It is NOT the teachers place to tell a child that Santa doesn't
Posted By: exist! That is the PARENTS job and (sm) on 2006-12-13
In Reply to: This is not religion, this is MYTH. - get a grip
yeah I just might sue as well!
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Make a fuss to school board, principal, teachers, dept. of child welfare (sm)
whoever you need to. I understand these are difficult to get rid of but obviously the mom of that little girl is not getting rid of them, maybe she treats the child but if you don't clean up the environment reinfestation is a sure thing.
We got a letter from the school yesterday stating there is a lice outbreak in the school. Then we had a program last night in which all the 3rd graders put on these little capes (that came out of a community bag where they had used them before at practice and then bagged them back up) They of course went over their heads and rested on their shoulders. I wasn't the only person that sucked in air when they saw this last night.
I am sure that poor child is and will be embarrassed about this and probably other things in the future if her health/hygiene issues are not being taken care of properly.
Letting a child about Santa isn't lying, sheesh
Telling about Santa isn't lying, it's a rite of childhood for millions of kids, as is the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. I see no harm in giving my children hope in something so good as Santa. I don't remember being crushed as a child when I found out about Santa, I only remember the joy of waking up on Christmas morning to a full stocking and the anticipation of waiting for the big guy. We were so poor that I don't know how we ever had a Christmas but somehow there were always gifts from Santa, to me that's what he's about, not lying but believing.
People take really strange things far too literally, takes the fun out of the simple things in my opinion.
I still think it should be the parents who teach the child these things, not the school's place.
Each child goes to school to learn facts. They learn their social skills, values, etc.at home and from friends that their parents allow them to associate with. The school is a public entity full of many INDIVIDUALS who all have different values and opinions. Teachers should not be teaching children their own personal values and should leave that to the parents.
Paddling is child abuse. Even Florida doesn't allow it.
xx
True - my child doesn't even want to wear tank tops (sm)
she doesn't like to show that much of her upper arms. And the majority of kids I know are not that bad at all. It depends on their parents and how they are raised and what they are exposed to really.
Hey, have at it. If you want a lazy, apathetic, not affectionate, doesn't listen, doesn't make
can reach him!!! Let me know if you're interested.
Teachers........sm
I understand the feelings about some teachers and the views that they get a good deal for doing nothing. When my children were in school, they had good teachers and some just downright horrible teachers that should never be teaching children. I think it depends on where you live also. They grew up for the most part in Florida and the community we were in had great schools.
Because of my husband's job, we moved to an area where the schools were less than desireable, but my kids were in advanced placement classes, which meant they were getting a better deal. I did see how this local system was dumbing down kids because a lot of them just come from homes where parents just plain ole don't care. Many problems, and they TOO think it's all the teacher's fault if their kids aren't passing. Strange that they never feel it is their responsibility to see their child is passing, but then again, so many of them are used to getting freebies and everything given to them without working for it, it never phases them they are actually supposed to raise their own child and not the school system.
That being said, my daughter now teaches in that system and I have to say, she has made a difference that is amazing. The testing scores (which personally she hates all the standardized testing but is forced to do by your government) have gone up tremendously with her classes, the highest in the school. Yes, she DOES WORK MORE than 8 hours a day. She has to be there at 7 and can't leave until 4:30....last time I checked that was 9-1/2 hour days. She has to eat with her children, and any "break" she gets is spent tutoring children to catch up or doing endless paperwork for the No Child Left Behind garbage. Her children truly love her and it shows. She worries endlessly about them, knowing so many of them go home where the parents aren't there, they work nights shifts, the children are alone all night. They don't eat dinner..many of them have only one meal and that's the one at school. She takes food to school and sticks it in their backpacks to take home because their lazy parents could care less and many are not even there at night. Some go home on Friday and don't eat again until Monday at school.
Don't blame the teachers for low performance at school. Teachers cannot MAKE lousy parents into good caring parents, they can't make the parents stop bar hopping and slutty mothers stop bringing home a different man every night and the kids see this trash. Teachers can't make the parents see that the children do their homework. They're not allowed to tell the parents to grow up and raise their child and stop acting like children themselves. Some of the kids come back to the school after hours to sit with her in the classroom because they dread going home because no one is there and they are scared. No doubt, there are a few bad apples when it comes to teachers, but there are WORSE parents who are responsible for the lack of their child's performance in the school system.
