English subtitles. The acting, the production, the message her life gave - just too much. I loved her spirit, faith and determination.
from A NonCatholic...
She could have just said "People believe different things, and you should ask your family what they believe."
How are they being taught to ask Santa for Christmas presents???? She was told to read a classic Christmas poem.
What would she do if she was asked to read a classic tale of Greek or Roman gods?
I'm guessing that the parents at most Christian schools would be upset also.
My seven year old still believes.
Knowing the likelihood that Christmas and Santa Claus will be part of lessons in elementary school in December, perhaps she ought to have taken the month off.
No one has mentioned that we PARENTS love playing Santa Claus! Pretending, participating in the Christmas holiday myth/drama. What a joy for the family.
It is indeed. I remember my parents loving Christmas and Santa as much as we did.
I have not seen one post which infers that the woman would have been wrong to NOT teach the lesson at all. She could have done something else. Instead, she forced herself in between children and parents and what they believe.
I hate to be the one to break the news to ya...(it may be worse then learning there is no Santa)...but the fact that...>>"The teacher is a Christian, conservative republican"...doesn't necessarily guarantee an IQ higher then the village idiot!
"Six year olds? How many six year olds do you suppose still believe that Santa Claus is a real figure?"
You'd be surprised my friend; you'd be surprised.
No, she ACCEPTED a job which included reading this story. She wasn't forced to do anything.
It is WRONG to insert yourself between parents and children EVEN IF you think their beliefs are stupid.
My 11 year old said the following "Okay, I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm just wondering how do you and Dad do all that stuff?" I think he is almost more amazed that my hubby and I can pull off making Christmas so magical. I'm glad.
Because it is a classic poem.
Just like they also read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", "Charlotte's Web", "The Trumpet of the Swan", .... They are classics!
Decepticon (age 7) to Mother, a conversation that was never forgotten......"Mom, is Santa Claus real?"......."Son, Santa Clause lives in your heart".........
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