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mothwingI 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 ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
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 inteaching 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.
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.
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Re: EDIT because I hit reply instead of deleting to reply to the other comment first
Date: Monday, December 15th, 2008 04:11 pm (UTC)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-