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Teacher sacked for telling kids there's no Santa
Friday, 12 December 2008
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A teacher who made a big error by telling her pupils that she felt Santa Claus did not exist has been prevented from returning to the school.
The class of seven-year-olds were learning about Christmas at Blackshaw Lane Primary School in Oldham, England, when their female supply teacher told them that in her view, Santa Claus did not deliver their presents at Christmas.
The teacher -- who was only drafted in for a day last week -- left pupils confused and upset. But the school was quick to rectify her mistake. Teachers were pummelled with complaints after the children returned home to tell their parents what they had heard in class that day.
One father said: "Apparently this teacher just came out with it in class. I couldn't believe it when my daughter told me. Why would you say such a thing? She was really upset.
"It should be down to parents, not teachers, to deal with this sort of thing," he added.
Angela McCormick, headmistress at the school, contacted the agency who supplied the teacher and told them not to send her again.
Confused
Another parent said that he had spent hours convincing his daughter how wrong the teacher was. He said: "I've told her her teacher must have been confused.
"A lot of the mums were upset. Kids that age are excited at this time of year, so for someone to say something like that puts a dampener on it all. Now there are doubts at the back of their minds."
In a letter to parents, Mrs McCormick offered her "profuse apologies" and said the children had been learning about Christmas and had written letters to Santa since the incident.
"The children are unscathed and are back on track, thanks to the 'magic' of our staff and the lovely snow we have all appreciated this week," she wrote.
A spokesman for Rochdale and Oldham Supply Agency said that the teacher was still registered with them and would be working in other schools in future.
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Comments
27 Comments
As a teacher, my main issue in this is about a teacher imposing their beliefs on children in their care - because we're not allowed to do that!
However, I'm also concerned about my fellow Christians who've posted comments below about not allowing their children to enjoy Father Christmas when they're young. We Christians are so often considered "out of touch" that I think it very unwise to be kill-joys over such an innocent issue. In a well-balanced home, when the issue comes up for discussion it does no harm. A Christian home will always have the real meaning of Christmas as it's focus anyway, even with Father Christmas there. In the end, it's a matter for each parent to decide, but my daughter has enjoyed Father Christmas in her youth, and it has not scarred her for life, nor has it had any detrimental effect on her Christian faith. Let's get a bit of perspective
Posted by w | 22.12.08, 01:43 GMT
Hey Ralph?
When is a lie not a lie?
Very good point...
Trouble is..... I dont believe Jesus exists either.... So, perhaps I might just tell my six kids that!?
QED
Posted by Simon F | 17.12.08, 10:25 GMT
My 8 year old daughter asked me tonight if Father Christmas existed. She has made many comments recently "I bet it is just your Mum & Dad!" and she asked me to tell her the truth. So I did. She surprised me by crying for over an hour! I thought she'd guessed anyway!
I have always felt uncomfortable about the Father Christmas 'lie' and the tooth fairy come to that. However, tonight I felt really bad. What upset her was that we had been 'tricking' her all these years. She now feels more grown up and has been told that it is imprtant that the other children at school do not find out from anyone but their parents.
Thanks goodness this can or worms was not opened by a supply teacher. I can sympathise with her views but small children can be very sensitive!
Posted by FIONA | 15.12.08, 21:43 GMT
When is a lie not a lie? I have 6 children and have told them from the start that santa does not exist. They always love Christmas and the true meaning of it, that Jesus was born to pay the price for man's sin. What will happen to the head teacher and parents when the children find out that santa is a lie, will they be able to believe anything else they are told.
Posted by Ralph | 12.12.08, 22:01 GMT
How incredibly sad - I am a teacher myself and would not DREAM of telling children of any Primary age that there is no Santa. And for those of you who have left comments saying 7 year olds don't believe - yes they do. Although I must admit my own 9 year old is having doubts I would be livid if the teacher had said that to my own children. Why not have a bit of magic in your life with all the other misery there is out there at the moment. And for those of you who don't believe....you don't deserve to get!
