New York Teacher Tells Kids There Is No Santa Claus

[MikeFrost]

Wait a second! Santa is not real?!

 

[Lexodus]

I'm not really a fan of Christmas in it's present form.

Not sure if intentional...

 

[Burntpopcarn]

Well, that's one crabby old teacher. But the teacher's right, Santa isn't a real person. He's a representation of the spirit of christmas, much like the easter bunny is a representation of the spirit of easter. I loved to believe in that sort of stuff growing up and i hope that if I have kids i hope they love to believe in that sort of stuff, too. Either way, this stupid teacher ruined christmas for like 24 eight-year-olds. Great work, you soulless wanker!!!!

 

[kortin]

The problem is the teacher deciding when the children should stop believing in Santa. The teacher had no place in deciding that.

First of all: Not all lies are bad. Yes, your parents told you when you were young that lying in general is bad. HARMFUL lies, like when you lie for your own personal gain is bad. If it doesn't harm anything or anyone, then its not a harmful lie. Its a white lie. White lies don't typically cause harm. They're things like Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny.

I find it sad that I, a 17 year old teenager, understand the difference between a white lie and harmful lies better than most of the apparent adults here.

It isn't a white lie because it takes advantage of the inherent gullibility of children. While I won't stop you and I don't think it's anyone's place to stop you, you can't fault someone for not wanting to be included in your lie. Children don't have the ability to distinguish between which lies are ok and which are bad so when dealing with children they should always be approached with truth, or avoidance if you're uncomfortable with the truth; not outright lies.

How does believing in Santa Clause affect the child negatively? It doesn't harm the child, it doesn't make them go out and beat up another kid, so therefore is IS a white lie.

Yes, children don't have the ability to distinguish between harmful lies and white lies. Adults do, though. I want my children to believe in Santa Clause, so I will tell them about him. I think that belief in Santa enriches a child's life. Once they're old enough (mentally) to distinguish between a bad lie and a good lie, I will most certainly tell them the truth if they ask. And yes, I would be outraged if some teacher decided that my children were too old to continue believing in Santa Clause. Its not her place. Not at all. She's not my child's mother, she's not my child's relative. Its not her place at all.

 

[Peteron]

This woman should be executed for what she has done to the innocent children! X(

 

[VanTesla]

I think the whole idea of making up such lies to your children is just messed up... You can give them the sense of hope, honor, respect, and joy without making some bs up because it is tradition or every one does it...

 

[imnot]

It's like blowing pot in your dog's face - something you do for your own enjoyment, not his.

Oh man thats a great mental image...
I really like you now!
Unless...
You exist, right?

 

[VanTesla]

St. Nicholas was very real.

He would give wooden toys to boys and girls. Every one in town liked him. I thought he was creepy...

 

[Saltyk]

Hey cmon Saltyk I'm on your side too! XD

Don't worry, I saw your comment. There were a few others, too. But I'd say a large number of comments have been rather mean spirited. There have been a few like Devil_Worshipper (hey, that's funny) and kortin that seem to agree as well.

I'd say that the teacher should have deflected the question and told the kids to talk to their parents about that. Explain that there are some things their parents are better equipped to teach them. This avoids all issues.

This was effectively what I was saying that I do. At Thanksgiving my brother's in-laws all hold hands and pray, I just walk into the living room and wait it out. I don't bring it up and avoid the questions if the kids ask.

Personally, I'm surprised that you and I are about the only people commenting in this thread with such an opinion. Most of these comments seem to amount to the following.

"8 year olds still believe in Santa Claus? What children."
"I never believed in Santa. Be amazed at how cynical I am. Praise me!"
"Parents shouldn't lie to their children."

Way to go guys. We can't even let children imagine that there is a fat man in a red suit that travels all over the world and gives gifts to all the good boys and girls out there on one day a year. Because obviously that is bad and leads to communism or liberal thoughts.

Not quite.

I was one of the many kids who became suspicious. I wanted the truth, and I think my parents did the wrong thing by lying to me. I also think that in the large scheme of things, it doesn't fucking matter because in all other ways they were good parents.

But there is no reason to get angry at a teacher for telling the kids the truth. Sure she probably shouldn't have said anything, but really if a kid asks a direct question (which I gather wasn't the case in this scenario) they should be told the truth. They don't need all the details, but they shouldn't get an outright lie.

I agree that she should have just left it or deflected the topic, I like the idea of dodging the subject and leaving it to the parents, but I also don't think this is an atrocity.

Just quickly on those three points:
- I'm not surprised that 8 year olds believe still, I'd be surprised if they were shocked or upset at the realisation.
- I don't think it's cynicism, more scepticism. I don't thing it's that unlikely that almost everyone (who doesn't have older siblings) figures it out at around the age of 7 or 8.
- They shouldn't; but we also shouldn't be outraged by Santa, there's more pressing issues in the world.

This guy, too.

Don't worry, I read your comment. I agree that your parents should have been a little more upfront about it. Especially since your were asking them more or less directly about Santa Claus.

