Substitute teacher tells students there is no Santa
A person dressed as Santa Claus waves from a float during the 90th Macy's Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 24, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
NEW JERSEY (FOX 5 NY) - A mother in New Jersey claims a substitute teacher told her daughter's first grade class that there was no such thing as Santa Claus.
Mayra Sansone Aboyoun said the teacher, that she would only identify as 'Mrs. M.,' made the statement to the six-year-olds at Cedar Hill Elementary School in Towaco on Thursday.
She took to Facebook to share the story.
“FURIOUS! My daughter is in the 1st grade at Cedar Hill. Her substitute teacher took it upon herself to tell the class full of 6 yr olds that Santa was not real. The children began yelling that everything is real and she continued by saying that the elves and reindeer aren’t real either. Nothing is real!”
%INLINE%
The story elicited a string of angry responses from parents.
The school's principal sent a letter home apologizing for the teacher's actions. Principal Michael Raj say he understands the "sensitive nature" of the topic.
The Montville Schools Superintendent Rene Rovtar said that she was "troubled and disheartened" by the incident.
"I am sending this letter so that you are aware of this situation and if the conversation comes up at home over the next few days you can take appropriate steps to maintain the childhood innocence of the holiday season," wrote Rovtar.
The incident is under investigation. Raj says he has spoken with the teacher about her "poor judgment."
This story was reported from N.Y.