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

[castleview]

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.

He's the music teacher - he sees them all.

 

[castleview]

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.

10 yrs. old is 4th or 5th grade here. DD is a fourth grader -fall child and we chose to not start her at age four - however, there are some kids who just turned nine in her class.

 

[taximomfor4]

10 yrs. old is 4th or 5th grade here. DD is a fourth grader -fall child and we chose to not start her at age four - however, there are some kids who just turned nine in her class.

I think 10 yr olds are generally in 4th/5th grade everywhere in the US, actually. Unless there is some state out there that has almost every kid graduating at 16 and 17.

 

[Liberty Belle]

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.

Luckily some children haven't learned to be that cynical yet.

My son found out when he was 10 (fifth grade). He was not overly innocent.
And, btw, my youngest son will be turning 10 in the fourth grade (provided he doesn't skip a grade). Children here are not allowed to start kindergarten if they turn five after October 31st.

I love Santa Claus. I would be angry that the teacher said that, but I most likely wouldn't talk to him or the principal about it.

 

[klacey1]

OP, I'd shoot the teacher an email. Something polite and to the point "I heard you explained how Santa is fake to the 4th graders today-- just wanted to make sure you don't tell the same story to the third graders! You don't want a bunch of angry parents on your hands! Have a great day!"

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

When did this happen?

We're half way through April. I'd have to wonder why teacher was talking about Santa.

I also recall a thread like this closer to Christmas.

As far as Santa being a lie--he has his roots in culture...not exactly an April-appropriate topic anyway...but none the less, its roots is why folks who celebrate that holiday give presents on that holiday.

No idea what I would do. My almost 10 year old realizes, but kind of goes back and forth b/c she isn't caring about aging as of yet. My 7yo still believes. (I don't lie, I've just never disclosed anything. While gifts from "santa" are specially wrapped, nowhere on them does it ever say "from santa). And my 3yo-pretty clueless, just wants to open gifts regardless of reason.

But in this culture, Santa is a big deal and for elementary age students, it is a sensitive age for teachers to take it upon themselves to dispel the "truth".

I know my mom had to let my brother know b/c she was worried he would get made fun of, b/c he believed for such a long time.

I just dont' know how I feel on the topic of what you should do, OP. It sounds as a whole that the teacher is a bit...interesting.

 

[mhsjax]

No kidding, I feel bad for school administrators who have to deal w/ this kind of nonsense.

And I feel sorry for kids that have parents that think nothing of teachers telling kids that Santa isn't real, It isn't their place to do that.

While I may not go to the principle I would have a problem with it.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

OP, I'd shoot the teacher an email. Something polite and to the point "I heard you explained how Santa is fake to the 4th graders today-- just wanted to make sure you don't tell the same story to the third graders! You don't want a bunch of angry parents on your hands! Have a great day!"

That sounds like a reasonable thing to do.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

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.

The teacher was wrong...while there is not fat jolly guy named Santa, there was indeed a "St.Nick/Nicholas". That treads into religion though--but he should have thought better of his words if he was going to "teach" the students about "myths".

 

[declansdad]

Why waste anyone's time with this?

Tell your kids the truth, the teacher was correct in his explanation but the real Santa exists in all of us.

 

[MM27]

I was in the room the other day when my class had music. They were talking about theater and one of the kids somehow made a connection with wrestling. Teacher told them it was fake. I wonder how much trouble he's going to get into

I'm of the belief that if you have a problem with the teacher, you go to the teacher not the principal. Just like if someone has a problem with me at work I would expect them to come to me first and not my manager. Common courtesy IMHO.

Thank you

No kidding, I feel bad for school administrators who have to deal w/ this kind of nonsense.

Yep, because they don't have enough to deal with.

Did anyone consider that maybe, just maybe, the conversation didn't happen EXACTLY as to how the 4th grader described it?

First thing I thought was perhaps another student brought it up.

