Parents angry That teacher told students there's no Santa

[Nija]

Parents angry that teacher told students there's no Santa

Associated Press

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - Much to the dismay of some parents, officials at an elementary school will not discipline a substitute teacher who told kindergartners that there is no Santa Claus.

The teacher, Fabiola Mehu-Pelissier, was reading a holiday storybook to students at Forest Hills Elementary School on Tuesday when the group began discussing the existence of Santa Claus, school board spokesman Kirk Engelhard said.

"No policies or rules were violated, but she obviously used poor judgment," Engelhard said.

Melissa Shea, whose 5-year-old daughter Hayley is in the class, said school officials refused a request made by some parents that Mehu-Pelissier not be allowed back in the class.

"I feel like no matter what I do or say now, the seed of doubt has been planted in Hayley's head," Shea said. "I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to undo it, and Christmas is everything in my family."

Mehu-Pelissier could not be reached for comment.

School officials said they would send a Santa Claus, complete with a natural, full, white beard, into the classroom Friday to make up for the teacher's poor judgment.

The move "is a really good way to fix what happened," said Toni Edworthy, another upset parent.

Information from: Sun-Sentinel

[Nija]

I think the Teacher is in the right.

[attgig]

"I feel like no matter what I do or say now, the seed of doubt has been planted in Hayley's head," Shea said. "I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to undo it, and Christmas is everything in my family."

huh?
huhhuhuhuh?

sounds like the mother believes in santa claus too....

[zenbooty]

I think its a ridiculous argument over an extremely petty occurence. The teacher should have known better than to start pushing "cold, hard reality" on 5 year olds. The parents should get a grip and realize Christmas is more than an imaginary jolly fat dude. The teacher should be told to quit being such a grumpy adult and let kids be kids. No way should she be fired, though.

[TofuNinja]

Poor judgement on the teacher, but she should not be fired. It parents would be parents then all is good. Just another example at parents blaming teachers over crap.

BTW I thought Christmas images and stuff were banned..

[Pinkgirl36]

When I worked for the YMCA, the Kindergarteners still believed in Santa Claus, the easter bunny, the tooth fairy all that stuff, one of the older punk kids wanted to tell them that it wasn't true and stuff, we told him it's not his place to be telling them that, and we had his mom talk to him as well, and just to let him know that it's the kids parents' choice on what they want them to know and stuff, and not our place to say anything...so we didn't....

[WhiskeyPapa]

I see why parents think it's fun to let their kids believe in Santa (personally, we don't perpetuate the myth in our family), but I don't understand the fervor some parents work themselves into.

My brother and SIL went to great lengths to force the belief in Santa on their kids. One of their kids actually believed well into his Jr High years! When my grandma learned that we told our kids "the truth about Santa", she accused us of child abuse!

[faither]

The teacher's was out of place. While she shouldn't lose her job, someone should smack her in the head.

[hapoo]

You know, i don't even remember ever really believing in santa myself. Not that someone told me the truth but it never seemed logical to me, I always assumed it was just a story. But i do remember when i was about 8 years old, my best friends tooth fell out and he was excited cause he was going to get paid by the tooth fairy. Try as i may, i could not convince that kid that it was his parents who were making the switch.

[Grimm]

What do you mean there is no Santa Clause?!?!?! Do you mean I spent all that money on bear traps for nothing???


As a substitute teacher it is part of the sub's responsability to maintain a continuity in the class. When the sub said there was no Santa Clause she violated that responsability. As the regular teacher had not challenged the existance of Santa Clause, letting the parents deal with the social and religious issues involved, the sub should have continued in that vein.

I think it is admirable of the school to try to correct the problem. I think the way that they are doing it is well thought out and as Santa is not actualy a religious figure, not a conflict with church in schools.

To deny the existance of mythical figures to children is cruel. It crushes their hopes and stifles their immaginations. I hope the school gave the sub a sharp talk on expected behavior.

[Jeffbx]

Originally posted by faither
The teacher's was out of place. While she shouldn't lose her job, someone should smack her in the head.

Maybe you have to be a parent to understand, but I would be really ticked off at this. I have a 5 year-old who is thrilled at the thought of Santa, believes in the tooth fairy, thinks some things are really magic, etc. To ruin that fantasy is just plain cruel.

I mean, you're only young enough to believe in magic and fairytales and mythical beings for a very short time... to be told otherwise at too young of an age is like having their favorite toys taken away & thrown in the trash. Sure, they'll find out eventually, but hopefully they will have had a good number of years of magic in their lives before they're slapped in the face with reality.

While I don't think she needs to be fired, she certainly needs to learn a thing or two about young kids. A good smack upside the head probably would be a good idea as well.

[Jenny]

Originally posted by Jeffbx




Maybe you have to be a parent to understand, but I would be really ticked off at this. I have a 5 year-old who is thrilled at the thought of Santa, believes in the tooth fairy, thinks some things are really magic, etc. To ruin that fantasy is just plain cruel.

I mean, you're only young enough to believe in magic and fairytales and mythical beings for a very short time... to be told otherwise at too young of an age is like having their favorite toys taken away & thrown in the trash. Sure, they'll find out eventually, but hopefully they will have had a good number of years of magic in their lives before they're slapped in the face with reality.

While I don't think she needs to be fired, she certainly needs to learn a thing or two about young kids. A good smack upside the head probably would be a good idea as well.

I agree with all that. With an almost-5-year-old myself, I would be greatly upset if someone else told him Santa wasn't real. I agree that she shouldn't be fired but I'd be damn upset if I were one of those parents, too.

[LegendKiller]

I live down near Coral Springs and people are really upset about this whole thing.

Personally, I think the teacher should get some kind of punishment. Yeah, christmas is about more than just Santa, but it is also a fun and exciting time when your young. Spoiling that earns you the lump of coal mentioned.


LK