Help, what to do? Son's teacher just told him Santa's Not Real

Rachie_B

jackie_w wrote: »

Seriously, I personally think 11 is too old to believe in Santa

Christmas is still a magical time of the year, whether you believe in Santa Claus or not. You dont have to have a mythical person for it to be magical, its what YOU decide to make Christmas that will make it special and magical.

Yes, I spoil my kids rotten at Christmas, but, I hope I am bringing them up to believe that Christmas isnt just about presents, but, its about your friends, your family, and your neighbours, its about love, and kindness.
People can still have a magical Christmas, as ive said, its what you decide to do make it magical, that will have an everlasting effect on you kids.


Jackie

:T :T well said

MrsTinks

Actually it was Odin - he would transform himself into one of his 12 personas that he would use when visiting Midgaard during the time of Jul - this being the winter solstice. He would travel on Sleipner, his eight legged horse and with his long white beard he would bring gifts to the needy. He also had the power to tell who was good and who was not.
So the one eyed God with his eight legged horse and his long white beard eventually became a jolly fat man with a white beard, bringing gifts to children who were nice in his sleigh with not an eightlegged horse, but eight reindeer
Ofcourse there are influences like Saint Nicolaus, but even he was influenced by Odin. According to stories in Holland and Belgium he would ride across the rooftops on a horse and his "helpers" are called black Petes, maybe a remnant of Odins black ravens Hugin and Munin.
The story of Santa Claus, or Father Christmas is in my view quite complex, but all bear the same essence of what Yule means to me.
The spirit of Yule, the giving, family, joy and helping those less fortunate all repeats. So how did that change into the picture of a Jolly Fat Man invented by Coca Cola for a Christmas advert campaign as their interpretation of Father Christmas?
The fat man image was created by a political cartoonist called Thomas Nast. Until then he was a tall thin man... Then Coca Cola depicted him in his now trademark red suit... and now we all accept this as the real Santa... The power of advertising - magic!

Merry Yule all

bigmomma051204

ts_aly2000 wrote: »

You only have one childhood.

It's a time when we can love unconditionally, we can laugh without fear, where we're free, where we can believe in pixies and Rumplestiltskin.

Any adult that wants to take that away from a child is beyond any words. We're only children once.

Well Said! :T :T :T

bigmomma051204

petite_anglaise wrote: »

Parents forget that whilst their world revolves around one/two/three little darlings, we secondary school teachers have classes of 30+ to look after, SATs, GCSES,Alevels to prepare for, behaviour management from mad kids to deal with, planning, discipline, meetings and 6 lessons per day to teach. Not complaining, it's great and I love it.. but.. there are a few other things on our mind than whether secondary school age children have been told that Santa doesn't exist.

There is a huge difference between a nice jolly reception teacher sitting down her class of five year olds and deliberately telling them Santa doesn't exist and a secondary teacher making an off the cuff remark to secondary age children. I teach in a great school, but the kids are open to a huge range of info about sex, drugs, swearing, and god knows what else from the mouths of their fellow pupils. Sorry, to seem harsh but that's the reality of life in a secondary school.

As staff we're trying to save them from the dangers of knives, teen pregnancy, drugs, smoking, unemployment and disillusionment, bullying and gangs. And that's in a middle class area.
Santa doesn't even register on our radar.

"Behaviour management from Mad kids" - I know some children are a real handful but your attitude and way of phrasing this sentence is absolutely appalling. I am an OFSTED inspector and I would just LOVE to overhear you saying that when i am on an inspection! Disgusting! :mad: :mad:

MrsTinks

Quote:
Originally Posted by ts_aly2000
You only have one childhood.

It's a time when we can love unconditionally, we can laugh without fear, where we're free, where we can believe in pixies and Rumplestiltskin.

Any adult that wants to take that away from a child is beyond any words. We're only children once.

