Would you let a principal know if one of her teachers told the kids...

[ICF]

Do you not see the difference in another child telling this and an adult in a position of authority? The underlying issue is a much bigger issue than learning about Santa.

yes, I do see the difference and Im not saying a parent doesnt have the right to be upset. It's not principal worthy though.....

However, you're being a bit overly dramatic if you think their dreams are being crushed by finding out the truth....be it from a teacher or another kid. I also believe a parent isnt being truthful with themselves if you think that a 10 year old hasnt heard about this (and just chosen not to believe it) before now.

 

[MosMom]

No, I wouldn't. I wouldn't even talk to the teacher.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Oh, didn't you know, the trend now is to push our kids into adulthood as quickly as possible. Who needs a child-like immagination and silly dreams when at 8 you can have an I-Pod, at 10 you get your cell phone with internet access and your own Facebook page and don't forget your full face of make-up in 6th grade to go along with your Ugg boots and Coach bag.

I mean who really need's Cinderella and Santa when they've got all that waiting for them. To hell with the innocence of a child! We have got much bigger fish to fry.

Its so sad, I am dreading those years! I feel like kids don't "play" with things anymore. I will be so upset when DD gets rid of her American Girl dolls and snoopy stuffed animals and wants make up!
In 6th grade I was still playing with Barbies
O the good ole days, to be young and carefree!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I had a teacher tell us Santa wasn't real and had several kids say the same when I was in elementary/middle school. I never stopped believing though. I just believed they were on the naughty list .

 

[Cornhusk]

I'm sorry.

Expect a strongly worded e-mail

 

[pigletgirl]

Good line!

Blonde moment!

You know what I mean.

 

[Jennasis]

OP, whereabouts are you? Is it possible the teacher is or many of the students in the class/school are of the Non-Christmas-Celebrating variety? Perhaps if the class were primarily Jewish (as was the case for my DH growing up, though he himself was catholic) discussing the origins of the Santa myth with the 10 and up crowd might not be so out of the realm of possibility.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, didn't you know, the trend now is to push our kids into adulthood as quickly as possible. Who needs a child-like immagination and silly dreams when at 8 you can have an I-Pod, at 10 you get your cell phone with internet access and your own Facebook page and don't forget your full face of make-up in 6th grade to go along with your Ugg boots and Coach bag.

I mean who really need's Cinderella and Santa when they've got all that waiting for them. To hell with the innocence of a child! We have got much bigger fish to fry.

Well, that's all an interesting juxtaposition. I know you're being sarcastic - but think about what you've said. Are there really parents who "push" their children and preteens into adulthood by forcing Ipods, internet-capable cell phones, Facebook pages, and adult-worthy make-up on them... or are the parents ceding to the childrens' wishes?

In either case - if your going to expose them to all these adult benefits, whether it's realistic to expect them to still have child-like beliefs or not, it's NOT reasonable to get upset with an adult charged with educating them and who sees them every day with these accessories, who educates them truthfully about a fictional character.

Remember, too, not every child/family/religion believes in Santa, period. More students than you may think (unless your child attends a religious school) already know he doesn't exist.

Besides the teacher wasn't exactly lying.

Frankly, the teacher wasn't lying, period

 

[robinb]

The way I see it, if you insist on telling your kids to believe in something that IS NOT REAL, you run the risk of someone else blowing it wide open on you. That's life...

ITA. And it DOES happen sooner or later.

OP, if you sincerely believe that the teacher might spill the beans to younger children, I would have a talk a chat with him ASAP. The santa reference may be in conjunction with something that he is teaching. Even though you say that he is clueless, it might be worthwhile bringing it up. At least you would feel better about it. But no, I would not tell the principal.

 

[Aisling]

I'm not sure if I'd tell the principal, but it stinks that a teacher would tell kids there is no Santa. It's not a major life issue, but c'mon let the kids enjoy it for as long as they can. I'd be annoyed.

 

[yoopermom]

First, it sounds as though you're angry/frustrated with this teacher for alot more than just the Santa incident. I would be afraid that if you go to the principal about this, when it comes to complaining about something "really" important (like the way he grades), you would be taken less seriously. If you think he's really that bad of a teacher, document, document, document then ask for a meeting with the principal with your guns fully loaded. If he's just lazy and odd, but hasn't done anything worth getting fired over, than sometimes you just have to hope the rest of the year goes fast.

And to the person who said librarians/teachers shouldn't tell kids that things at Disneyworld aren't true, turn that around? What if I as a teacher/librarian (which I am) told my students that EVERY character in the storybooks and at WDW WAS true? I'd be fired so fast my head would roll! It would be the Harry Potter-paganism-witchcraft debacle all over again? (For the record--I stress the importance of imagination and refer children to ask their parents as to what is true and what isn't.)

Terri

 

[bumbershoot]

Sounds much more like the guy was teaching about the things surrounding the myths and stories. Sounds like TEACHING to me. Sounds like educating them. Sounds like what I can learn watching the December European shows that Rick Steves puts out, where his son "plays" sinter claus with some other local kids.

To me, the Santa isn't real part is just part of it, where the guy was discussing really interesting things.

It's really not a teacher's job to tell my kids things like that.

If he was teaching things, it just goes along with the lesson.

Perhaps they were starting to learn some traditional european December-time songs?

I can't either.
I would let it go. At that age he probably assumed the kids already knew Santa wasn't real.

Seriously.

The only 'line' that was crossed was the separation of church and state.

Except...what does Santa have to do with the church? Not much!

