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

[robinb]

I did ask two parents of my daughter's friends who still believe. They haven't heard anything which made me wonder if DD read into it because she was questioning it in the first place. Of course, DD brought it to me a month afterwards also. They're hoping to find out too (without dropping the secret of course) as they don't think much of the teacher. One said his daughter might not have said anything because she hardly pays attention to the music teacher. Who knows? DD said the kids were talking about it after the infamous lecture but many decided to ignore him and still believe. DD did too until one night it just got to her, I guess.

Wait. This all happened a month ago?

 

[castleview]

Wait. This all happened a month ago?

Yes. Obviously, it was on DD's mind for a while.

 

[Cornhusk]

Yes. Obviously, it was on DD's mind for a while.

I am all for letting a kid be a kid, but seriously this was a month ago I would refain from talking to the teacher who most likely forgot about it. Also, really? She has been bothered by Santa not being real for a month?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

that Santa wasn't real? DD10 told me the other day that the music teacher was explaining that Santa wasn't real and we stole an idea from Europe and put our own twist on it. Now DD has been on the edge of the Santa belief so I'm not upset she knows - even though she's bummed. However, I've know this teacher for a while and he is a dense man in his own world. I could totally see him saying this without thinking some kids might still believe. Either way, it's not his job to let anyone know. Of course, this is DD's version of the story only. I'm friends with the principal and I'm not looking for the teacher's head but I'm wondering if I should let her know. I just worry about the teacher saying this to younger kids and think it was irresponsible of him. What would you do?

I say off with her head! What right does the music teacher or anyone else have to take away Santa or any other or the "magical" things that kids have such a short time to appreciate. I did not read the whole thread but this made me see red.

 

[luvsJack]

Ya know, for a message board based on the many people who love a place based on imagination and the belief in a 5 foot tall mouse, we sure do spend an awful lot of time debating whether a kid should be bothered about the existance or non-existance of Santa Clause.

 

[castleview]

Ya know, for a message board based on the many people who love a place based on imagination and the belief in a 5 foot tall mouse, we sure do spend an awful lot of time debating whether a kid should be bothered about the existance or non-existance of Santa Clause.

Thank you!

 

[Boxley]

Difference between the people who love Disneyland is the realization that the adults know that Mickey is essentially based off imagination and therefore is not real and a child who is upset over something that is a fact of life, Santa is not real. You can still imagine things about Santa, Disney princesses,etc but it all comes down to the fact that this is not real and there really isn't anything to be upset about nor to confront a teacher who most likely forgot about it and was honestly explaining the facts behind Santa to a age group that already knew that Santa is not real. It appears that no one else in the class was that upset except for one child who after a month later is still upset. At this point, the parent should not confront the teacher but rather explain to her child the aspects of real and make believe. That was the parent's fault because it is her responsibility to explain these aspects and to be ticked off at a teacher who was showing facts is just passing the blame.

 

[luvmy3]

You have a funny way of picking and choosing what you believe to be a teacher's responsibility or not when they have children in their charge. I don't have a problem with a teacher going outside the scope of their subject, as long as they have the necessary knowledge to teach the lesson.
If he cannot figure out a way to teach a lesson about mythological creatures without touching Santa, then he needs to take a class in mythological creatures. There are plenty that he could use as an example without going into something that may or may not be a touchy subject for some families. If I can teach 4 year olds about what is real and what is not real without ever mentioning Santa, EB, the tooth fairy or any character they may see in a costume at any theme park around the world; I think he should certainly be able to teach a lesson on this using another example.

I wouldn't have found it a big deal for my child either, but I am not the parent of every child in that class and neither are you. If he had 30 kids in the class, then he had 30 different families with 30 different beliefs and traditions. Sorry, but it is part of his job to respect every one; regardless of how unimportant we or he finds it to be.

Should she go to the principal? Again, I find the answer in how friendly she is with the principal and if she thinks other parents may storm the school over it. Just as a heads up kind of thing, not "do you know what he did? And I am darn mad about it!!" I don't have a relationship with our principal and I would not go to her over this, but I know a few parents that might.

Are you saying that he didn't have the neccessary knowledge that Santa isnt real?


I agree, he could have left santa out of the lesson, however he wasn't required to, and we jut have differnt opinions on whether he should have.

 

[castleview]

Difference between the people who love Disneyland is the realization that the adults know that Mickey is essentially based off imagination and therefore is not real and a child who is upset over something that is a fact of life, Santa is not real. You can still imagine things about Santa, Disney princesses,etc but it all comes down to the fact that this is not real and there really isn't anything to be upset about nor to confront a teacher who most likely forgot about it and was honestly explaining the facts behind Santa to a age group that already knew that Santa is not real. It appears that no one else in the class was that upset except for one child who after a month later is still upset. At this point, the parent should not confront the teacher but rather explain to her child the aspects of real and make believe. That was the parent's fault because it is her responsibility to explain these aspects and to be ticked off at a teacher who was showing facts is just passing the blame.

Um, I did explain it to her after she asked. I still find it strange that people think it's ok for another adult to tell my kid about Santa. I expect it from kids, but not grown men.

 

[Boxley]

Um, I did explain it to her after she asked. I still find it strange that people think it's ok for another adult to tell my kid about Santa. I expect it from kids, but not grown men.

This adult is a teacher. He was not only telling the truth but also giving the facts behind the myth because that is his job. What are you upset about? Because he gave the bald faced truth plus the facts?

 

[iheartjacksparrow]

Ya know, for a message board based on the many people who love a place based on imagination and the belief in a 5 foot tall mouse, we sure do spend an awful lot of time debating whether a kid should be bothered about the existance or non-existance of Santa Clause.