No one could pay me enough to put up with the trash she has to put up with every day. And to boot, at this school she has a joke of a principal who DOES GET A BONUS, not the teachers. And where is this 4% raise every year. She isn't getting it. She does not get this glorious paycheck you refer to and during the summer, she is tutoring kids to keep them from failing their grades against all odds. She spends her own money and does without herself, to buy things for the children they should have but don't. I personally have bought shoes and things their parents should get off their butts and get their children. These mothers seem to be able to afford expensive hairdos and fingernails, but can't afford shoes for their kids? The fathers....well, who knows where in the h*** they're at.....producing more babies I'm sure. When parents grow up and realize their responsibility to their children, then maybe the school can get better. Teachers are not supposed to be their parents, but many feel they have to be.
of course, most teachers would give a different
story, just as most MTs will tell you that they don't make enough to survive or they are living near poverty, but that's not really true either. Most people would say the same thing about any profession they choose.
And I thought gym teachers were mean
when I was in school! Argh! I'd be furious too.
Teachers from Hogwarts?
A ghost and a ghost buster?
(I'm looking at a flier from a costume shop).
They have a $70 Davy Jones costume that's unbelievable.
They also have male and female Spartan cheerleader costumes. Does your hubby look anything like Will Ferrell? Those are each $30 though. They have a Dickk Cheney mask. If your DH has hunting clothes he'd be set. You could go as a gunshot victim.
(Mr. Cheney's first name is a dirty word on this board - how funny).
Remember teachers can
make all the difference in a child's ability to learn. If the teacher is not good at actually teaching (which many are not!), you might want to see if there is another teacher to choose from.
If the &*%& government would let teachers...
and heck, even students arm themselves, we wouldn't be sending lambs to the slaughter like that. They would've at least had a fighting chance. If I'm going to die, give me the chance to die while fighting to protect myself and others. Why should the criminals be the only ones who can arm themselves? This is a very heated topic 'round these parts where it seems they want to take our right to protect ourselves away at every corner.
Didn't one of our fellow MTs on this board here have a daughter who got into some serious doo-doo at her school for having pepper spray on her keychain? Explain to me how THAT makes sense to punish a kid, or parent, for wanting to give them a fighting chance and protecting themselves.
Honestly, I think teachers should
refer to students, no matter how old they are, by their first name, always.
Just to avoid misundertandings, like this one!
But teachers often have to use own money to pay for supplies
ujk
Most teachers have at least one planning period when they
can grade papers. If their job requires work-related hours away from school, they are given comp time.
underpaid teachers - what a joke!
I agree that teachers have all this extra work they have to do in their own time, but don't forget about all the paid time off they demanded; spring break, Christmas break, plus the fact that they get most of the summertime off with pay. I think that more than makes up for the extra time they have to put in while school is in session. I have a friend who is in the highest paying school district in Ohio and upon retirement, he and his wife will both be making 80K plus on their pensions. What's so god awful about that!!!!! Winning 10K may not be so great either by the time they pay taxes on it and add it to their income, possibly kicking them into a higher tax bracket. That can be considered a good or bad winning.
Yes, compliments and gifts are the better way, especially with teachers!..
Also, I think your child will not want that you pick a fight with his/her teacher.
Some very dedicated teachers and low paid...
like firemen, police, military who risk their lives for really low pay unlike people with extreme salaries like sports or movie stars.
It doesn't make me mad but it doesn't sound intelligent either (sm)
I am sure if all of those people who were aborted were living, some would be good and some would be bad, in the same proportion as there is good to bad now. Your statement makes no sense. So somehow the babies who were aborted were meant to be aborted because they were bad seeds? Whatever. Sorry, that's just silly.
It doesn't always work that way though - some give but it doesn't come back like that nm
x
Should say the child found in Florida proved to be the Caylee child, homicide.
NM
My sister and her husband are both teachers in Atlanta and -
The word is that many teachers will pass kids out of their current grade just to get rid of them. They tell me the biggest fear of the teachers is to have to teach the same problem child twice! They also say that some parents INSIST that their child be passed no matter what. So sad because it is the children who suffer!
Not many teachers just "work" during the hours school is in
pp
Agree. Teachers of future generations should be better
iop
What!!!! No Santa?
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
No Santa Claus?Thank God he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!
