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Santa Claus pervades our culture--in advertising, songs, and those wonderful Rankin-Bass Christmas specials we all grew up on. Our country is also a predominately Christian culture.

This doesn't mean everyone has to practice the tradition of Santa Claus in their families--non Christians do not, and some Christians who seek to keep Christmas "pure" do not either.

This is a family decision and I have no problem with you no matter which way you come down on it.

But this "teacher" is imposing her religious beliefs on children in a public school. This is wrong, even if you agree with those beliefs. You would not want a Jewish or Muslim or even atheist teacher disabusing the children of the "myth" in their own personal view, of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Nor do we need "teachers" like this woman disabusing the children of the "myth" of Santa Claus. Simply put, it's none of her business!

My family celebrates the birth of Christ. We concentrate during Advent on the coming of our Lord. We do more Christmas celebrating between Christmas and Epiphany than before Christmas like the rest of society does.

But yes, Santa Claus does visit our home. I have never directly insisted to my children that Santa is a "real person", but the belief in Santa is the belief in unselfish and anonymous giving. We teach that Santa brings presents and we exchange gifts because Jesus is so special and important that His is the only birthday on which everyone receives gifts (as mere humans, we receive gifts on our birthday but no one else does). That is my decision and while I know there are children as young as five or six who revel in letting the other kids in on the secret that "Santa is your parents", they do not need to hear it from a so-called "authority figure" in a classroom setting.

This is a poem, for goodness' sake, not a history textbook! I would have been livid, had my child been in this class.

But this "teacher" is imposing her religious beliefs on children in a public school.( Gator Girl)

Gator Girl and All:

While in the government school the children WILL be exposed to the culture of the school. For many children that culture will NOT uphold the religious worldview taught in the home. For other children their religious values will be established and supported by the government.

At least the teacher has the freedom NOT to work in the government school, however, if children without alternatives refuse to attend armed police and social workers will force attendance.

Personally, I find Santa Claus offensive to our family's religious beliefs. We had the financial means for me to do this, but other families who believe as we do are FORCED under the threat of police action to send their children into an environment that is utterly hostile to their religious traditions.

There is absolutely no possible way for the government school to be respectful of all the religious traditions surrounding Christmas, evolution, prayer in school, sex education, and HUNDREDS of other curriculum and policy issues. The government school WILL uphold and ESTABLISH the religious traditions of some and trash those of others.

Solution: Complete separation of SCHOOL and state. Privatize universal K-12 education.

But this "teacher" is imposing her religious beliefs on children in a public school.( Gator Girl)

Gator Girl and All:

While in the government school the children WILL be exposed to the culture of the school. For many children that culture will NOT uphold the religious worldview taught in the home. For other children their religious values will be established and supported by the government.

At least the teacher has the freedom NOT to work in the government school, however, if children without alternatives refuse to attend armed police and social workers will force attendance.

Personally, I find Santa Claus offensive to our family's religious beliefs. We had the financial means for me to do this, but other families who believe as we do are FORCED under the threat of police action to send their children into an environment that is utterly hostile to their religious traditions.

There is absolutely no possible way for the government school to be respectful of all the religious traditions surrounding Christmas, evolution, prayer in school, sex education, and HUNDREDS of other curriculum and policy issues. The government school WILL uphold and ESTABLISH the religious traditions of some and trash those of others.

If it would be wrong to FORCE children to attend and FORCE citizens to pay for a school that upheld my religious beliefs ( that is, teaching that Santa Claus is a "pretend" character) then it is wrong to FORCE those who believe as I to attend schools that teach, support, and uphold the belief that Santa is real. Both positions have religious consequences for the children. In one group the government is hostile to their beliefs, in the other group the government is establishing the belief and the religious consequences.

This can NOT be constitutional!

Solution: Complete separation of SCHOOL and state. Privatize universal K-12 education.