Santa Sadness

geez.

My kids, age 5 and 3, don't believe in Santa. My wife and I told them that all the other kid's parents are lying to them, and that we chose not to lie to them because we respect them.

I find it hilarious that the majority of people in this country (80%) claim to be Christians, but then they perpetuate this misguided myth during the time they are supposed to be celebrating the birth of their savior.

Santa Claus has virtually replaced the entire mythos of the christian religion in our society. We live in a strange cognitively dissonant country. The 'Christians' here talk out of one side of their mouth about Jesus, then out of the other side of their mouths, lie to their kids about some scary old man that replaces Jesus. On the one hand, you have 'be good because Jesus is watching you', and on the other, you have 'be good or the magical santa won't bring you presents'. That is just too messed up.

Hi!

I would like to point out the fact that not one music teacher that I knew ever read a book to us in music class - if she's so damn smart why didn't she pick up on the fact that they had her teaching the wrong subject for the day and go wild on the less than brilliant secretary that typed up the class syllabus?

I think I would have had a few things to say to this substitute myself. Has someone slapped her yet? Anyone...? I think everyone understands Santa Claus is not some strange fat man in a fuzzy suit that breaks into our houses toting gifts for "good" girls and boys. Why aren't some kids scared to death by this, I wonder. Anyway, in my humble opinion Santa is more of a representation of the spirit of giving, really. I have an 11 year-old that still believes in Santa, and damn it, I will perpetuate the "lie" for as long as I can. I will do this with the hope that someday he will understand "Santa" is something real when he finds out what's going on here.

Yes, and by the way, while stating that someone doesn't come down your chimney may be correct, certainly stating that someone doesn't put presents under the tree is a lie. Hypocrite.

Hey, where did that lump of coal come from...?

Kyla baby, is this your way of telling me you're pregnant?

This debate hits on a personal note for me, as I revealed to my younger brother that Santa Claus is not real. This tore me up for years because my mother was very upset with me and I think still is. My mother would do anything to make us believe from fantastical stories, to “magic dust” being sprinkled around the house. I love her for that and she is a big reason why I have an excited imagination as an adult.

My brother was around the age of 7, I being 5 years older was emotionally torn as he sought only the truth which he knew I possessed. When he turned to me for an answer at first I tried to confirm his wavering “belief,” so he then asked me to instead explain how Santa really knows what we want for Christmas? How can Santa possibly fly and fit through a chimney? And why do the notes he leaves looks like Mom’s handwriting?—All reasonable questions.

I told my brother the truth because I thought, and still do, that it was better coming from me, someone who truly cared about his imagination, than some schoolmate who thinks he so much smart than my brother. I wasn’t aware of the historical explanation, but I talked about the spirit and magic of Christmas and how giving to others can make us just as happy as receiving.

This year at Christmas, 15 years later my mother again brought up the fact that I ruined it for my brother. I simply responded with a smile and —“well Mom you taught me not to lie.”

This is one of those situations if life, like so many, where it’s difficult to determine right from wrong. I can see both perspectives, but I think the teacher should have stayed out of it and left the job to the truthful big sisters.

Please note that in my Manhattan apartment in a neighborhood where you see very few children, I have a decoration up that states “We Still Believe in Santa,” and part of me still does. Thanks Mom.

I wonder if this isn't just a case of some adults revelling in this action by the teacher because they never had the chance to experience Santa when they were growing up.

It's sad that adults would feel the need to spoil Christmas for a 6 year old, just to make themselves feel better, then cloak it in the left wing "what's good for the children" rhetoric.

As for Aubreys comment, good to see that the truly EVOLVED amongst us must resort to name calling when their arguments spring a few leaks. Sounds to me like your "Mum" might have wanted to focus a bit more time teaching manners instead of all that time man hating.

Go Santa!

left wing has not a whit to do with it. some delusions are more socially acceptable than others, so it's not politically correct to rain on 'em.

my stupid drunk mum once said that men stop evolving once they've fertilized an egg. this liam makes me think my mum wasn't stupid.

