Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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who liked to have kids sat on his lap.
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antmashed
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Registered: 2nd Aug 06
Location: Hertford
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the kid probably doesnt get any presents from the dad therefore he told him father christmas doesnt exist, or......
he wants his son to grow up quickly and become mature before the other kids 
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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As Ainsley's girlfriend and a primary school teacher myself, I think that Lou was right in her response to the parent/child/santa incident.
She has a very difficult job of keeping the children in her care happy. Unfortunately, that often stems to keeping the parents of those children happy too - and rightly so.
The difficulty comes when you have one child making it an unhappy time for all the other children (whether intentional of that child or not). Some parents don't think about the consequences of what they tell their children and the fact that Lou explains the parent is often finding things to complain about and laughed when she brought up the issue is completely arrogant. Of course everyone is entitled to their own point of view and to bring up their children believing what and whom they want (so long as it causes no harm to the child), but was it really necessary to tell the child at 4 years old - knowing full well that all the other children of that age are likely to believe? Of course parents don't want to lie to their children but when/if you have children of your own in your care, it quite obviously happens - if only to protect the child from harm.
I think drawing the parents attention to the issue was the best move, but it does sound like that was the response he had hoped for from you. If he is a regularly difficult parent perhaps you suggest he takes his child elsewhere where all the other children 'don't believe'. Do let me know if he ever finds that place! As a teacher with children with some parents of similar attitude it makes the job ten times harder. All of these posts, supportive and not, don't think about the decision you had to make at the time, which was to think of the happiness and welfare of all the other children in your care. You will ALWAYS get people that complain about something regarding their children but it's your job to keep the ship running smoothly both for parents and child - you can't please everyone and you did the best in a difficult situation.
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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quote:
Originally posted by deano87
P.S. Did everyone know the stereotypical Santa, in red, fat, with a beard, was designed by Coca Cola?
[Edited on 05-12-2007 by deano87]
By the end of the 1920s, a standard American Santa—life-sized in a red, fur-trimmed suit—had emerged from the work of N. C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell and other popular illustrators.
In 1931 Haddon Sundblom began thirty-five years of Coca-Cola Santa advertisements that popularized and firmly established this Santa as an icon of contemporary commercial culture.
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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Whilst I agree with how Lou handled it, aswell as asking the kid not to be present when Santa comes in, I really dont agree with asking the parent to 'find another place where they all dont beleive'.
What you are basically saying is 'if you arent bringing your kid up how society expects then we dont want him making things tough for us'. His reason may not be down to religion, but would you say the same to a muslim parent who didnt want their kid thinking Santa was real?
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Cosmo
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Santa also wears Green in Japan, not red.
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Cosmo
Whilst I agree with how Lou handled it, aswell as asking the kid not to be present when Santa comes in, I really dont agree with asking the parent to 'find another place where they all dont beleive'.
What you are basically saying is 'if you arent bringing your kid up how society expects then we dont want him making things tough for us'. His reason may not be down to religion, but would you say the same to a muslim parent who didnt want their kid thinking Santa was real?
That is not at all what I mean. If the parent has a problem with the way the after school club is running, or the fact that Lou tried to maintain the beliefs of the other children then he should take his child elsewhere. The expectations of society are not as concentrated as you are making out. The point is that people of all religions choose to celebrate or not and appreciate all the religions celebrated.
I would hope that ANY parent wanting their child to think that Santa wasn't real would at least have the decency to tell their children to respect other people's viewpoint.
None of us want religion imposed upon us do we?
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Cosmo
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quote:
Originally posted by ainsley_brader
I would hope that ANY parent wanting their child to think that Santa wasn't real would at least have the decency to tell their children to respect other people's viewpoint.
the child was 4. Now I understand some 4yr olds could understand this, but a lot of them wont do.
Should the parent not tell them until they understand this - no. As otherwise he is being limited in how he can being HIS child up as society thinks that young kids should beleive in Santa.
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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Santas a prick, santas a woofter, I asked for a bike & he got me a scooter 
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Cosmo
quote:
Originally posted by ainsley_brader
I would hope that ANY parent wanting their child to think that Santa wasn't real would at least have the decency to tell their children to respect other people's viewpoint.
the child was 4. Now I understand some 4yr olds could understand this, but a lot of them wont do.
Should the parent not tell them until they understand this - no. As otherwise he is being limited in how he can being HIS child up as society thinks that young kids should beleive in Santa.
That's what makes this situation so difficult - he has the right to bring his child up how he likes, but is the child old enough to understand the viewpoints of others?
Why did the parent tell his child about Santa in the first place??or let someone else tell his child about Santa?
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ainsley_brader
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Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Colin
Santas a prick, santas a woofter, I asked for a bike & he got me a poofter
I see your still smiling  Ainsley
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Cosmo
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quote:
Originally posted by ainsley_brader
Why did the parent tell his child about Santa in the first place??or let someone else tell his child about Santa?
why not?
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Cosmo
quote:
Originally posted by ainsley_brader
Why did the parent tell his child about Santa in the first place??or let someone else tell his child about Santa?
why not?
Well either he wants his child to believe in santa and all the joy that it brings or he doesn't! Can't have it both ways!
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by ainsley_brader
quote:
Originally posted by Cosmo
quote:
Originally posted by ainsley_brader
Why did the parent tell his child about Santa in the first place??or let someone else tell his child about Santa?
why not?
Well either he wants his child to believe in santa and all the joy that it brings or he doesn't! Can't have it both ways!
No, I meant why shouldnt he tell his kid that Santa isnt real, as thought thats what you were getting at. Although judging from your reply Im guessing you didnt mean that 
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ainsley_brader
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Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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No I mean't
" Why did the parent tell his child about Santa in the first place?"
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Cosmo
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quote:
Originally posted by ainsley_brader
No I mean't
" Why did the parent tell his child about Santa in the first place?"
Ah...thats how I read it...and I meant why shouldnt he tell him, if he feels it right to do so, after all its his kid and he can bring him up how he wants.
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drax
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Registered: 5th Feb 05
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
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Maybe the father wants his son to be wise, learn quickly and actually achieve something over the rest of the 7 peers when he is older?
Rather than a army of drones going to uni, going to work for someone, getting married
The kid might actually be extrovert to a point that he carries a successful future, having one up on those who believe in a fictional invisible power such as father Christmas or religion.
I know full well I want my children to be atheist, because i don't want a family who revolves around a belief of magic Pollocks and something that they cannot prove.
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willay
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Location: Roydon, Essex
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drax is speaking some heavy stuff. 
[Edited on 07-12-2007 by willay]
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