“美麗的圣誕夜，圣誕老人會送給你夢想的禮物。”這個奇妙的幻景被英國一所小學的代課教師打碎了，因為她告訴班里的孩子圣誕老人不存在的事實。孩子的家長群起而攻之，這名教師最終被校方開除。整個事件孰是孰非？我們是該繼續為孩子編制美麗的童話，還是讓他們及早面對事情的真相？

 事件緣起：

A primary school teacher left a class of 25 pupils in tears when she told them Father Christmas does not exist.
一所小學的老師告訴班上的25個孩子圣誕老人根本不存在，這讓孩子們眼淚汪汪。

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.
當孩子們為圣誕話題興奮爭執的時候，這名代課老師脫口而出：“在圣誕夜送你們禮物的是你們的父母。”

The class of seven-year-olds at Blackshaw Lane Primary School, Oldham, Greater Manchester burst into tears and told their parents when they got home.
大曼切斯特區奧爾德姆的拉克壽街小學班上這群7歲孩子們失聲大哭，他們回家后還把老師的話告訴了父母。

"I wasn't happy and a lot of the mums were upset. All kids at that age are excited at this time of year, so for someone to come out and say something like that puts a dampener on it all. Now there are doubts at the back of their minds."
“我很不高興，還有很多媽媽都很難過。在圣誕這個時候，所有那個年齡的孩子都很興奮。所以，有人出來說那種話，真令人掃興。現在孩子們都心存疑慮了。”

"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. "
“他都要發瘋了。他只是一個7歲大的孩子，圣誕對他而言有一種魔幻的魅力。我們告訴他宗教信仰的問題導致老師不相信圣誕老人的存在，現在孩子感覺好多了。”

Angela McCormick, the headteacher, refused to comment on the incident.
校長安吉拉·麥科密克拒絕評論此事。

she said: "Profuse apologies to all our Year 3 children and parents. I have spoken to the supply agency concerned and have completed a complaint form."
校長說：“學校對三年級所有的學生和家長竭誠道歉。我已與提供代課老師的有關機構談過，還填寫了投訴表。”

"The children are unscathed and thanks to the ‘magic’ of our resident staff and the lovely snow we have all appreciated this week."
“孩子們未受傷害。這要歸功于我們員工施展的‘魔法’和本周令我們都感激的那場可愛的雪。”

School governor, Councillor Steve Bashforth said: "It would take more than one Grinch to spoil the magic of Christmas. We have every confidence that the head will deal with it sensitively and appropriately."
政府議員兼學校監督斯蒂夫·拜史佛斯說：“又一個圣誕怪杰差點毀了圣誕節的魅力。我們完全相信校長可以把事情處理得迅速妥當。”

激烈爭論

支持教師派：這個世界不該向孩子掩蓋真相。如果讓孩子自己發現真相，他會認為自己被欺騙了，心里會更加難過。

FATHER CHRISTMAS is NOT real. The world has gone crazy. How long are you going to fool your children?

How stupid. I can't believe that the parents are up in arms about this. I am sure that their little darlings will survive the trauma of being told the truth about Father Christmas! My parents would joke with us about Santa when we were kids but we never really believed in him and they never tried to pretend that he was real. Some of the comments parents have been making suggest a major tragedy had befallen the kids.

Santa is a bit sad really--its often the first time a child realises their parents can lie to them...

I've often thought it strange that we tell children that some magic man from the North Pole comes and gives them presents once a year. Parents struggle and scrape to afford lovely things to give their kids, so why shouldn't the children be told this and be grateful for it? Telling them Santa brings their presents teaches them not to recognise the value of money, and sets them up for this sort of disappointment when they find out he's not real.

支持校方派：謀殺了孩子的幻想和美夢是一種罪惡。這是一種缺愛，沒感情的表現。讓孩子們陷于恐慌的老師也是不稱職的。

It does seem a miserable thing to spoil the kid's dreams at Christmas.

All those people supporting this ghastly teacher's outburst obviously had very boring and nonmagical Christmases and killjoy parents. I stopped believing in Santa when I was six--of my own accord. But once I'd found out I was really disappointed and wished I hadn't gone searching for clues. If anyone ruins the magic for my kids like that--they'll be very sorry indeed.

What a meanie..well she won't be getting any presents from Santa this year..I bet she's one of those wicked people who kills fairies by saying she doesn't believe in them..on purpose!

Why can we not let children be children for as long as possible. Shame on this teacher, they have no feelings. She has taken the magic out of Christmas.

中間包容派：這個女人也許只是不適合教師的崗位，金融危機之際，應該給她份工作。家長們總能想出安撫孩子的辦法。

I bet it's her first mistake so just give her another job, but not as a teacher. If the parents are smart, they will "fix" the story about Santa in their kids minds.

Give the poor woman her job back, we're in a recession and I'm sure she needs it.