Santa
You don't give any details about this came about. Did someone in the class ask the teacher if Santa Claus was real? If so, she/he would not want to lie to the class, since that would undermine their trust in her/him.
If you have a third grader who still believes in Santa, you must have wrapped them in bubble wrap for the past 2 years. It is a very rare child who believes beyond Kindergarten or First Grade - usually their older siblings or the neighor kid tells them "the truth."
BTW, I think the "truth" about Santa is that he is real - he's a symbol of the Christmas Spirit and that survives despite all the cynicism, hatred, intolerance and fear in the world.
santa
I must admit even before my brother and sister told me at age 8 I was beginning to have doubts and I did not want to say anything because I thought I would not get a lot of gifts but it was still fun believing there was the possibilty also that there could be a santa! Someone breaks your heart sooner or later.
Bad Santa...
"I saw you at another mall. Well, I'm happy for you. If you really are Santa, you could do magic. Wanna see some magic? OK, let's watch you disappear!"
You don't believe in Santa?
Santa is the "spirit" of Christmas. I can't imagine not believe there is a Santa Clause, and I'm 37. Oh my goodness, honey, you're won't get anything for Christmas if you don't believe in Santa.... 
Santa
My DD is going on 10 and DS is 6. They believe in Santa. My daughter has questioned and I explained it this way - There was a real Santa, and that whole story and that he brings the presents to those that "believe", but the second you say out loud "into the air" that you don't believe , we (meaning mom and dad) have to start bringing the presents...and I can't afford that...:)
So she still believes but we also get gifts from "Mom and Dad" so there are also things under the tree from us as well as Santa (who by the way does not wrap, but that's another discussion altogether!)
By the way, in our house Santa, the tooth fairy, Jesus, and God all know each other and communicate with each other, as in God sees everything and knows if you are "being bad" and let's Santa know, etc...They are not to keen on the whole Easter Bunny thing though...
Santa and EB and TF
I have a friend who promised she would never lie to her kids, and so she was honest from the start about Santa and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, but also explained to them that alot of their friends believe in them, so asked her kids not to ruin it for them.
In our house, our kids believe in the "idea" of Santa and the Easter Bunny but were confused about why we would see so many Santas in every store. I told them that Santa could not physically be in every place at once, so we all have Christmas Spirit, which we use in different ways to help Santa. So some of us dress up like Santa, some of us deliver presents to needy kids, that kind of thing. At 5 and 6, they really seemed to grasp that and understand.
Believing in Santa
I'm not sure how old I was, but my 12 year old realized ther was no Santa when she was 10. I'm not sure how she actually found out, but I know a year before that she noticed the same wrapping paper that Santa used that I also used (I forgot and wrapped the gifts the same). She also said she knew no one could bring toys to everyone in the world in one night (too smart for her own good). I think most children find out through other older childen either in school or in the neighborhood. It didn't seem to effect her at all. I told her that if she ever tells her 3 year old sister before she can figure it out for herself (hopefully she'll be 10), that I won't buy her any more presents. LOL.
Dear Santa....
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning , or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.
Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.
Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always, MOM...!
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my reques ts if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.
AMEN to that
Dear Santa:
Dear Santa:
I rarely ask for much. This year is no exception. I don't need diamond earrings, handy slicer-dicers or comfy slippers. I only want one little thing, and I want it deeply.
I want to slap Martha Stewart. Now, hear me out, Santa. I won't scar her or draw blood or anything. Just one good smack, right across her smug little cheek. I get all cozy inside just thinking about it. Don't grant this wish just for me, do it for thousands of women across the country. Through sheer vicarious satisfaction, you'll be giving a gift to us all. Those of us leading average, garden variety lives aren't concerned with gracious living. We feel pretty good about ourselves if our paper plates match when we stack them on the counter, buffet-style for dinner. We're tired of Martha showing us how to make centerpieces from hollyhock dipped in 18-carat gold. We're plumb out of liquid gold. Unless it's of the furniture polish variety. We can't whip up Martha's creamy holiday sauce, spiced with turmeric. Most of us can't even say turmeric, let alone figure out what to do with it.