Exactly what I'm sayin !

 

[castleview]

This adult is a teacher. He was not only telling the truth but also giving the facts behind the myth because that is his job. What are you upset about? Because he gave the bald faced truth plus the facts?

His job is to teach music. If he wants to incorporate stories, fine. However in an elementary school, he should be smart and sensitive to the way people do things. He should be aware that there are kids who still believe.

I get it that you don't think Santa is a big deal. But would you have a told a kid he wasn't real? Is that your place?

 

[lillygator]

as a music teacher he really has no business discussing santa. I didn't read how it came up in the class room, but I would be a little ticked if a person in authority told my dd's that Santa wasn't real.

 

[Boxley]

What was the context that Santa was explained in class? For instance, he could have been teaching an Irish song about Leprecahuns and also the historical source behind this creature and how behind a myth there usually is a part of history and culture behind it, hence the formingh of songs. A kid could have asked about Santa and the teacher's duty was to explain the history behind the concept. Also, it is likely that in that classroom MOST OF THE KIDS ALREADY KNEW and from your posts have revealed your daughter is the ONLY one upset. How about next time seeing as how you are upset your child is finding out things, you go over the lesson plan with him and point out what is and what isn't acceptable?

 

[castleview]

What was the context that Santa was explained in class? For instance, he could have been teaching an Irish song about Leprecahuns and also the historical source behind this creature and how behind a myth there usually is a part of history and culture behind it, hence the formingh of songs. A kid could have asked about Santa and the teacher's duty was to explain the history behind the concept. Also, it is likely that in that classroom MOST OF THE KIDS ALREADY KNEW and from your posts have revealed your daughter is the ONLY one upset. How about next time seeing as how you are upset your child is finding out things, you go over the lesson plan with him and point out what is and what isn't acceptable?

I discussed with DD that I don't think it was right of the teacher to tell the students that. And I told her that she shouldn't fill anyone else in (mostly meaning her brother and sister). She can be Santa with me next year - help me pick out, wrap and place the gifts under the tree. She doesn't want me to say anything to the teacher or principal, so I'm not going to. But I did ask her about the other kid's reaction, and many kids still believe (or choose to). I guess one silver lining is that this teacher is so out there that even the kids know it, and they don't take everything he says seriously.

 

[luvsJack]

Difference between the people who love Disneyland is the realization that the adults know that Mickey is essentially based off imagination and therefore is not real and a child who is upset over something that is a fact of life, Santa is not real. You can still imagine things about Santa, Disney princesses,etc but it all comes down to the fact that this is not real and there really isn't anything to be upset about nor to confront a teacher who most likely forgot about it and was honestly explaining the facts behind Santa to a age group that already knew that Santa is not real. It appears that no one else in the class was that upset except for one child who after a month later is still upset. At this point, the parent should not confront the teacher but rather explain to her child the aspects of real and make believe. That was the parent's fault because it is her responsibility to explain these aspects and to be ticked off at a teacher who was showing facts is just passing the blame.

But do we not (or most of us at least) do go to WDW with the attitude of it all being real, regardless of the age of our children? I certainly hope no one here is one of those egg-heads that sit back in a character line and say "its just a costume, its not a REAL mouse". We sort of go along with it being real regardless of what we really "know".

Apparently they did NOT all know that Santa wasn't real, as she posted later that the kids had discussed it and decided to keep believing anyway.

Why does anyone have to "explain the facts" about Santa? I have NEVER explained any such thing to any child and they figured it out just fine.

Santa is a tradition in many, many households. And for many parents, this part of childhood is very precious and almost sacred. It should not be explained away by a teacher. It was not up to him to decide that they were old enough to know the "truth". Any teacher should respect the households of the children they teach and the differences in their beliefs, traditions and what is or is not important to that particular family. If a particular family in this teacher's class wants to treat Santa as a real, living, breathing person that visits them on a yearly basis it is not that teacher's place to say otherwise.

He could have taught the lesson a different way just as easily.

 

[luvsJack]

Are you saying that he didn't have the neccessary knowledge that Santa isnt real?


I agree, he could have left santa out of the lesson, however he wasn't required to, and we jut have differnt opinions on whether he should have.

And I agree that he wasn't required to leave him out. We aren't required to do a lot of things but that doesn't change the fact of whether we should.

But, on this we will have to agree to disagree.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You completely forgot the incident where he and his reindeer ran over someone's Grandma.

Hit and run driver! I TOTALLY forgot! Thanks!

 

[CapeMayMommy]

No. I wouldn't. The man didn't lie to the kids. There IS no such thing as Santa. I can't imagine getting a teacher in trouble over the this.

I am going to sound like a scrooge, but my children's school actually has santa, and the Easter bunny visit the school. I don't think that santa or the Easter bunny belong in school at all.

The presumption that all children are Christian is wrong. Even though I am Christian, I think it's wrong to assume others are Christian.

Second, school is the place to learn about facts. If something is fiction and taught in schools, it should be told to the children that "this is a fictional story".

 

[castleview]

I am going to sound like a scrooge, but my children's school actually has santa, and the Easter bunny visit the school. I don't think that santa or the Easter bunny belong in school at all.

The presumption that all children are Christian is wrong. Even though I am Christian, I think it's wrong to assume others are Christian.

Second, school is the place to learn about facts. If something is fiction and taught in schools, it should be told to the children that "this is a fictional story".

OP here. I don't think Santa and the Easter Bunny belong at school either. But I disagree with your second thought. Santa and the Easter Bunny shouldn't be "revealed" by a school teacher either.