Why are you disappointed when you find out that people are upset.  If I were a parent, and had spent five years building a fantasy for my child, I'd be rather upset when someone else made it come crashing down.

I understand people being upset, and I'm not disappointed in that.  It's the "disciplined for her actions" bit that disappoints me.  Obviously by disciplined they mean something more than " don't do it again" which one can only assume she's already been told.

I mean, what are they supposed to do?
"I'm afraid we're going to have to suspend you for a week."
"Why?"
"Because you told the truth."

Actually, I'm really curious about some info that's not in this story: why did she tell them that?  Is it that she doesn't celebrate Christmas?  Is it that she feels that Christmas is getting too commercialised and/or secularised?  (If it's the latter, how many of the people upset agree with her, but are still upset anyways?)

Posted by g026r at 28 Frimaire CCXIV 00:02 (2005/12/18)

Well now that's quite the story.  I am disapointed that any teacher would consider telling children that.  And even though she may have just told the truth it was not her place to do so.  Parents are the ones who have the right to choose what is best for their children, and unless their choices are endangering them they should be respected.  If you just don't agree with them then you should keep your mouth shut!

And I agree that it would be interesting to hear why she did what she did, but I honestly can't think of any reason that would give her the right to ruin christmas for alot of children...she has inflicted damage on most likely most of the kids in her class, something she can't undo.
And as for punishment, I guess I have to agree that there isn't much that can be done legally.  But I guarantee you this: if I knew my child might end up in her class I'd do what ever I could to prevent that from happening.  I'm sure she has made a mistake that she will be unlikely to be allowed to forget.