I teach 4th grade and I have only had a handful of kids in 10 years that still believe at this age. Believe me, the other kids talk about it big time around Christmas. If the teacher said this to 5 and 6 year olds, I might say contact the teacher, but if I got an email or call about this with my class, it would be the discussion at lunch that afternoon.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

In my experience, any fourth or fifth grader who still believes in Santa is making a conscious choice to do so despite the fact that they receive so many messages to the contrary -- from T.V. shows (ever wonder why none of the adults in Miracle on 34th St. don't believe -- I mean, I think I'd know for a fact whether or not I bought, wrapped, and stashed presents), to marketing (how many ads for stocking stuffers does one see, why would they sell stocking stuffers if the Big Guy stuffs them?) to peers.

I think it's wonderful when a child keeps believing, but I think if you can make a conscious decision to ignore all those messages in society you can ignore your music teacher too.

Having said that, I still can't quite believe that people tell their children that the Disney characters are real -- for whatever reason it seems bizarre to me. I know I had a conversation with one of my students who told me he wanted to work at Disney World when he grows up -- we talked about all the jobs there, and I mentioned that one job was dressing up as a character -- he thought that was cool. It honestly never crossed my mind that his parents would be upset, and he's in PreK.

 

[castleview]

First thing I thought was perhaps another student brought it up.

I teach 4th grade and I have only had a handful of kids in 10 years that still believe at this age. Believe me, the other kids talk about it big time around Christmas. If the teacher said this to 5 and 6 year olds, I might say contact the teacher, but if I got an email or call about this with my class, it would be the discussion at lunch that afternoon.

I agree with most of the post, but would YOU have told your students that Santa isn't real?

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Honestly, too, OP, it sounds as though you're more miffed you didn't get to break the news than that the news got broken. I might mention it to him so that he can be aware that some 5th graders do still believe in Santa - if he's as clueless as you say, he might well not know.

Now, if you do mention it to the principal, you might want to think for a minute what this will say about you to the other teachers at the elementary school. . .

 

[MM27]

I agree with most of the post, but would YOU have told your students that Santa isn't real?

Actually, when the kids bring it up they will say something like, "Miss C, isn't Santa fake?" and I usually give them the big shocked face and say "What? I know he's coming to my house because I've been good." Then they all laugh.

I've also said to my chronic pencil borrowers, "When you start writing your letter to Santa, start it off by saying, 'Dear Santa, please bring me lots of pencils" and then someone will inevitably say, "There is no Santa."

I don't know the context of the class discussion in this case though. Regardless, I think it's a silly thing to mention to the principal.

 

[LunchladyDoris]

No.

Because I have better things to do with my time than freak out if my kid didn't believe in Santa anymore. It was bound to happen anyways.

 

[castleview]

Honestly, too, OP, it sounds as though you're more miffed you didn't get to break the news than that the news got broken. .

I'm thrilled I didn't have to be the one to break the news. I have no problem with her finding it out from other kids. As I've mentioned, I don't think highly of this teacher and this is just one more boneheaded thing he's done. I probably won't say anything to the principal FWIW. Him, depends on whether I'm PMSing next time I see him.

 

[castleview]

No.

Because I have better things to do with my time than freak out if my kid didn't believe in Santa anymore. It was bound to happen anyways.

Well if you have better things to do, you probably wouldn't have commented. Anyway, read the post again. You'll see that I've got no issues with her knowing, just issues with an adult teacher telling her.

 

[LaurenLC]

It's not something I think the teacher should have shared, but I find it hard to believe that a group of 4th graders haven't already discussed this at great length amongst each other.
I'd like to know why they were talking about Santa in the middle of April.

 

[iheartjacksparrow]

WOW. I actually find this to be VERY interesting...

Many members of the dis seem to have pretty wholesome beliefs which I respect and follow a lot of them.

Just in another thread I was reading, everyone was debating wether or not "vulgar" dancing should be allowed at prom and of course all of the parents thought it was innappropriate....

Yet, a lot of the people replying to this thread think it's kind of foolish that your kid even still believes and that it shouldn't be brought to the principals attention.

Maybe this is the reason kids are growingup way too FAST.

No, I wouldnt get the teacher in trouble...but I don't think thats what your intentions were anyway. The principals your friend, and you're just trying to prevent the same thing from happening again which is fine.


And man what is it with these music teachers??
Sorry if any of you disers are....I just have not had a good one my entire life!!! And they've gotten worse as I got older!?!?!