You make it sound as if my desire to have my son believe in Santa is roughly akin to me telling him there was no Holocaust.

Plain and simple, the teacher had no right and no reason to do what she did. It has nothing to do with her not wanting to be a religous "shill", nor her feeling the need to shed a historical light on the sublect, but rather her perpetuating her left wing philosophy on children.

I would be sad not to have the memories of Santa as I grew up and I would be very unhappy to have these stolen from my son.

these comments are just more proof that having kids is bad for your mental health.

Telling the truth (by providing an honest historical perspective on something) is not imposing a personal agenda. Quite the opposite: expecting teachers to perpetuate a fantasy, lie for the convenience of parents, or to shill for a particular religious point of view, is.

So, Santa coming to your house at night isn't a lie? Then, maybe it's: "if you have children, you can't understand."

AAC,
Not everything has to be a spiritual journey of enlightenment. Sometimes things can just be simple and fun for the sake of being simple and fun. Especially for a five year old.

A teacher's job IS to teach, but a teacher's job is NOT to impose their personal belief systems on defenseless children.

There is no excuse for this woman's behavior. This is not a class of 16 year olds who are being mis-led by some conspiratorial lies, this is a class of children being deprived of Santa clause by a selfish person. There was no legitimate reason for her to decide that these children needed the enlightenment of her vast wisdom on Christmas. I feel sorry for her that she must have been so bereft of any such beliefs as a child.

When we as a society have come to a point where Santa is considered perpetuating lies to our children, then I think we are all doomed.

I am sorry, but this falls under the "if you don't have children, you can't understand" clause.

Sorry, but a teacher's job is to teach, not to perpetuate bizarre fantasies. I definitely understand if a teacher wants to avoid areas where parents are especially or bizarrely sensitive, and I think the teacher would have been smart to avoid this topic.

But to say a teacher should be dismissed for teaching children the true history of the legend of Santa Claus is symbolic of so many things that are wrong with the education system in this country - and the parents who push the agendas. This is similar to the Intelligent Design debate.

So, I assume such parents don't have any problem if their kid is being taught other wild fantasies - say, aliens, fairies, Snow White, the Green Man, or that Jesus rose from the dead?

And I'm sorry, but it absolutely is lying to a kid to tell him a guy comes into his house in the middle of the night and leaves him gifts. And how are Santa and the Easter Bunny pure? They are the absolute opposite of pure - they are artificial fantasies acted out by the adult on the child. The world is full of beauty and purity without the need for parents to try to relive their childhood through their poor kids.

Something worth thinking about: could Santa and all these other fantasies provide parents with an easy intellectual escape by providing "ready-made" recipes for beauty and purity so they are not forced to make the hard spiritual and intellectual voyages necessary to teach kids authentically? For example, how many Santa-obsessed parents have taught their children the truth about Christmas, ever?

Wait, there's no Santa? Jeez, you should put a spoiler alert on your blog entries.

AC,
I have to dis-agree with you on this. My perspectives have changed on many things since Jack was born and I know I would be particularly unhappy if Jack had been in this classroom.

Your child is only young and innocent for a very short time. There are so many bad things in this world that will influence their lives (for the rest of their lives), that to give them something pure to believe in (Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.) is hardly lying to them. This innocence is precious and should be respected by their educators and cherished by everyone.

It is not this teachers place to decide that her philosophy is the correct one. I would absolutely be enraged by her actions and would strongly petition for her dismissal, as I would be concerned about what her next agenda would be.

I don't think that fostering a belief in Santa equates to having a "spoiled little kid", rather I think it is part of the fabric of family.

I look forward to Jack putting out milk and cookies for Santa for many years to come and hope his uncle Anthony will one day see the pure joy on his face when he does so.

peace!
-Liam

Yes, but after reading the story, I don't think she was reasonably sensitive to the parents beliefs.

She should have opted not to follow the teacher's lesson plan for the day. Subs do that all the time.