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

poet123

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:

As a Governor I couldn't agree more:T .......the fact is many teachers keep this type of opinion secret from the powers that be, and only unleash it on the kids they are in charge of. It is an attitude which is not confined to Primary/Secondary education but one which goes through to College level.......one I see everyday from bad educators who tolerate, rather than enjoy their jobs.

True, there are difficult, challenging children/young adults but if you look deep enough you usually find one redeeming feature you can tap into, and from there channel that energy more positively. If it is a case of "managing" rather than "educating" it is time to consider if you are in the right job.

LondonDiva

My family, Godchildren and most of my friends have never had Father Christmas. Father Christmas, santa etc are things that other people have because it makes them feel nice or because their parents want them to believe in it, so it's not nice to make fun; but for us presents are bought by friends and relations, not a big man in a suit.

My mum got really upset with one of my teachers because we were asked to write a wish list for Father Christmas in class and I had to do one because the teacher felt that I should believe in Father Christmas as all children do it wasn't a pretty conversation between them both!

duchy

LondonDiva wrote: »

My mum got really upset with one of my teachers because we were asked to write a wish list for Father Christmas in class and I had to do one because the teacher felt that I should believe in Father Christmas as all children do it wasn't a pretty conversation between them both!

Hmmm I wonder if you'd been JW or Quaker if the teacher would have taken the same attitude.
As for the Governor's comment. If there are insufficent resources available to teachers or if schools refuse (or are denied the right) to expell disruptive pupils there will be teachers who are forced to "manage" rather than teach. I've worked in a high school as a TA and I've seen this happen-but then I was in the classroom on a normal day , ev ery day and not on a govenor's pre-arranged visit. Have you tried dropping into classes unannounced (of YOUR choice-NOT where the SMT want you to go) and seen genuinely what teachers have to deal with at times ? Of course there will always be teachers who are not up to standard-just like any other profession -but there are also many, many good teachers who struggle because the management team are more interested in balancing the books rather than education. (Not entirely the SMT's fault either-the culture comes from above).

SallyUK

Irrespective of what the child thinks, in my opinion, it's not up to any teacher to tell a child that Santa doesn't exist.

Sally

Poppy9

I wouldn't have let my DD (12 - Year 8) go to secondary school still believing in FC, TF or EB for fear of her being made fun of. Last year DD told me that one of her friends still believed. She and the other girls were greatly amused by this but didn't say anything to her, but they were talking about her behind her back. Not nice, but it's what children do.

I never told DD about the Easter Bunny as I never had such a story as a child and being RC Easter had a different significance. However when DD started school (RC primary) one of the classroom assistants told them about the EB and DD loved the story. We then had to do an easter egg hunt from the EB. As she got older she asked if the EB was real as others had said he wasn't so we told her the truth. She was a bit disappoiinted but over came it when I said we could all now do an easter egg hunt and now every year we each write clues and hide eggs for us all to find. A year or so after finding out about the EB she told me that the toothfairy wasn't real, was she? Again I didn't want to lie to her and she'd been so suspicious for a while by leaving notes asking for proof with her teeth that again I owned up (she was Y5). She did ask me at this time if I had anything else to declare but I said no:D . Finally in Y6 she again said to me "you and Dad are Santa ?" So I didn't lie and told her the truth. She said she hadn't really believed the year before as so many of her classmates had said he wasn't real but didn't want to tell us as she wasn't really sure.

She still enjoys christmas and is excited. We have never encouraged her to go down the road of demanding "big" presents for Christmas. We always manage to surprise her and give her a wow and she still leaves out the mince pie and beer!!

I have asked her never to enlighten anyone younger who is questioning but just to answer them as we did her, "he is real if you believe in him". No threats of no presents and no lie (just):D

sunshine_shell

I'm a teacher and i've never told any child that santa isn't real INFACT even though they are secondary kids i tell them santa is real when they tell me he isn't. I explain to them how magical christmas is and why i love it so much and not for the presents (they always ask me what i'm getting for xmas). You can still keep the magic alive even if they don't believe in santa

Poppy9

SallyUK wrote: »

Irrespective of what the child thinks, in my opinion, it's not up to any teacher to tell a child that Santa doesn't exist.

