Father Christmas (Ricky Teacher) Came To Town

Christmas Day at Kids Herald School fell on the 23rd December. We had a festive morning with a very peculiar, non-Christmas related puppet show. After, it was the moment that all the little ones had been waiting for. Santa was coming! Ricky Teacher, who is one of the foreign teachers, was given the role of Santa because he doesn't teach Kids Herald Kids, he teaches downstairs, therefore alluding the kids reminiscence. He did a sterling job. The narrative of his fine work is documented below. Once Ricky, sorry Father Christmas, had completed his present and wisdom deliverance, the kids had a very brief "you can open your presents now" time, before they were bullied back into their home classrooms to carry on studying.

It was a low point of my teaching career. I couldn't quite digest why they weren't able to simply enjoy their gifts and have a little play time. Instead, orders were sanctioned and student books were dressed onto the tables, as normality was resumed, as if nothing had just happened. Some of these kids are aged 4. They believe in Santa, as you will see from the pictures below. Surely at aged 4, one might think "you know what, they're four years of age, it's Christmas, lets give them a break!". In my own country I would have spoken up and addressed the situation, but I'm not. I have no power and no right of way, so to speak, so I quickly opened 'my' student book and taught the kids.

So here are some pictures of Santa's visit.


"OK kids, he's coming, please close your eyes"


Angela, takes an opportunity to have a sneaky peek.


Jinny, back right, is clearly not impressed, as they take a look at Santa.


Kelly seems content, if a little wary.


Steve is happy.


Sophia isn't.