Wouldn't it be better to teach them about the spirit of Christmas/Yule/whatever instead of an advertising gimmick?
Not being funny - I'll happily let my children believe in Santa, the jolly fat guy with his 12 reindeer! But I think everyone is so upset at a teacher telling a child Santa isn't real, and forgetting that maybe this is an oppertunerty to focus on the beauty of family, traditions and lessons that all the religions can offer? Surely this is what it's all about really?

I'm not saying don't let children believe in Santa - I think it's a beautiful concept
And as for letting children be children as long as possile then yes... but then on the same footing maybe we should be doing more to keep them as children? Don't buy them video games where you have to shoot people, no figurines based on characters that carry weapons. Why give small girls dolls that are anatomically incorrect and will make them spend years trying to get thin enough to feel accepted?
Keep children innocent as long as possible, but where do we stop? Or where do we start?
Yule for me starts in the kitchen... I have ginger biscuits in the oven as we speak, I'm baking cakes, I've got a stew on and I'm having fun making home made christmas decorations.
Do I have a point? Who knows... I just feel sad so many people come across so angry over this to be honest.

Right I'm going back to my kitchen and I'mnot coming back till I have a pile of cakes and cookies (human and doggy ones) and you're all blooming well jolly the lot of ya!!! :rotfl:

MrsTinks

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

"Behaviour management from Mad kids" - I know some children are a real handful but your attitude and way of phrasing this sentence is absolutely appalling. I am an OFSTED inspector and I would just LOVE to overhear you saying that when i am on an inspection! Disgusting! :mad: :mad:

*cough* "please be nice to all money savers"

:A

mrsmortenharket

My children age 5 & 8 still believe.

They know that all the Santas in the shops are helpers though.

I believe, esp as I have such an awful childhood, that children should have a lovely time at Christmas. They know the religeous reason why we have christmas. They know that jesus was born & the 3 wise wen brought him presents & thats why they get them. They know I pay father christmas so that cuts down on the cost.

I like this magical aspect. I have no idea when it will end. If I am asked outright if he is real I will answer honestly.

Lisa

li'l_p

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

"Behaviour management from Mad kids" - I know some children are a real handful but your attitude and way of phrasing this sentence is absolutely appalling. I am an OFSTED inspector and I would just LOVE to overhear you saying that when i am on an inspection! Disgusting! :mad: :mad:

No, you never would hear anything like that. Off topic I know, but I remember when we had OFSTED inspections in school (and we're talking early 90's). We (the pupils) were briefed so heavily by the teachers beforehand that we had to 'perform' a certain way and lessons were just so false when the inspectors were in... I'm sorry, but unless you went 'undercover' you're NEVER going to see a true representation of school life!!!

lidlest

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

"Behaviour management from Mad kids" - I know some children are a real handful but your attitude and way of phrasing this sentence is absolutely appalling. I am an OFSTED inspector and I would just LOVE to overhear you saying that when i am on an inspection! Disgusting! :mad: :mad:

LOL OFSTED inspectors love myths , thy believe they get a true picture of a school by a) giving notice and b) faffing about for 2 days and c) reading a SEF form completed by the people trying to hide the truth.

Some of the kids I teach do get really mad , angry, violent etc... I'd tell you that if my SMT would let you come near me during inspection time

Dustykitten

DS2 is 11 (1st year secondary) and he knows the score. Last year he questioned it a lot but still wanted to believe. At easter when the bunny comes to our garden and hides little eggs we had a chat as he knew that was us and I let him know about FC then. I did not want him going to seondary school believing and being teased. He said to me that whilst he was sad he did not exist he had been wondering for sometime if it was true. The best bit is he has said he is so glad I told him and did not lie. He is playing along so well for DS3 (5) and is just as excited.

Tip for parents with young ones. We always said the stocking and the gift they asked santa for were from him (separate paper) and the others from us. I feel this makes it more easy to believe and stops the fear that if you don't believe you get nothing.

We have just been to see the man in red and DS2 and DS1 (13) both wanted to come and were concerned that they would ask for something that they would get to keep the magic for DS3.

Happy Christmas to you all.