OK, Santa, maybe you think I'm being a little harsh. But I'll bet with all the holiday rush you didn't catch that interview with Martha in last week's USA Weekend. I'm surprised there was enough room on the page for her ego. We discovered that not only does Martha avoid take-out pizza (she's only ordered it once), she refuses to eat it cold (No cold pizza? Is Martha Stewart living?) When it was pointed out that she could microwave it, she replied, "I don't have a microwave." The reporter, Jeffrey Zaslow, noted that she said this "in a tone that suggests you shouldn't either." Well, lah-dee-dah. Imagine that, Santa! That lovely microwave you brought me years ago, in which I've learned to make complicated dishes like popcorn and hot chocolate, has been declared undesirable by Queen Martha. What next? The coffee maker? In the article, we learned that Martha has 40 sets of dishes adorning an entire wall in her home. Forty sets. Can you spell "overkill"? And neatly put away, no less. If my dishes make it to the dishwasher that qualifies as "put away" in my house! Martha tells us she's already making homemade holiday gifts for friends. "Last year, I made amazing silk-lined scarves for everyone," she boasts. Not just scarves mind you. Amazing scarves. Martha's obviously not shy about giving herself a little pat on the back. In fact, she does so with such frequency that one has to wonder if her back is black and blue. She goes on to tell us that "homemaking is glamour for the 90s," and says her most glamorous friends are "interested in stain removal, how to iron a monogram, and how to fold a towel." I have one piece of advice, Martha: "Get new friends." Glamorous friends fly to Paris on a whim. They drift past the Greek Islands on yachts, sipping champagne from crystal goblets. They step out for the evening in shimmering satin gowns, whisked away by tuxedoed chauffeurs. They do not spend their days pondering the finer art of toilet bowl sanitation. Zaslow notes that Martha was named one of America's 25 most influential people by Time magazine (nosing out Mother Theresa, Madeline Allbright and Maya Angelou, no doubt). The proof of Martha's influence: after she bought white-fleshed peaches in the supermarket, Martha says, "People saw me buy them. In an instant, they were all gone." I hope Martha never decides to jump off a bridge. A guest in Martha's home told Zaslow how Martha gets up early to rollerblade with her dogs to pick fresh wild blackberries for breakfast. This confirms what I've suspected about Martha all along: She's obviously got too much time on her hands. Teaching the dogs to rollerblade. What a show off. If you think the dogs are spoiled, listen to how Martha treats her friends: She gave one friend all 272 books from the Knopf Everyman Library. It didn't cost much. Pocket change, really.
Was it Santa? or the excitement
to all the wonderful gifts? I agree with the above poster. I feel it is unnecessary to lie to the children and set them up for such pain. To hear a parent say "I had to tell her the truth" is jarring when she is speaking of her very own child.
santa...details...
this was during "reading". she read Rudolph to teh class. her choice. she brought it up. they read adn then they started asking questions, kids were disagreeing about it, arguing..and so she asked for a show of hands on the certain parts that she chose from teh story that " could happen" and "could never happen"...fact and fiction stuff. she totally started it.
regarding santa message below:
im the one who started the santa thing. tonight is our christmas program, can someone who is really quick whitted give me like a one to two line statement or question for her to let her know what kind of mistake she has made? that its not something funny, or to blow off..
without causing too big of a scene...and not affending bystanders.
im sure there is someone on here who could just cut her down with their words..and really make her step back and take a good hard look at herself....if its YOU...i need your expertise in the subject.
Santa Clara, CA
Another city also in the Bay Area. I am about a half an hour from Santa Cruz (beach), beautiful weather, very temperate summers with cool evenings, and close enough to go to SF by car or train to explore the city.
Santa Fe, NM and Tucson, AZ....
Love NYC, Florida, Massachusetts, CT, NH, VT......too!!!
About Christmas and Santa
Do any of you feel weird about teaching your children there is a Santa Claus. My parents did not teach us that, but when I had kids, I did (because it just seemed like it would be more fun for them). When they found out it wasn't real, they were pretty upset.
Now, that I am older, I think it is kind of an odd thing to do. It doesn't really seem like it's a good thing for children to realize their parents (who are the most trusted and influential people in children's lives) lied to them ... even if it was in the name of fun and excitment.
What are your thoughts on this? Most children totally believe it (when taught) ... just as children tend to believe whatever religious version they are taught. 
About Jesus, God, and Santa
If you truly believe in God, I am wondering if you feel your children will lose faith once they realize you have been spoofing about Santa. ?