Also, I'm not angry at the teacher. I just think she should have deflected it and told them to ask their parents. That seems like something that should be left to parents and their children. Telling them to ask their parents isn't a lie. Just like if 8 year olds were to ask where babies come from, I wouldn't expect a teacher to tell them about sex. At most, tell them that when men and women love each other very much they can make babies. This isn't a lie. It's just not telling them the gritty details that 8 year olds probably aren't equipped for.

 

[lacktheknack]

"Ruined"

Pffffffffft.

This is completely mystifying to me. I didn't even know what Santa Claus was until my first December in kindergarten, when shiny eyed kids told me all about him. And when I asked my Mom about it, she said "He's not real".

How is this a "Christmas Ruiner"? Bloody hell, if you're basing your ENTIRE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE on Santa, what happens the year you REALLY find out that he doesn't exist?

 

[Thyunda]

Definitely an overreaction. What if the teacher had pointed to an arbitrary spot on the map and said Santa Claus lived there, and one of the more realistic kids in the class declares "But me mam says there's no San'a Clawz, miss." Teacher's in a corner. "Sorry, Little Billy Cockney, your parents are British. Things are backwards over there." isn't really going to cut it, and then does she agree with Billy and say "Yup. There's no Santa Claus."

Then we have the same problem, but with a serious backpedal issue.

 

[VanTesla]

Oh God, santa clause isn't real?!
But that's what christmas is all about!

I thought it was about avarice and gluttony.

 

[DanielBrown]

Eight year old kids that still believe in Santa Claus?
Pff, I was five or younger when I figured out it was actually my grandpa in a bathrobe.

 

[Zakarath]

Good on the teacher. The truth is always the best approach to things. I've always wondered why we have this whole Santa myth rather than just letting kids appreciate what their family does for them anyway.

Also, the comments page on that story made me sad after I looked at it out of morbid curiosity.

 

[Saltyk]

"Ruined"

Pffffffffft.

This is completely mystifying to me. I didn't even know what Santa Claus was until my first December in kindergarten, when shiny eyed kids told me all about him. And when I asked my Mom about it, she said "He's not real".

How is this a "Christmas Ruiner"? Bloody hell, if you're basing your ENTIRE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE on Santa, what happens the year you REALLY find out that he doesn't exist?

In my experience, it still remained mostly the same. My father had been up since 5 or 6 making a huge dinner. Family gathers together Christmas morning and opens gifts. We cleaned up the mess we made, and I played with my new toys or games or whatever. Slowly other family members showed up. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, most of them bring some assortment of gifts and food. We talked, ate, exchanged gifts and played. Everyone went home. The end.

Only difference is that I didn't get any gifts from Santa.

Oh God, santa clause isn't real?!
But that's what christmas is all about!

I thought it was about avarice and gluttony.

Obviously it's both. That's why Santa was fat.

 

[DEAD34345]

There's 8 year olds that still believe in father Christmas?

OT: I'd say it was a slightly cruel thing to do (if any of them actually still believed in it), but that's about it. You shouldn't punish a teacher for teaching a child the truth...

 

[dagill]

What a silly thing for the Teacher do. Its nice to be able to create a bit of magic for your kids to buy into while they are young.

I like all the people in topic though derping about 'welcome to reality' or some other nonsense cuz f**** child hood imagination!

 

[Jonluw]

Jesus Christ, they're eight years old.
It was only appropriate that they got to know if their parents hadn't managed to tell them already.

I sorta wish the teacher would have told them to question the existence of God while he was at it. Teach them some critical thought, because if they believe in Santa at eight, the birds know they need it.

 

[Substitute Troll]

What? 8 year olds who still believed in Santa? Are they retarded or something?

Jesus Christ, they're eight years old.
It was only appropriate that they got to know if their parents hadn't managed to tell them already.

I sorta wish the teacher would have told them to question the existence of God while he was at it. Teach them some critical thought, because if they believe in Santa at eight, the birds know they need it.

Also fully agree with this.

 

[Jegsimmons]

truthful yes

***** move? yes...

Let the kids find out on their own, let them be kids for a while.

So let me get this straight. A teacher "ruined" Christmas for some eight year olds that a fat man in a red suit who travels around the world in a sleigh and leaves presents for kids is actually ficticious? That's ridiculous. The kids are going to get presents anyway, they're gonna spend Xmas with their family and friends and have a jolly old time regardless of whether they know Santa exists or not. How about someone teach them about Jesus, which is the reason there even is an Xmas.

Not true, Christmas is a holiday that was actually taken from the Pagans. While biblical "scholars" tend to make the argument that Jesus was born in the spring, the holiday was put in December to coincide with the Pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice. So really, without Jesus there would be a Christmas, it would just be called something different...probably.

yeah uh....no one really cares dude, the reason the holiday still exist is because we celebrate the birth of jesus, may not be the right time of year, but we dont care. we never cared.
christmas is friggin christmas. and christmas rules.