To not want my son’s school to say they have “Santa Cam”

[cattyfranny]

My son is in year 2, today he said someone asked what the red light was on the wall (it’s part of the security system or similar) he told me the teacher’s explanation was that it is a “Santa cam” that he has them everywhere to watch them to make sure they’re being good.

We don’t do elf on the shelf etc and don’t ever suggest he is being watched or checked on by Santa or anyone else for that matter.

He asked me if he was being watched all the time so I told him she was just joking with them.

I don’t really think she should have said it but DH thinks I might be being too sensitive about it and it is just a lighthearted joke.

Would you be annoyed about it or am I overthinking it?

Ohhh, I apologise, it was you who told your son she was joking.

In that case yes, it’s a bit weird.

I fully intend on utilising my Nest thermostats as HAL 9000-style children behaviour devices.

I'm with @Milomine and @Fairislefandango. I think it's inappropriate and I'd also be pretty unimpressed, OP. I wouldn't mention anything to the school but I'd explain it to my DC the way I explain anything Santa-related: that it's a make-believe game some people play around Christmas time (not sure how I'd explain that they were starting it in September 🙄). I'd tell him that Santa isn't a real person, and he isn't watching anyone, but that some people enjoy making up pretend games about him.
All gifts, treats, dessert etc are given with no behavioural strings attached in our house, for the reasons already mentioned by the PP mentioned above.

🤣

Sounds really fun.

I don't think you are unreasonable. Some people here are lacking the imagination to put themselves in childrens shoes.

That is a terrible thing to say.

A child believing that someone (santa or otherwise) is watching them via the red lights is horrible and scary. You then have to say it's not true and how confusing is that for a yr2 child that they can't trust what a teacher says.

I've had 2 kids through primary. Only ever complained about something once. But I would speak to the teacher about this and express my concern.
Not on.

Loco parentis doesn’t mean that teachers have to second guess what all 60 parents would think and say to their class of 30 children.

I must be really evil, because I think my reaction would be "don't be silly darling, Real Santa doesn't need a camera. He Just Knows'

This!

I would eye roll and as an ex teacher wouldn’t have said it - but then I’m way more pissed off that my DC’s school taught them that god was watching over them 🙄. At least Santa is fun! 😜

YNBU. What a ridiculous thing to say. Wrong on a few levels as mentioned already. The worst is just being lied to by your teacher.

As a few previous posters, we also always explained to dc that Santa is not real. We are happy playing Santa as much as playing Spider-Man. Children can have all the magic they need with their wonderfully wild imagination without being lied to by grown-ups.

Then don’t say anything!

And stick to, I don’t know, teaching?

Haven't RTFT but I would tell them it's not true. I never lie to any of my children for any reason and they know this, I've also explained that there may be times I don't want to answer their questions and will say so but won't lie.

FWIW we don't 'do' Santa - apart from in a jokey way.

Get a grip OP 🙄

Don’t worry, soon primary school teachers will be replaced by PC robots. No one will ever have to be offended again. Phew!

We have a Christmas bauble Santa can, we have told my son it flashes when Santa is watching but he can't look at him all the time. He speaks to the bauble likes it's a 2 way communication.

Is there really this many people out there who tell their kids Santa isn’t real and is just a game, not real, etc? Is this a mumsnet thing? I’ve never met a parent in real life who celebrates Christmas but doesn’t “do” Santa!,

The camera thing is a bit 🙄but couldn’t get worked up about it myself.

Well that's a big fat lie!!
He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good..........

I was in a gifty type shop last December. The lovely older woman behind the counter wished the mum and son that she was serving a ‘happy Christmas, I hope Father Christmas visits you!’ as she finished the transaction. Cue mum embarking on a five minute diatribe where she really told the woman off for mentioning Father Christmas, said they do not lie to their children about anything, especially the awful tale of Father Christmas, nor do they allow a television in their home as it perpetuates lies and is full of rubbish. The little boy stood silently by her side.

I was agog. It was quite a speech.

To her absolute credit, the poor woman who worked in the shop refrained from saying anything about it to me, even though my facial expression gave away my thoughts on the matter.

Don’t be like that woman.

Ive already tried that, poster has had a sense of humour bypass.

@bellac11 that poster should have been good, for goodness sake!

Really?

This.

I hate the pressure some children are under - feeling under surveillance over Christmas.

We think it's a tiny thing but it's a big thing to them, and a really poor means of maintaining discipline (what do they threaten them with the rest of the year?)

I would message or speak to the teacher and explain that your son was stressed by what she said so you have explained to him that what his teacher said was untrue, and he was quite shocked, but obviously you’d prefer he have confidence in the things his teacher teaches him so could she please not make jokes like this.