Episode 75: How to Talk about Santa Claus

Written By Noah Brink

What should we do when students ask their teachers whether or not Santa is real? It's especially complicated at the Elementary school grades, where parents have different perspectives, and teachers want to both respect those differences and capitalize on the opportunity for transformative learning.

Actually, the conversation surrounding Santa Claus goes far beyond whether or not Santa Claus really exists. Host Noah Brink builds a case for why Christian teachers shouldn't shy away from Santa Claus conversations; they help us to embrace the power of stories and our need for hope, imagination, mystery and wonder. In the conversation, Noah provides some of the background legends and historical contexts that gave us our current Santa Claus, leaning heavily on G.K. Chesterton and Jesus Christ's insistence that we have faith like a child.

Episode Overlaps:

Episode 59: Education as Storytelling

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Noah Brink

Noah has been involved in Christian education for over forty years, both as an alumnus K-12 and college and for over twenty years in various teacher, coach, and administrative roles. Noah’s greatest passion is in training faculty to develop their ability to see all things in light of Jesus and His gospel and He just published his first book on Christian education, Jesus Above School. Noah and his wife, Katie, have three children who are currently flourishing in a beloved Christian school.

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Episode 74: The Ultimate Goal of Learning (On Learning, Part 6)