I am santa claus
My parents ALWAYS (even when they knew we didn't believe anymore) were "santa" They would wait until we were asleep to put out the presents. It was SO fun. I remember being little and trying to stay up to see "him". We even once SWORE we saw reindeer hoof prints on our roof. My husband grew up TOTALLY different. His mom still to this day won't even buy wrapping paper with santa on it. So you know what I do? I buy him extra presents and put them under the tree when HE is asleep.
I think it is all just fun. I am not mad at my parents for tricking me. I had a great time with it. And I hope my kids do too.
Bah humbug on Santa? No way!
When kids get on the school bus or talk in the cafeteria, what would happen? Perhaps group mentality which we learn in Psych 4, is what you are thinking, but what about going along to get along? For Pete's sake, don't "p" double ee on their parade. Kids know - they believe in a Sants, i.e., St. Nick, i.e., blue and white stuff for 8 days for the Jewish kids. So what -- for goodness sake, let the kid ge a kid! Play - toys - Chris Kringle - whatever! Don't try to get your kid to be in MENSA, just for the sake of being "above" it all. Get real! Don't be an elitist just to be right. I am all for kids believing there is something else besides doom and gloom. Let them be happy, enough bad news, already. What are you going to gain except self-rightousiness and being above the rest. No kid is going to be angry that they got a gift from "Santa". He is not Satan - he is S A N T A. Got your letters crossed.
there's nothing more magical than being Santa when
the little one goes to sleep -- arranging all the presents, filling the stocking, taking that one bite out of the cookie, and, of course, leaving him a note from Santa saying how he's always on the nice list. just magical. i'm here all alone and it always brings tears to my eyes creating this magical experience for him.
When did you stop believing is Santa?
When did you stop believing is Santa?
If you have kids old enough, when did they stop believing?
How did you/your kids find out?
How did you/they react to the truth?
If kids don't find out on their own, what age do you think they should be told?
I think as Christians we can use Santa Claus
As a witness if we want to. I feel that Santa is a fun part of Christmas but of course we should not forget the REAL reason for the season. We can give to others to show the love of Christ, Him giving His life for us. It is all about how you look at it and show it to others. God Bless you all and have a Blessed Christmas :)
P.S. A very good way to witness is through WorldVision. They have a wonderful gift catalog that I used for Christmas presents. You can purchase a wheelchair for a child in another country, childcare for orphans, etc.
Santa Rosa, California
Back in the mid to late 80's - I don't know what it's like now.
Picture this: vineyards, apple orchards, redwood forests, ocean 15 minutes away, average temperature 70-75 degrees year round.........oh, I miss it!!!
Oh darn, Bear just ate Santa
right off the tree. I'm not actually a big fan of Santa decorations, but this was one of a set of cute homemade-looking, brightly painted flat ornaments that looked like they were made from bread dough or something. I don't know exactly what they were made of, but it doesn't look like he swallowed much. He's such a puppy.
Awww...Santa's Helper!
He is so cute! I love dogs!
Can I tell you how good santa (or should I say God) was to me this year? sm
I received many gift cards and gifts. I received the gift of unconditional love from my children. I received the gift of friendship this year from my best friend who cries when I cry and will keep my secrets with her until the day she dies. My mom is in my life now and is spoiling me ROTTEN. She came into some money and has used a lot of it on my family - making up for lost time as we did not get along well while I was growing up and then I moved away.
All of these are great, great gifts. I was also given the gift of health. I was the worried mom from a few weeks ago who was asking about abnormal mammograms and lumps. I am 33 years old. Today, I nervously received a digital mammography (my first digital one). My doctor went ahead and scheduled me for an ultrasound too this time (I've had both already). After the mammogram this morning I was waiting to head to ultrasound when the tech came in and said the films look great and no need for ultrasound. God is soo good. Of course, she said my doc will receive the formal report in about a week, but still. Isn't that awesome news?
The most ironic thing about all of this? I am not deserving of any of it. None of it. I know there are so many others who are in such pain this year and for that I am truly, truly sorry. May you find peace, health, happiness, and a close relationship with God this year. I look forward to the coming year. If you don't have God or find Him, may you have love in abundance this year. All of you.
Bear ate Santa off the tree...now he's...sm
eaten/torn up the ottoman? He probably does miss you a lot Misha....It's a long day without mommy.  Cat
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