Sally

I think by Y7 the teacher thought that each child knew the truth. I was amazed at how much my DD "education" expanded to encompass so many worldly truths like what a "blow job is":eek: . We had always been open and honest with her about sex etc so she took it all in her stride. Have to admit she's made me blush a few times with her comments though of what "so and so" said.!!

Poppy9

To the OP you asked what to do about your son's teacher telling him. I think the only thing you can do is tell your son the truth. Your son might enjoy being given a 'grown up' job to do in spreading Christmas magic and now he knows the truth he could take part in making your christmas special by surprising you with gifts from 'Santa'. As regarding the teacher I would say nothing to the school. If you dom you make you and your son a topic of conversation in the staff room or Christmas party. It will change how the teachers looks at your son so it's best to keep quiet and get on with enjoying the festivities.

Quackers

STOP IT NOW!

Please.:)

Not that I truly know what has been said because I cannot bear to read through 4 pages of lies and bad mouthing of Santa.

I'm sure there is some good in there and it cannot all be bad but it would break my heart to read it.

Its wrong.

Do you realise there are only 9 more sleeps until Christmas?

Do you realise that this means he has ALREADY checked his list once?

If you are not on it now then you have about 4 days to QUICKLY start backtracking and behaving yourself if you want to get on the list.

Its an important list to be on.

List = Presents.

Fact.

Dont diss Santa.

Fact.

I'm concerned for you all.

Really concerned.

What are you going to be doing a week on Tuesday when we are all tearing at the wrapping paper on our 165 gifts from santa?

PLEASE stop dissing the big guy. I dont want you to go without.

He is busy. The nicer you are the quicker you get on his list.

He's going to start loading the sleigh thurs/Fri so BE GOOD.

Then sat & Sun he sleeps. He has a little mini hibernation thingy so he has LOTS of energy for Monday Evening. He needs it.

Mrs Claus will spend this week feeding him double rations of Old Style recipes to ensure his energy levels are in tip top condition.

No hanky pank before the big night - just like footballers he needs to conserve his energy & be concentrating on his other deliveries.

Elves are scurrying round as we speak/type to ensure the labels are going on the correct gifts.

Rudolph and his pals are having practise runs to build up their energy levels.

new reindeer are getting butterflies in their tummies cos they've not done the big night before. But the older reindeer are training them well.

So please do not diss the big guy. It really is that simple.

Be good and you 'may' just get on the list.

Its the most important list in the wholest widest world.

So get on it.

:xmassmile

petite_anglaise_2

I genuinely think it's lovely to see all the wonderful caring parents, adults, teachers and everyone on here who all want the same thing - to make children happy and give them a lovely childhood.

At no time in my earlier post was I criticising this. I know that the world is a harsh place and if families, teachers and everyone invloved with children can make their lives a happier, safer and more innocent place then that's a very good thing.

A quick aside, to the Oftsted inspector and governor. At what point did this become a discussion about me being a poor teacher? Although I referred to behaviour management from 'mad' children this was a reference to several with v poor behaviour who need very careful handling. This was clearly not something I would call a child ever, nor say in front of a parent or other adult.
My priorities last week were a child who put a chair through a classroom window, one who told my student teacher to f off and tried to bite her and three who brought vodka into school and tried to flog it to the year 7s. So if I was a bit dismissive I'm sorry. I adore my job, slog my guts out for 'my kids', am passionate about helping them and don't need an Ofsted Inspector to question my ability. (p.s got a 1 for my last observed ofsted lesson, but maybe I'm just good at fooling people)


Think it's important that we all remember we're arguing about the same thing - the importance of making sure our children are happy and content at this time of the year....

Merry Christmas