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."

[RightWhale]

Are you stupid or just obtuse?

Why are you saying these mean and spiteful things?

[Junior_G]

We had fun with Santa and all that, but the kids always knew it was just pretend, they knew the truth.

That sounds like a lot of fun. I don't know about you, but most kids don't have fun with Santa once they realize he isn't real...not until the time comes for their own children to have fun believing in Santa. The whole point of Santa is that you believe he's real until you're old enough to figure out that he isn't. Trying to "have fun with Santa" without even one person present believing in him just sounds silly. Why bother?

[Iowegian]

Mean and spiteful are value judgements, we can't have that if nothing is absolutely true. You are totally inconsistent.
And I gave you an example of an absolutely true statement.
I'll assume you aren't really stupid, just mixed up. But I could be wrong about that.

[Junior_G]

As a christian, does it bother you at all that they have attempted to make Santa into a god? They even give him god-like attributes. (He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you've been bad or good, etc.)

If you're so opposed to the whole idea of Santa, why do you say you like to "have fun with Santa" in your own holiday celebrations?

[RightWhale]

You are totally inconsistent.

You seem to be two different people. And no, if you hit your hand with a hammer it won't hurt at all.

[Iowegian]

If you know Santa Claus is not real, it's pretty harmless. .

I never had Santa or anything in my house, but if we were at a Christmas party or something they went to sit on Santa's lap for a picture and a present (you had to do that to get one). It's funny that many kid's first reaction to Santa is to cry, scream and run away, but I've seen that fear of Santa from many kids, though not mine.

[Iowegian]

Ok you've changed my mind. Thanks.

[Junior_G]

It's funny that many kid's first reaction to Santa is to cry, scream and run away,

Hmm...you laugh at the agony of children, and your post is #666... Who are you, really...?

[Iowegian]

Laugh? You are twisted. I never said or meant that. "Funny" in a strange way, junior. Now don't ever post to me again. Thanks.

[RightWhale]

Mean and spiteful are value judgements, we can't have that if nothing is absolutely true.

Of course we can. We all do it all the time. You are doing it on this thread--judging on assumptions; judging without absolutely true knowledge.

[Junior_G]

C'mon, I just accused you of being Satan! Did you think I was being serious? Lighten up.

[luckystarmom]

As long as I still got gifts, I was happy after I found out.

My mother always made it fun. She got us wonderful stocking stuffers. She always set up the gifts really cool looking under the tree.

When I found out it was my parents and my mom went to all this work to make Christmas special, I was actually very thankful. My dad did some of the work (like putting together bicycles), but my mom did most of the work. I was very appreciative of the fact that they stayed up late to put out gifts and make Christmas morning very special.

Thanks Santa (I mean mom and dad)!

[Junior_G]

I have to admit I was a bit sad when I found out that Santa wasn't real; but it wasn't because of the fact that there was no such thing as Santa (I'd been starting to doubt it for a while)-----it was because I saw my parents putting so much effort into making it seem real for me, and realizing that their efforts were now wasted. I was a little hyper-sensitive on that count I think. It certainly didn't break my parents' hearts to know that I'd found out.
But man, I miss believing in Santa.

[SerpentDove]

>>As a christian, does it bother you at all that they have attempted to make Santa into a god? They even give him god-like attributes. (He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you've been bad or good, etc.)<<

As a Christian, I find that silly, to give you the honest truth. And I genuinely do not mean that harshly toward you.

I never saw Santa as a "god" even when I believed, which was short-lived. I guess am one of those fortunates who escaped with my theology unscarred.

[jjm2111]

WHAT!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? THERE IS NO SANTA?????!?!?!?!?

Serially, though, the teacher was pretty tactless. If I ever have kids, I won't perpetuate the lie about St. Nick. It's harmless, but I think I'd have a hard time telling 'em than. Christmas is about Jesus anyway.

[SerpentDove]

But don't get me wrong...I absolutely respect your decision to not teach children about Santa and can understand your rationale completely.

What "frosts" me about this case is the teacher "taking it upon herself" to make the decision for the parents.

[Iowegian]

That doesn't even come close to really answering my question. (And I don't mean that in a harsh way either). Why do you think that these mythological stories involving Santa include him having attributes of God?

(Early) Merry Christmas to you.

[Sam Cree]

Some of the posters here surprise me, I must be naive or something.

My upbringing didn't feature arrogance and rudeness as Christian virtues, but, looking at many of the posts on FR, this thread in particular, I get the idea that the upbringing of lots of others did include those things as virtues.

[Iowegian]

I agree that the teacher would have been wise to say "ask your parents". That's always a good answer, but with all the garbage that gets thrown at the kids in public schools daily this is the thing that makes the news and upsets om many people. It just shows how out of balance some things are IMO.

If the teacher had said the normal liberal idiotic outrageous propoganda most people wouldn't have even bothered to call the school and complain.

[Destructor]

"So, the teacher is right."So? The "teacher" apparently doesn't care about the children, and needs an ass whoopin'!