Posted by I Believe | 12.12.08, 20:03 GMT
I am in full agreement with the teacher who obeyed her conscience in this matter. Clearly this myth is propagated to such
an extent that the same has become idolatrous in many homes at
this time of year. It is the authority of God's Word which needs to be obeyed in such matters. John 4 v 24
Posted by Raymond Stewart | 12.12.08, 18:50 GMT
I agree with Chris - no one has the 'right' to rob small children of the illusion that goes with Christmas Eve and leaving out goodies for Santa, going to bed hoping to hear the bells on his sleigh etc etc! People say that children should be allowed to be children for longer. Well, this is a good example! I don't believe it has anything to do with social class either - I was brought up in a very working class home so that comment is silly! As for the teacher, her on fault for opening her mouth!
Posted by Karen | 12.12.08, 17:22 GMT
i was never told there was no santa...i found out when i was 25, when my 1st child woke up on xmas day and found nothing for himself...i wish someone could have told me sooner that santa doesn't exist.then i would have bought the presents in
Posted by joe | 12.12.08, 17:19 GMT
At least the Agency has got some common sense NOT to sack a teacher for telling the TRUTH. Christmas is about CHRIST not the fat geezer in red.
Posted by CannuckCol | 12.12.08, 16:58 GMT
i think sacking her was a bit harsh i mean they are goin to find out anyway!
Posted by knotters44 | 12.12.08, 16:17 GMT
I do exist!
Posted by Santa Claus | 12.12.08, 15:10 GMT
As a child, I loved Christmas – waking up early and waking my siblings and parents before racing downstairs to gasp in wonder that the cookies have been eaten, and the stub of the carrot was in the garden, where Rudolph had eaten all but the end. We would open our presents, all smiles and warmth and mum would make a big Christmas breakfast. Then we played until Christmas Top of the Pops came on, while watching TOTP we would eat our dinner, pulling our crackers and wearing our Christmas hats. There were no silly squabbles, it was a magical day because Santa has been! From the age of around 13, (when puberty hits) life becomes difficult (hormones, relationships, etc). In today’s society where kids are carrying knives, and getting pregnant before they are out of high school, why shouldn’t they keep their innocence for that little bit longer? Let our kids have their childhood for goodness sake.
Posted by BG | 12.12.08, 14:54 GMT
Whats this what no Santa, who the hell said that!!
Posted by Michael | 12.12.08, 14:31 GMT
What an amazing number of grinches there are out there. Regardless of your personal feeling on the matter, everyone is well aware of the custom and therefore you have no right to tell anyone else's child that Santa does or does not exist. If someone told my child I would be livid.
Posted by Chris | 12.12.08, 14:12 GMT
Never mind the disillusioned seven year olds. We should spare a thought for the teacher. She got kicked out of a job for what any sensible person would view as a fairly harmless comment. I mean, honestly, how many seven year olds are naive enough to still believe in Santa anyway? Are these the special variety of middle class kids that are cosseted around in giant four by fours from one hermetically sealed fluffy environment to another? Where I grew up, we were wrestling with our atheistic demons by age five, and were busy working in the mines by age seven (having firmly disavowed both God and Santa).
Posted by Al | 12.12.08, 14:08 GMT
I would like to shake hands with this teacher. My parents were always truthful with me about where presents came from at Christmas and it hasn't harmed me any. Children should understand that alot of hard work and money goes into buying toys at Christmas. I agree with 'Disgusted' - Do we tell our 7 year olds that all those wee children starving in 3rd world countries don't have chimneys OR have they just been badly behaved all year? Get a grip parents - Christmas isn't all about the kids' toys.
Posted by Jenn | 12.12.08, 13:45 GMT
Radio 2 are discussing this issue... surely there's a sense of irony that it's now broadcast across a nation. Hopefully there's no 7 year olds tuning in!!
Posted by 7up | 12.12.08, 12:58 GMT
Why is everyone talking like there is no Santa? Very strange...
Posted by The Plum | 12.12.08, 12:42 GMT
think the journalist was trying to make a pun with the word sacked as in santa's sack! Even so ... so what - seven's a good enough age for kids to find out how there is no santa and what extreme pressure all parents are under every year to keep their dear little sweethearts happy with all the latest goodies! And parents who get themselves into debt every year to prevent tears are just nuts!
Posted by cynical | 12.12.08, 12:20 GMT
I was at that lesson, the teacher actually said that santa did not come to her house, something to do with the chimney
Posted by Anthony | 12.12.08, 12:19 GMT
27 Comments