New York Teacher Tells Kids There Is No Santa Claus

[Nazz3]

They should have learned that WAY before school.

 

[Dr. wonderful]

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...

He was also a bit of a badass.

Ask Arius, on what happened at the Council of Nicaea. Also, Nicholas' Zigomatic process shows he be in quite a few fights.

 

[wottabout]

As a child, I was of the opinion that I would go along with Santa existing until I knew otherwise. Obviously, all parents, and probably all adults, knew the truth, so I would find out one way or the other eventually, and it didn't hurt to believe in the mean time. I was actually really confused about all these films where adults were surprised about Santa being real, since you would think they would know whether they put the presents there or not. When I was finally sure that Santa wasn't real, it was more awkward than anything, explaining to my parents that they didn't have to pretend anymore.

Anyway, now that I am older and do not associate with children at all, I can easily see how someone might let slip the big "secret." It's kind of dumb for a teacher to do it, but I don't think she should be fired or anything.

 

[FilipJPhry]

To be honest, if I was a parent to one of those kids I would've confronted her and told her that she's taking my child's innocence away. If the teacher was a guy, I would've just whupped his ass. Either way, that "spark" of imagination and wonder was what made being a kid fun. She was probably one of the nasty kids back in primary who kept telling everyone that they're stupid and calling everyone a dumbass everytime while we were like, "Screw you, we're having fun!"
[small]Sort of feel bad about that kid now that I think about it because that kid in school was always picked on[/small]


In other words: It was fun believing in Santa Claus!

 

[Akimoto]

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.

That's right. The Saint Augustine - one of the saints, sorry if I got it wrong - decided to reclaim the holiday for Christianity. There's a lot of rich literature on the origins of Christmas available on the Internet. The exact bday of Jesus is not known, but I still like Christmas, pagan or not. =)

OT: Troll parents gonna troll. If they can't stand the teacher being honest might as well home school no?

 

[game-lover]

I went and told my mother this and asked about her feelings once I clicked the link.

My mother said she'd have gone up there and wanted to punch the teacher in the face. She believes that Christmas can actually be a rather depressing time and so children deserve to be able to keep the magic of Christmas for as long as possible.

With her POV, I think I have a stance on this thing.

There are some things that no one has the right to tell other peoples' children... that should only be left up to the parents. This is one of them. It's like correcting a child about how they were born. You don't correct him about the stork or the cabbage patch or whatever and tell them the birds and the bees. It's just not done.

And if you think it's not the same thing, I'd love to hear thoughts. Because in essence, both of these have taken away a child's innocence.

 

[marurder]

I went and told my mother this and asked about her feelings once I clicked the link.

My mother said she'd have gone up there and wanted to punch the teacher in the face. She believes that Christmas can actually be a rather depressing time and so children deserve to be able to keep the magic of Christmas for as long as possible.

With her POV, I think I have a stance on this thing.

There are some things that no one has the right to tell other peoples' children... that should only be left up to the parents. This is one of them. It's like correcting a child about how they were born. You don't correct him about the stork or the cabbage patch or whatever and tell them the birds and the bees. It's just not done.

And if you think it's not the same thing, I'd love to hear thoughts. Because in essence, both of these have taken away a child's innocence.

While I agree with the sentiment of the idea parents SHOULD DO... but the way the world is changing parents are becoming more relaint on TV (which I believe is a negative influence) and more reliant on schools (sex education should be something talked about by parents) and when something goes awry they seek to blame it on teachers, government or the values imparted on activities children enjoy (ZOMG computer gamez or card games!) In effect giving up their responsibilities in part to avoid blame. Such is the world changing. Sad thing is many people think that avoidance of these issues with children is acceptable.

 

[Zing]

Technically it's family that matters and how would you know if your christmasses were any more exciting? You never believed in the first place.

Gifts or family, it doesn't matter, point is, Santa is pointless.

And I know because my Christmases were some of my happiest times. I loved Christmas.

 

[bootz]

What santa's not real. brb crying in a corner

 

[JonnyHG]

Santa down, one more Christmas character to go.

 

[Imperiused]

I would encourage the children to think for themselves by having a week-long investigation into Santa Claus, doing experiments and taking field trips and the like, and let them come to their own conclusions.

 

[FoolKiller]

Without lies... with only truth, the world would be in shambles.

