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'Santa Claus does not exist' school tells stunned kids
Last updated at 00:07am on 20.12.06
Santa Claus is exposed as a fraud as he pretends to deliver presents on Christmas Eve
A primary school has been accused of spoiling Christmas for pupils after a lesson telling them that Santa Claus does not exist.
Children as young as nine were told that only 'small children believe in Father Christmas'.
And yesterday their parents criticised teachers for taking the 'magic' out of the festive period.
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The blunder came after the Year 5 pupils were given seasonal worksheets containing various festive classroom exercises.
One began by informing the children that 'many small children believe in Father Christmas'.
It then went on to explain that thousands of letters sent by these children to Santa every year are actually answered by the Post Office.
The youngsters were then asked to write a pretend letter from the Post Office to a child explaining why their requests for presents had been refused.
Now Ladysmith Junior School in Exeter, Devon, is accused of taking a decision that should have been made by the parents themselves.
One father-of-two, who asked not to be named, said: "My wife and I make a special effort to keep the belief in Santa in our daughter's mind as we believe it adds to the magic of Christmas for her and her four-year-old brother.
"We even recall her shaking with excitement some years ago when sat at the bottom of our bed rummaging through her stocking.
"What gives the school the right to decide when children should know the truth about such a harmless matter when knowing the truth does take away that little bit of magic?"
"She'll probably figure it out soon enough anyway, but we might have had one last Christmas without her knowing if it hadn't been for the school."
Yesterday the headmistress of the 460-pupil school said she had written to families to apologise and assured them the lesson will not be taught again.
Jackie Jackson said: "Having three children myself, I understand how parents feel.
"The last thing we wanted to do was take away the positive and magical side of Christmas and I have wished all the families a happy time."
She continued: "We can't go back and undo this but I have written to all the families to apologise. It was very unfortunate and a bad mistake. We are not in the business of shattering children's dreams."
Yesterday a spokesman for the Royal Mail confirmed it receives around 750,000 letters for Father Christmas from children around the UK every year.
He said: "They are all forwarded to Santa and we also send a special reply."
The worksheet was taken from the Internet and created by educational charity, the Hamilton Trust.
Yesterday the trust's director Ruth Merttens, defended the content.
She said: "I feel sorry for the teacher concerned.
"But we produce the worksheets and it is up to teachers how they use them in class."
She added: "I don't want to upset anybody but I would say by the age of ten it seems unlikely that a child wouldn't be aware of Santa's imaginary nature."
Last week a primary school teacher was sacked for telling her young class that Santa does not exist.
The supply teacher apparently decided the pupils - some as young as nine - were too old to believe in Father Christmas.
The teacher, who has not been named, is believed to have told the class at Boldmere Junior School, in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands: "All of you are old enough to know there is no Father Christmas or fairies.
If you ask your parents to tell you they will say there is no such thing.
Amanda Piovesana, whose daughter is in Year 5, said: "I am upset because it has taken away a magical part of Christmas for my daughter and a teacher should not have the right to do that. My little girl was very upset."
At yet another school, pupils went home in tears after being told Father Christmas does not exist by a teacher who was telling a class of nine-year-olds how Christmas is celebrated across the world.
Angry parents at Calcot Junior School in Berkshire said the teacher had 'ruined' Christmas for their children.
Mel Barefield, whose son was in the lesson, said: 'The teacher had said to them that Father Christmas wasn't real, Rudolph was a cartoon character and that Christmas trees come from Germany.'
A governor said: 'It's not just Father Christmas that's the problem. We also have issues with things like the Tooth Fairy.
'From now on when a child asks if Father Christmas exists the teacher should say, "I'm not sure. Go home and ask your parents"'.
Rachel McGauley, 29, whose eight-year-old daughter Shannon is in Year 4 at the school, said: "It is very bad.
"As parents it is for us to decide when we tell our children and some of the parents in that class could have got away with it for another year and now they can't.
"I just hope my little girl does not twig because she is in the year below."
Sam Horne, whose children Keiron, eight, and six-year-old Charlotte attend the school,said: "Mine still believe in Father Christmas, and when I was a kid I did not find out until I was about eleven.
"It is like a loss of innocence. Children should have the right to stay innocent for as long as possible."
In a statement issued through the local Education Authority, Devon County Council, head Mrs Jackie Jackson added: "The choice of this worksheet was a genuine mistake by a teacher which we are all very sad about.
