時尚雙語:英老師稱聖誕老人不存在 引學生大哭

Teacher tells class that Santa isn't real

A primary school teacher left a class of 25 pupils in tears when she told them Santa Claus does not exist.

The supply teacher blurted out: "it's your parents who leave out presents on Chrsitmas Day" when excited youngsters got rowdy as they talked about Christmas.

The class of seven-year-olds at Blackshaw Lane Primary School, Royton, near Oldham, Greater Manchester burst into tears and told their parents when they got home.

The parents then complained about the incident and were sent a letter by the school saying the teacher has been disciplined over the gaffe.

One father said: "My son came home and said that his substitute teacher had told the class that Santa doesn't exist and it's your mum and dad that put out presents for them.

"Apparently, they were all talking about Christmas and being a bit rowdy. She just came straight out with it.

"My lad was nearly in tears and so was everyone else in the class - especially as it was so close to Christmas. I thought it was wrong.

"He was distraught about it. He's only seven-years-old and it's part of the magic of Christmas to him.

"We told him that she did not believe in Father Christmas because of her religion and he's fine now.

"A lot of parents were disgusted and complained to the school. If she was a regular teacher then I think a lot more would have been done."

Angela McCormick, the headteacher, refused to comment on the incident.

Oldham Council's service director for children, young people and families, Janet Doherty, said: "This is a matter for the individual school to resolve.

"We have every confidence that the head will deal with it sensitively and appropriately."

日前，英國一名小學老師告訴班上的25名學生聖誕老人其實根本不存在，讓學生們聞後傷心哭泣。

當時，興奮的孩子們正在討論即將到來的聖誕節，有點鬧哄哄的，這位女代課老師脫口而出：“你們的聖誕禮物其實是父母送的。”

這個班上的孩子只有七歲，聽到老師這樣說後，他們都哭了起來，並在回家後把這件事告訴了父母。這所“布萊克肖街”小學位於英國大曼徹斯特郡奧德海姆市附近的羅頓區。

隨後家長們向校方投訴了這件事，校方得知後給每位家長髮了致歉信，稱這位老師出言不慎，已受到處分。

一位父親說：“我兒子回家後告訴我，他的代課老師告訴全班同學聖誕老人根本不存在，送聖誕禮物的人其實是爸爸媽媽。”

“顯然，當時孩子們正興致勃勃地談論着聖誕節，可能有點吵，而老師就這麼直截了當地說出這樣的話。”

“我兒子差點哭了，其他的孩子們也是——特別是現在馬上要到聖誕節了。這樣做實在不應該。”

“孩子非常鬱悶，他才七歲，對於他來說，聖誕老人是聖誕節吸引他的節目之一。”

“我們告訴他，老師的信仰和我們不一樣，所以她不信有聖誕老人，聽了這個之後，現在他好多了。”

“很多家長不滿老師的做法，並向學校投訴。如果她是正式老師，家長的意見會更大。”

“布萊克肖街”小學的安吉拉•麥科密克校長拒絕對此事發表評論。

奧德漢姆地方議會的“兒童、青少年和家庭事務”主管珍妮特•多哈提說：“這應該由學校自己處理。”

她說：“我們相信校長可以把這件事處理好”。

Vocabulary:

blurt out:脫口而出

substitute teacher:代課老師