[Northern Yankee]

She doesn't belong near impressionable children.

She doesn't belong near the human race.

Her duty as a substitute teacher is to follow the lesson plans given.

I dare say she won't be getting any job anytime soon, once other Districs see what she has done.

Talk about cutting your nose to spite your face.

[Conservatrix]

"Talk about cutting your nose to spite your face."


Maybe it is about standing up for what she believes to be true, in the face of unpopular opinion.

[kstewskis]

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.

Gee, do I detect a serious issue of liberal narcissism here?

Why is this not surprising? Why is it that whenever somthing good is celebrated, a minion like this has to spew bile all over it?

This witch is evil.

[proud American in Canada]

Her duty as a substitute teacher is to follow the lesson plans given.

Exactly.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I also said, without edit, “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.” This statment only makes sense if you include the phrases you omitted.

Moron! She had no right, absolutely none to destroy the dreams little children have about Christmas and Santa. She has shattered the magic illusion that swirls around young minds during Christmas times.

Everyone finds out eventually that Santa doesn't exist, that it's a mythological figure, and that Santa is none other than mom and dad buying presents and hiding them from the children. They are the ones who spend long hours at night wrapping them while children sleep so they won't find out. And when those same children find out the truth once they get older, you know what - they keep the same tradition. Almost everyone – young, old, man, woman - participate in this kind of silent conspiracy about Santa. We all talk about Santa as if he existed, and we ask little children... what did Santa get you for Christmas? And everyone goes alone, because we all know that it's a magic dream, and this dream will stay with us until we die, even though we eventually find out it wasn't so.

You idiot, you had no right to do that! You were supposed to substitute and to read the lesson plan “The Night Before Christmas.” It wasn't your duty to tell little children what your beliefs are or how much you are offended by it. You were there to read to them and that was it.

I hope she doesn't get to teach again.

[singfreedom]

Precisely. As a retired teacher (and one who still "subs" for friends), if this woman had substituted for me and messed up my plans, the way she seemingly did, I would be looking for her! Sorry, but reading Clement Moore's poem is NOT teaching Santa as a GOD or a SAINT. Most 6 year olds don't really have a solid concept of either Gods or saints. This person needs to take her "over-developed sensibilities" to another profession!
To rob these children of the delights of childhood belief in Santa Claus is nothing short of criminal. If parents wish their children to believe in Santa, who is a teacher to interfere. Indeed, if a teacher takes it upon herself to enlighten them, the case could be made that she is, herself, teaching religion---her own.

[Gondring]

ping