Teaching fifth grade is tricky around the holidays. Most of my students are still ten years old, and the magical illusion of Santa has not yet been broken. The sweet innocence still glows through their smiles as they talk about the break and Christmas Day. And yet, as my class worked, their conversations drifted to the ever elusive discussion about the reality of Santa, and whether or not you believe. I wandered around listening to what was being said, my curiosity peaked. One group, full of believers, was heatedly talking about what they were hoping to get, while another was debating whether Santa was real, starting to figure out the parental magic at this time of year. The room was dotted with students keeping their mouths shut, uncharacteristic of them, but not wanting to spoil the surprise for their fellow classmates.
My favorite, however, was watching "Mr. Cool" listen to everyone. (Yes, the same boy I wrote a previous blog about, who gave me a huge hug before leaving for break). I knew he had probably known about Santa for years, being a little more "street wise" then I ever want my ten year old to be. He sits next to one of my most intellectual students, who albeit is very quirky, and yet I heard him say "Well of course I believe in Santa!" She looked relieved. When others shot skeptical looks his way, I mentioned, in the words of my mother-in-law "If you stop believing, you'll stop receiving." Well, Mr. Cool thought this was just about the greatest saying he's ever heard, and by the end of the day, I'm pretty sure anyone who thought they knew the secret of Santa, had been persuaded to resume their childhood presumptions, that indeed, Saint Nick is real.
Now I know by next year, all my students will probably know the "lie" cooked up by parents for centuries, but for now, let the innocence remain on their faces for one last year, before the magic is squashed out of their brains, and they are forced to grow up far too fast.
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