The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-23
SHOULD BELIEVE
IN SANTA CLAUS
Supt. Christensen Scores a
HeartleSS Teacher.
WHO SKATERS CHILD'S IDOL
DECLARES FAITH IN ST. MICH
oLAS is BENEFICIAL,
n H. CHRISTENSEN. superintend-

IN H. CHRISTENSEN. superintend-
u, ent Of the city schools, has taken
the stand against teachers who
go OUT OF their way TO tell little pupils
lhat there is no Santa Claus 1t was
/ reported TO The Herald yesterday and
5 20 superintendent Christensen that q
Z teacher i'm one of the schools had in
/ formed her class of 6-year-Olds that
santa Claus does not exist. When the
matter was brought 10 the attention OF
the superintendent he said:
such an act was indiscretion on the
part of the teacher. Even if she mas
convictions that it is the duty of par
entS and teachers TO dissuade children
of the Santa Claus idea. she should not
exploit her convictions in school. She
should keep her ideas in these matters
to herself and not use her position To
impress them on others. Principals Of
schools should advise the primary
teachers under them not TO do as this
teacher has done.
Should Talk Kindly of Santa.
If a teacher does not believe in SAN
Ia Claus and does not think that chill
oren should be taught 10 believe in him.
the school is no place 10 announce her
mind on the subject. If she cannot
talk kindly about good cid Kris Krin-
gle. the joy of a Childs life. let her keep
still She should either let the little
ones believe there is such a person. or
else not say anything at all about him.
1T is within the province Of the home
10 teach the child whether or not Santa
Claus really exists A teacher who dis
cusSes the question before her pupils is
treading on sacred ground I consider
il just as much out of place for a teach
er to ridicule the Santa Claus idea as
for a teacher to make fun of any par
ticular sect or religious denomination
she does not happen to believe in or
have any sympathy for.
Belief Does Good.
Personally. / am of the opinion that
ii is perfectly proper and right TO en-
deaVor and have little children hold a
belief in Santa Claus a. long as they
can. The large majority Of children
in fact, I do not believe there is a child
in Salt Lake under the age of years
who does not hold firm convection
or at least a hope that old Santa will
visit them tomorrow evening if they
Will be good and Obedient. The little
tots get their idea of Santa Claus at
home when quite young. While in kim
dergarten and in the lowest grades Of
the schools, the belief is fostered by
stories concerning the children's patron
saint and songs that tell of his kind
ness and generosity.
1T does not do a child bit of harm
to hold a belief in Santa Claus and il
often does them considerable good Lit
tie ones are taught. first of all, that the
little fat man with the long white
beard and bag of toys, has gifts only
for children who are Wen behaved
Thus the idea is impressed upon the
young mind that goodness viii be re-
warded. Teachers can draw other les
sons from the time honored Santa
Claus idea. if they viii, ard make St.
Nicholas even better liked and more
wOrshipped than he iS now
Children from the Lafayette Lowell
and Grant grammar schools have gone
home 10 their parents with the news that
their teacher had told them there was
no such person as Santa Claus
One little boy but six years old who
attends the Lafayette school on hear
ing from his teacher that the pretty story
of St Nicholas and his RENDERS and
bag of gifts was but myth. promptly
went home and told MS little four-y year
old brother about II. The little fellow
had set his heart on the belief that santa
Claus would descend the chimney Christ
mas eve and bring him red wagon On
hearing the words of the older brother the
younger one commenced 70 cry and Tor
long while could not be consOle9. The
children have no mother and the little
tot had to bear his grief alone FIN
ally friends managed 10 convince him
that the teacher was wrong and tnaL
there really is q Santa Claus. The child
tears were at last stopped and he IS now
again eagerly awaiting old SAINT NICK.