Originally Posted by analog

I can't draw any parallels between having aspirations, which is what you're outlining, and being fed fantasy. Fantasy and imagination are not the same thing as having aspirations. You can very effectively and thoroughly exercise a child's imagination and inspire all manner of future wishes of grandeur without making up a magical, fat philanthropist.

I already said I don't mind the fantasy itself, so if anyone thinks I hate Santa or that I'm saying it's a bad idea to have Santa, you're missing my point. My point is that the teacher has no duty to anyone on this planet (or any other) to teach a myth- a myth not univerally accepted to be fact- as fact.

feelgood: the difference between mythology and theology is often only perspective. We teach the ancient greek, roman, egyptian, myan (etc., etc.) gods and beliefs as mythology, but they were certainly a religion in the eyes of those people. An atheist in today's times may well also refer to any religion as "mythology", as pretty much all religions fit into the definition of a mythology, without express belief in them.

I'm also glad we're all sharing the soapbox, it's good to share.