Wtf, teaching ?

[mothwing]

I hope you all still believe in Santa, because apparently, you can be fired for saying that he doesn't exist. A few days ago, someone on teaching  posted a video about the case of the substitute primary teacher to whom exactly this happened, which apparently left a class of seven-year olds "in tears". Awww.
I bet. The entire class.
Please.
Could she have handled it more tactfully than straight out telling them? Definitely. Should she be fired because of that? I don't think so.

Even during my really sheltered childhood I found out that Santa doesn't exist from other kids during my first year at school, which was when I was six years old. If I am not mistaken, students start school at age five in the UK, don't they?
So these kids were told that Santa doesn't exist during their second or third year at primary school and the parents complain?

And as if this entire case is not already WTFy enough, people in teaching support the school's reaction, saying that she abused the trust placed in her, that she disrespected their family's customs, and by telling them she shattered the kids' innocence, and that it's just like smacking a child in the face. Oh, Santa is also a belief system like Christianity and too good a motivator to pass up.

Seriously. 

I liked believing in the Christkind bringing the presents, but it's not as though my entire childhood was over when I found out that it didn't. In fact, I felt as though I had just matured because I stopped believing in something that the uninitiated little kids like my younger friends still believed in.

The amount of importance people place on kids' belief in Santa is really unnerving. Clearly, they want to believe more than their kids do, and that's a trait that I find mildly disturbing in people who are supposed to teach a generation critical thinking. 

Comments

EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[mothwing.livejournal.com]

That's fine, Sil. :) How are you?

Hm, I must have read the article differently. I thought she had said it accidentally, that's why I didn't understand the parental uproar. If she did what you did, I'd agree, that's not an attitude a teacher should have and she deserves to be in trouble for that kind of behaviour, but that's not what I read, really.

Also - is it common in the US that kids can maintain their belief in Santa/the Easter bunny even after they go to school? Because it seems to be fairly common over here that most kids are told by older kids over here.

*hugs* And hopefully you and your family will have a great Christmas this year!!

Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[shady-sedai.livejournal.com]

Things are well, thanks :) We made our last out of town visit this week-end, so I'm happily settling down to tree decorating, cookie baking and (unfortunately, due to peer pressure) elf-buying (but more on that later).

I checked several articles before writing my last response because I had seen this debate on several boards I frequent. She was a substitute and is still going to teach at other schools just not at that one. I don't think she is a cruel person just that she doesn't do well with younger children (nothing wrong with that either). I think she reached for the quickest thing to make them settle down and opened her mouth and came out with that. I have to believe it was said almost vindicatively because the follow up behind it was really nothing. She could've said she was just joking or anything, but I've read nothing to indicate that she tried to repair the harm she caused. Of course, I could be a pessimist and Christmas is hands-down my favorite time of the year. (Misha was born on Christmas Eve and Mary Charles had her birthday last Friday). One of my friends had a son who was told by a friend that the parents were Santa. My friend told her son that some kids are soooo naughty that their parents have to pretend to be Santa because Santa won't come to their house. lol Personally, if the cat was out of the bag about Santa, I would tell them the truth.

I would guess that Christmas is probably the only time of the year where people think about others and not so much themselves. There are Secret Santa programs, mitten/scarves/hats trees for those who don't have them, food drives and general gift giving to people who don't always receive thanks (teachers, mail carriers, maids, etc). Christmas brings out a spirit that I wish people would have throughout the year. I see nothing wrong with letting children believe in Santa because the end goal (in my opinion) is to make them want to "be" a Santa to others they come across. As long as they can remember the surprise and delight on Christmas morning at seeing the "magic" from Santa, they can realize that they can give that same feeling to others. And not just on Christmas Day too.

Yes, kids can maintain their belief in Santa, Easter Bunny (and tooth fairy) after going to school. I'd say definitely through Elementary (3rd grade) and sometimes farther (depending on the parents). One of my friends has a son who is 12 this year and still believes. Each year, he doubts a bit more and has done things like hide his list to Santa, ask a friend to mail it, etc. Each year, she finds a way to get his list so she can make sure she has the little things on it that keep him believing. (For the record, I think that's going a bit far, but that's her business and she has fun with Christmas). Also keep in mind that we live in a rather affluent area (though I need to mention that we are nowhere near as well off as our neighbors) which does make it easier to maintain. Last year we pondered over having Santa actually show up at our house on Christmas Day (we know a Santa and he offered us first choice to rent him). We decided against it, but it was a fun thought.

-continued because i talk too much-

Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[shady-sedai.livejournal.com]

-Continued from above-

Christmas elves are also popular here and I'm about to go shopping for one for our house. Since I'm not sure if you do elves, I'll give a brief explanation (we didn't when I was growing up). You crumble some crackers and wish for an elf (leaving the crackers crumbled on the counter). That makes the elf "appear" the next morning, sitting somewhere high out of reach. The first rule is that you can't touch the elf or his magic disappears and he becomes just a doll. The elf sits in different places (moved each night) and watches to make sure you're being good (he reports back to Santa). Sometimes he makes messes and spills things like flour. During the month of December, he leaves gifts every night for the children in the house. (These are usually small things like pieces of candy, pencils, coloring books, etc - some elves have been known to leave outfits, jewelry and dvd's). I had hoped to avoid the elf, but Madison's friends have been asking what the elf has left her and she has reached the unfortunate conclusion that the elf must not be coming because we don't have regular crackers (we're on a gluten free diet due to her Celiac Disease and she thinks that elves must not like gluten free things *sigh*). So, I am elf-shopping and tomorrow a little elf will be perched up in our tree for his first day of good child watching. ;)

*hugs* back :) I hope your Christmas is wonderful as well!

Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[mothwing.livejournal.com]

Wow. Twelve. That is old for a child to believe in Santa, and without knowing the family it sounds somewhat creepy. I wonder why the boy never questions things more thoroughly, and I really hope that the poor kid doesn't get made fun of at school.

If the teacher really did what you said, then she probably really shouldn't teach that age group right now. Classes, especially rowdy classes, can grind on the most patient nerves, but if this was done in an attempt to calm them down, she's really doing it wrong and needs to find different ways to control her class.

Madison's explanation for her elflessness is the most adorable thing. The elf thing sounds like a fun way of giving children an self-made advent calender. It's a bit odd to have yet another entity introduced into the Christmas season. Do you know where this tradition comes from? I've never heard of that before.

Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[shady-sedai.livejournal.com]

The family's not creepy, I promise. :) lol The mom (my best friend) is someone who really, really loves Christmas. I don't think he's been made fun of, at least I'm hoping not.

I'm not sure where the elf tradition started, but it's fun. The girls woke up and saw the elf and came running back to our room to wake us up and tell us. They've named him Fred. (I'm not sure why, but I'm hoping for a harry potter reference lol)

Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[fennyfen.livejournal.com]

I've never believed in Santa or the Easter bunny, though, from my experience, most kids do learn that they aren't real through older children.

Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[mothwing.livejournal.com]

Really? Huh. How did you react when other kids started talking about the Easter bunny and whatnot? o.O

Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[fennyfen.livejournal.com]

I don't really remember. I don't think a lot of them really believed in them, either. xD

Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[rizardofoz.livejournal.com]

I was 7 and in second grade, so it was after the beginning of school and it was a fellow classmate who mentioned it. It set off a little verbal argument, but after thinking a while, I became skeptical. Then, next year, I told my parents that yeah not convinced.

Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first

[mothwing.livejournal.com]

Ah, so it was long after beginning school in your case, too. Huh. Maybe it was just our older kids were eager to share the news of non-existing entities.