"As a school we delight in the magic of childhood and believe that Christmas is a very special time.
"In the last week the children have been enjoying carol singing and a Christmas fair and, in the true spirit of the season, raising money for children at the Ugandan school which we support.
I have apologised to the parents and this worksheet will never be used in the school again."
Reader views (35)
My boss [Santa] does exist. He's not what you think though. He beats us elves up. Gave me a black eye yesterday. We're forced to work while Santa relaxes.
_________________________________________
FREE THE ELVES!!!
- Santa'S Elf, North Pole
I know a pair of twins, eleven, who still believe in Santa.
- Calvin, Chicago, IL
Yes, it's true that Santa Claus doesn't exist and it's right to say so... but also other , even more primitive, myths should be mentioned, like that "god" thing... and the devil, and so on....
- Elvis, Memphis, TN
Mwah-ha-ha! The mole people will rule the world!!
- King Of The Mole People, Mole Kingdom, Underground
There are some things which shouldn't be taken for granted by teachers!
Don't teach them, instead educate them!
- Neil Johnson, India
This just goes to show you the level of intelligence that our teachers have in our school systems.
- Anthony, brick nj
Teachers are professionals, or so they say. If this teacher couldn't see how cruel this was to a child at Christmas time and how the decision to tell a child about the non-existance of Santa Claus was not hers to make, I question her decision to be a teacher. Will she decide to make it her business to comment on her beliefs in other areas as well? When did teachers stop being teachers and decide to be commentators on world subjects and Santa and Tooth Fairys. Maybe that explains why test scores are not as good as they should be. If they spent their time teaching the basic skills and left the rest to parents, and others, perhaps scores would improve. This over stepping the role of a teacher is very troubling.
- Jumping Judy Jo Jo, Mechanic Falls, USA
The ones who did this while doing my work have gone to far.
- Old Scratch, Hell 3rd level
I get so tired of the school butting in where they shouldn't. My kids still believe at 10 years old and after that age, they start to become old enough to explain about Christmas. It isn't hard to explain. It's not lying. It's about the spirit of Christmas. When the kids are old enough, I told them that Santa is about the idea of helping and giving to others and not necessarily a real person and that it is up to them to carry on that spirit and idea of Christmas in their own actions. To keep Christmas just as magical for younger kids as it was for them. I have perfectly well rounded kids, and they completely understand and love carrying on the tradition for their younger cousins. Why is this so hard to understand for emotional devoid in this world. You may be unhappy, but me and my family refuse to let your attitude ruin everything for us.
- Jen, Indiana, USA
Since there really is a St. Nicholas, and his saint's day is on the Church of England calendar, I would suggest that that school was unlawfully teaching against the established Church of England. Indeed, other comments reported indicate that the school is indoctrinating the students in an atheist worldview, most intentionally.
- Steve Schaper, Across the Pond
How is it that the British can manage to ruin just about anything.
- Chuck Anderson, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
I for one do not celebrate Christmas because of reasons I don't need to go into, I just observe what people are doing with it and how it is being abused. But why is it that a child is told a lie for several years by their parents before he/she realizes that a Santa Claus does not exist, why build up a child with this kind of false expectation. I have never told a child there was a Santa, however I was asked if there is one, and I told them. It's ok for a parent lie to their children (bear false witness) because it is Christmas, (the same for the Easter Bunny), but let that child tell the parent a lie sometime throught the rest or next year and watch what happens, the child gets berrated or punished. How would parents like it if someone had won the lottery and that person said they would share it with you and then never had any intention of doing so and takes the jackpot for himself!!!!. That person just lied to get your expectations up for a fall. The same principal is applied to telling a child there is a Santa when there really isn't. All these parents are telling their kids is that it's allright to lie in instances where a holiday situation,person or thing is not present and Santa is one of those that does not exist......But you have to live with that, for one day maybe that child will ask "Why did you lie to me that there was a Santa when there wasn't??" To what, build me up only to have the air taken out of Christmas later down the road!!!!!!
- Kevin, WILMIGTON,DELAWARE
I am as real as one can be. I'll be sure to drop some coal in the school teachers stocking.
I'll raid her liquor cabinet, too.
Ho, Ho, Ho.
- Chris Kringle, North Pole, Earth
"I don't see how parents find any pleasure in lying to their children and call it "magic". "
Have your parents ever told you that you were special? How do you think a teacher should repond when a child tells the teacher, my parents tell me that I am special, is that true?