Having said that, shamble away. I hated my parents for lying to me when I was little. I kept questioning stuff that didn't make sense and they kept on coming up with new 'explanations'.

If someone asks me about Santa, I will tell them the truth. Only the Tooth Fairy is real...

 

[Blue Horn]

Meh, I always wished my parents never told me about Santa. When I found out the truth about him I was like, "wait, so you had me write letters and leave cookies to..No one? The hell was the point of that, all I want is presents." But I guess in today's world you're kinda forced to tell your kids there is a Santa or else everyone looks at you as a cynic.

 

[Sonicron]

If an 8 year old kid asks the teacher to explain sex, should the teacher "be honest" and do it or should the teacher refuse to discuss the subject?

The latter is what should have happened here. Santa is like religion, You could claim religious beliefs are lies too because they lack proof but then you miss the point of religion.

The comparison you draw is beyond preposterous.
But, for the sake of humoring you, if the child is the one to initiate the conversation by sincerely asking the teacher about the subject, it doesn't bloody matter what age the kid is, the teacher has a duty to provide an adequate answer.

And as for religion (and its point), well... even though I'm a Christian on paper, I really couldn't care less about God or anything related to him/her. Playing that card will get you nowhere with me.

I am thoroughly convinced that calling you a Scrooge will do nothing but send you into a flying rage.

You're such a Scrooge.

Seriously, telling a child there is no Santa Claus is just cruel. Everyone I knew grew up believing in Santa Claus, and in time we all came to realize on our own that he does not exist. It was just a part of growing up. Teachers need to be a good authority figure in kids' lives, but that sort of decision should belong to the parents.

I, for one, will be raising my children believing in Santa Claus. Or, rather, I won't ruin the magic for them. It just adds this sort of wonder to the holiday.

And I would care about being called a Scrooge because...?

I don't expect you to modify your view on how to raise kids because of the inane ramblings of little old me, just as much as you can't expect me to buy into your perspective.

 

[hagar2]

this is actually for the best. ive met 5 year olds that talk about sex and when you watch shows nowadays you see kids are now learning what it took me years to pick up on my own. this is just another thing kids get eventually anyway.

 

[Spitfire]

What.
How could they say that? Santa is real!

OT: While it is a lie, I don't think it's in any way wrong. It's sweet to see kids who really believe in Santa, and I don't think that should be taken away from them. Childish innocence is something that should be preserved, and yes, every child should learn about Santa at some point, but on their own terms.

Innocence =/= Naivety. Parents telling their children about Santa is nothing more than a silly old tradition, but encouraging them to be naive enough as to actually believe in something like that is not a good thing, and it's not a quality that any considering parents should teach to their children.

 

[Korolev]

Eh - it's not like it will cause them any great psychological harm. I found out Santa wasn't real by the time I was 6 years old. Some kids on the school ground told me. I was upset for, perhaps at most, a minute or two, then I forgot about it and went on with my day. To be sure, I don't think a teacher should be the one to tell them, but at the same time, I don't think it caused any great harm.

My year 5 teacher did the same thing. Of course, anyone who didn't know Santa was fictional by the age of 10 probably needed to be told.

 

[CJ1145]

And I would care about being called a Scrooge because...?

I don't expect you to modify your view on how to raise kids because of the inane ramblings of little old me, just as much as you can't expect me to buy into your perspective.

I don't particularly expect you to care. I'm just laying my opinion in admittedly simplistic terms.

My opinion is that, until the age of about 16 when a person is fully capable of learning from someone without being entirely impressionable, it should be left to parents to teach life lessons, and teachers to teach life skills. I, for example, certainly don't want a teacher giving my kids the talk about the birds and the bees, but certain skills such as reading, math, etc. are things they are more qualified to teach, so I would be more willing to let them handle that.

 

[Astoria]

I don't see why this is news. Like others have said haven't most kids stopped believing by that age? It was a bit harsh to tell them rather than let them ask their parents but it's not like they were 5 year olds.

Unlike so many others here I'm glad my parents told me Santa was real and I will be telling my children he is real. Childhood is that magical time when you can fully believe in things like this and think that the world is actually a good place. Santa is not a lie but a part of Christmas. Even in our adult life how many of us still have Santa decorations and joke about his arrival. I believe that everything in life is what you make of it. If you want your Christmas to be Santa less and missing that magic then so be it that's your decision but I'd rather think of Santa of an example of good and even though he isn't real he's had more impact of society than many real people.