Reply #35: I was discussing this story with my mom yesterday [View All]

and she told me why she was glad this teacher told them. Growing up an aunt of hers would help buy and make gifts for my mom and her siblings so my grandparents always told them that this aunt was one of Santa's helpers. She lived Vermont and Santa lived up North so this made sense to naive kids. One day in first grade some kids were talking about how there was no Santa. My mom thought they were playing a mean trick and started arguing that she knew there was a Santa because her aunt worked for him.

It is better for a child to learn the truth in a setting where they will not be subject to that amount of ridicule. The teacher told the entire class because he was asked in front of the whole class. He was put in a no win situation. They were already at an age when most kids who believe in Santa have doubts and learn the truth. If he pulled the one kid aside then whatever answer he gave most likely would've been later shared with the other students. If he told the kids there was a Santa then how could've very easily been violating the wishes of some parents and kids who knew there was no Santa could've tried to push the issue further. If he refused to answer then the students could've taken it as a sign that there was no Santa.