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How a substitute teacher ruined Christmas for Year 1 students

A school has apologised after a substitute teacher told Year 1 students Santa Claus isn’t real.

Michael Raj, the principal of Cedar Hill School in New Jersey, sent a letter to parents following the incident on Thursday.

Mr Raj, who’s also a parent, said he understands the “sensitive nature” of the topic.

Montville Schools Superintendent Rene Rovtar said in a statement that she was “troubled and disheartened by this incident.”

Ms Rovtar explained that “childhood wonder associated with all holidays and traditions” is special to her.

A school has apologised after a substitute teacher told Year 1 students Santa Claus isn’t real. Source: Getty Images (File pic)
A school has apologised after a substitute teacher told Year 1 students Santa Claus isn’t real. Source: Getty Images (File pic)

Mr Raj said he’s spoken with the teacher about her “poor judgment.”

Lisa Simek, a parent of one of the students, claims children were told parents “just buy presents and put them under their tree”.

“She told them reindeer can’t fly and elves are not real, elf on the shelf is just a pretend doll that your parents move around,” the mum wrote on Facebook.

Ms Simek also claims the teacher told students the tooth fairy isn’t real and the Easter Bunny is made up.

“She told them magic does not exist,” she wrote.

“There is no such thing as magic anything.

“A grown woman tried to crush our six-year-old‘s spirit, along with the spirits of the other 22 kids in Cedar Hill’s first grade class.”

She added parents have been in “damage control” since the children came home from school.

However, journalism students at Toms River High East have offered to write personalised letters to students “from the North Pole” as part of a creative writing assignment.

Ms Simek said she didn’t want the teacher blamed as no one knows her “situation or perspective”.

Administrators haven’t released the teacher’s name or said if she would be allowed to work again in the district.

With Associated Press