- George, Detroit, Michigan
I think it's stupid to give the credit for all the money you spend on gifts to some fat dude in a suit. I bought it for the child I love, I want the credit, not him. Besides, when do you draw the line for your kids when lying is ok? "Mum and dad can lie to you but you must always tell us the truth or you get in trouble" HYPOCRITES...and we wonder why this worlds next generation has no values and everything is relative...........
- Joe, Palm Bay, FL USA
Just another example of the plot to break up civilization as we know it.
When are we going to stand up and fight?
- Mary, Indianapolis, IN
My oldest found out the "truth" about Santa from a child that was taught that believing in Santa was wrong. We were able to save the magic by explaining that believing in Santa was a game and the goal is to keep the little children believing he's real for as long as possible. Even though she knows, she has fun keeping the secret from her sister!
- Dani, Tennessee, USA
Miserable people can't stand for others to be happy. Just like all socialists, they want to spread the misery, not support joy.
- Clinton Grant, Rossville, Ga. USA
What kind of insane world do we live in, in which parents knowingly lie to their children and then become enraged when someone else explodes the lie?
- Franklin, Athens, Alabama, USA
This is socialism at work: Destroy all allegiences but that to government. Do not let people believe in anything, but government is a basic "socialist principle." Sick, sick, sick....
- Adrian Vance, Lakeport, CA
"I challenge anyone to find a ten year old child who still believes in Santa Claus!"
Found one. My next door neighbor's little girl.
I think next they should start going to funeral homes and telling the loved ones of the recently deceased that there is no Heaven or afterlife and that their loved one will just rot in the ground and they'll never see them again. This would be especially good to do to any small children who lose a parent.
It will be so cool when everyone starts acting like robots.
- Peter, Houston TX
I don't see how parents find any pleasure in lying to their children and call it "magic". Children look up to their parents to tell them the truth, and this just ruins children when they eventually find out. Why can't people just focus on the real reason for Christmas!
- Michael, North Carolina, USA
I do not understand the cruelty of those who would tell small children there is no such thing as Santa Clause. Heck, I'm in my 40s' and I believe! If these folks don't want to believe, don't, easy as that, but don't ruin Christmas, and indeed the hopes and dreams of children because they choose to be a Grinch. The idea of Santa Claus should offend no one.
- Allenk_007, Springfield, VT (USA)
This is yet another of 1000 examples as to why my forth-coming child will never, ever darken the doorstep of a public school. It's far worse here in the US, teachers make these kinds of decisions for parents all the time. Education here is about indoctrination and memorization, our schools churn out idiotic socialist robots, not intelligent problem solvers.
- John Mcglasson Jr., USA
Next they'll be telling the children that the government isn't their friend!
- John Of The Highlands, Birmingham, USA
Don't forget about ol' Mephistopheles, man.
- Satan, Hell
I can assure children of all ages that I am alive and well, and will be visiting everyone next Monday to deliver presents. Merry Christmas!
- Santa Claus, North Pole
I think I believed beyond the age of nine or ten, though I don't remember too clearly. One thing I do know - my mum will never forgive me - is that my poor mother had an awful lot of trouble explaining to me how it all worked. Apparently I could never understand why we did all the shopping but then the presents were delivered by Father Christmas - how did he get hold of them and wasn't it all very inefficient? Despite my questioning, I remained obstinately naive and believed for years. I even left out a request for his autograph one year and was so excited to find the signature there the next morning. Even though his writing was a lot like my mum's I still didn't twig!
- Suzanne, London
Well done! Time to debunk this nonsense. Next - Christmas trees.
- Phil, Waltham Abbey
Next they'll be telling us God doesn't exist...
- Ivan Tan, London, WC UK
So who brings the presents if he doesn't exist, huh?
- Stephen, Guildford
He doesn't exist?
- Eric, Hertford
Totally unacceptable. This country has gone mad beyond belief in its political correctness & this is a step too far.
- Giles, Cheshunt, UK
I thought it was bad enough when Gordon Brown said he wanted to tax my gifts of small coins. Now teachers say I don't exist.
- Tooth Fairy, Under the pillow
I challenge anyone to find a ten year old child who still believes in Santa Claus! If they had been small children it would have been different.
- Dorothy, London, UK
