Teacher tells kids Santa is 'make-believe' (1st graders)

AP ^ | Thursday, December 4, 2003

[presidio9]

Sandra Jolly said her 6-year-old son's Christmas was spoiled when his teacher told the first-grade class Monday that "Santa Claus is make-believe."

"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."

[Argus]

I think somebody's getting coal in their stocking.

[dfwgator]

I finally figured it out after somebody made the mistake of leaving a price tag on one of the stocking stuffers. "Wait a minute, since when does Santa charge for toys?" That's when my parents said, "son, we need to talk."

[Howlin]

I'm sure he's not; there's quite a contingent here at FR who believe just that.

[Howlin]

Sounds like you're still mad about it.

[ThreeYearLurker]

Santa is real, this Jolly Man in Red is make believe.

[Iowegian]

There's quite a contingent of Freepers that believe it's a good thing to lie to their children too. Just so they can have their own fun by trying to relive their childhood through their kids. In reality these parents are still mental children.

[dfwgator]

I got over it...but just as long as there is still the trusty old Easter Bunny, I'll be fine.

[Howlin]

LOL......I'm with you! I love those Peeps!

[Howlin]

Take your morally superior attitude somewhere else, will you?

Unless you're the only person on the face of the earth that has never told a child a "white lie."

If you repost to me, I'll assume you haven't.

[Billthedrill]

Well, I'm not sure it ought to be up to the teacher to disabuse children of their myths, not at that age at least. A teacher who feels compelled to tell the kids that Santa is imaginary because the teacher doesn't think he exists is not far removed from a teacher who feels compelled to tell the kids that Christ doesn't exist because the teacher doesn't think He exists either. Very touchy issue.

[drjack]

Apparently, Ms. Codner didn't immediately inform the students that Santa Claus was make-believe. Seems to me, that somehow the class reached that conclusion after a little deductive reasoning.

If you let silliness like this fester in kids' minds, that Santa pulls entitlements out of his sack as opposed to them coming from their parents who are working to pay for it, eventually they're going to expect that magic Santa to show up with government cheese & a welfare check.

I don't believe this teacher picked an argument, I think she ended up faciliatating a rational discussion amongst children, whereupon one (probably the one who knows how to color inside the lines AND read a book) said, "This doesn't sound right to me," and the next thing you know we've got ourselves a little story about The Teacher Who Ruined Xmas...

[breakem]

What! There's no Santa. Moderator please zot before others are hurt as badly as I.

[HennepinPrisoner]

Parents shouldn't teach their kids about "Santa"...it's just too representative of the commercialization of Christmas.

Jesus Christ should be the center of attention...and I am afraid Santa has become the center of attention for far too many people.

[Hodar]

Words have meanings. So does love and trust. To 'play' that Santa with presents as a fun 'game' is one thing. To convince a child to believe in a fable is something entirely different. Taking advantage of the niavity, trust and love of a child is never a 'good' thing. Some day, he is going to learn the truth; and that will be sad day because a child's dream will be gone. But the fact that Mom and Dad looked him in the eye; and told a bald faced lie to him is worse. It's a betrayal of just about everything he has been led to believe. "So, if Santa is a big lie, is Jesus a lie too?" Or, "What else have you lied to me about, Mommy?" If this is the discussion you want to have with your kids; hey ... it's your family.

But, seriously, isn't is hypocritical to punish a child when he tells a lie; but convincing him that Santa is real is ok. Looks like a pretty one sided morality to me.

[Iowegian]

So you think it is OK to lie to your kids, just for fun, eh?

[SouthernFreebird]

Take your morally superior attitude somewhere else, will you?

A big amen to that.... what a controlling ego maniac to assume to know what's best for everyones children.

As for that teacher I'd of paid her a visit...how dare anyone spoil my childrens childhood!!

[RightWhale]

There's quite a contingent of Freepers that believe it's a good thing to lie to their children

Let's just get right down to it. Is there anything you can say that is exactly 100% for sure forever totally true?

[ex-Texan]

Fire the witch!

I was in the second grade before I had to trudge home and ask my parents about Santa. They told me, "Santa is the Spirit of Christmas . . . Is it more fun to believe in him or not to believe?" This witch is far too stupid to be teaching 6 year old children. JMHO, feel free to flame away!

[Hodar]

I think somebody's getting coal in their stocking.

Coal?? Woo-hoo, just some sulfer and salt-peter and I have entertainment that will no doubt leave me blistered and charred for the rest of the month.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Unless the children were in fact adopted your little story is pointless and an invalid comparison

The Point <------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------> You

The teacher told the kids the truth, and some parents can't handle the truth.

Oh, jeepers. Thank you, Jack Nicholson. :)