I agree, these years go by so fast, I love that DD believes in Santa, tooth fairy, Easter Bunny, and Disney characters. I love that she has a little imagination, I wouldn't want another adult to ruin that for her, they are only innocent for such a short period of time.

Um..those things defined as "innocent"...those are LIES adults make up and tell children. That's not "innocence", that's taking advantage of the trusting nature of children, just to make for cute adorable moments.

Just like when I told DS that Comcast turned the cable off from x to y hours during the day, telling kids that Santa knows when you are sleeping is something to take the pressure off of us adults, so that WE are not the ones blamed when Blues Clues can't be watched or we can't afford as many presents this year as last.

It's not innocence.

And trust me, if a kid WANTS to believe in these things, the kid will. I wasn't brought up with Santa being real (a strange man breaking into the house in the middle of the night, I don't think so, not for a little girl with a father who abused her mother!) and I hadn't made it real for DS, but during his year of being 4 he flat out told me that I'm wrong and Santa DOES exist. Then he turned 5 and told me that Santa was me. We've never called the Disney characters real...we've called them "characters", and he's gone back and forth on whether he believes in them as "real" or not. Even when he's on a "not" kick, he still LOVES them. Still hugs them, still smiles hugely when he sees them. Even when he comments on their zippers.

Innocence doesn't go out the window b/c there's no belief in things that aren't real. And in fact, when a parent has done the Santa/Disney character flat out lie for years, it's not belief in the characters that *can* crush a child, it's the fact that they can't really trust their parents to tell the truth that *can* mess with some kids' heads... That's the innocence-destroyer, IMO.


Just do NOT ask me about the tooth fairy. That's the one area that I'm really conflicted on, LOL. But DS says that I'm his tooth fairy, and he's already putting in tentative requests for when that is relevant, LOL. Hey, at least I'm honest with being back and forth!

And to the person who said librarians/teachers shouldn't tell kids that things at Disneyworld aren't true, turn that around? What if I as a teacher/librarian (which I am) told my students that EVERY character in the storybooks and at WDW WAS true? I'd be fired so fast my head would roll!

So true!

 

[castleview]

OP, whereabouts are you? Is it possible the teacher is or many of the students in the class/school are of the Non-Christmas-Celebrating variety? Perhaps if the class were primarily Jewish (as was the case for my DH growing up, though he himself was catholic) discussing the origins of the Santa myth with the 10 and up crowd might not be so out of the realm of possibility.

This is a predominately Christian/Catholic area. It does sound like he was discussing the origins of the myth - according to DD, it was on St. Patrick's Day when he discussed the myth of the leprechaun and he said "Just like St. Nick and Santa - you know he's not real?" Honestly, I'm not upset that DD knows - that was coming. But, as I've mentioned, I've worked with this guy and he's such a space cadet that I could see him casually saying it to second graders. If I said anything, I doubt it would have an effect.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

I had a teacher tell us Santa wasn't real and had several kids say the same when I was in elementary/middle school. I never stopped believing though. I just believed they were on the naughty list .

Some of us still believe.

He may not come in the house and leave gifts. But on Christmas Morning you definitely know he was there at some point.

 

[lillygator]

what were they doing talking about santa?

 

[eeyoremommy]

My only point is...this was music class. Someone did mention myths, etc. That would be my main concern...how does this fit into the curriculum of music class? Is this some extraneous attempt to make 1 + 1 = 3? Maybe he was trying to bridge what they were learning in English class with the music class. Otherwise, Santa should not have been mentioned at all. There was no violation of church and state though, maybe one of stupidity. If the OP is concerned, talk to the teacher. If not, let it drop. As a former teacher, most "problems" can be resolved quickly and easily by simply talking to each other. It very well could be a simple misunderstanding. It is isn't worthwhile enough to talk to the teacher, it isn't a big enough problem. What bothers one parent doesn't bother another. Unfortunately, schools have to find the balance.

 

[aprilgail2]

There is no way at age 10 that they had not already heard the truth from someone, so I don't see why it would be particularly upsetting. The way I see it, if you insist on telling your kids to believe in something that IS NOT REAL, you run the risk of someone else blowing it wide open on you. That's life...

I agree- 10 years old here is late 5th grade and 6th grade so frankly I would be more concerned that my 6th grader in Jr High was still believing that a fat man in a red suit with flying reindeer broke into every house in the world in one night and gave free gifts to people.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is a predominately Christian/Catholic area. It does sound like he was discussing the origins of the myth - according to DD, it was on St. Patrick's Day when he discussed the myth of the leprechaun and he said "Just like St. Nick and Santa - you know he's not real?" Honestly, I'm not upset that DD knows - that was coming. But, as I've mentioned, I've worked with this guy and he's such a space cadet that I could see him casually saying it to second graders. If I said anything, I doubt it would have an effect.

You've brought up 'younger children' several times. Does this man TEACH younger students? Most teachers I know in elementary school teach single grades. As such, it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I agree- 10 years old here is late 5th grade and 6th grade so frankly I would be more concerned that my 6th grader in Jr High was still believing that a fat man in a red suit with flying reindeer broke into every house in the world in one night and gave free gifts to people.

 

[krcit]

You've brought up 'younger children' several times. Does this man TEACH younger students? Most teachers I know in elementary school teach single grades. As such, it wouldn't be an issue.

In our elementary school the 'specials' teachers(art, gym, music) all teach every grade level from 1st to 6th.

I would be annoyed if a teacher told my kids that Santa is not real. I guess I'm a helicopter parent