Studying the Art of Being Santa
Dec. 17, 2005 — -- There are good Santas and there are bad Santas. The good Santas all realize one thing: In the mind of a child, Santa Claus is perfect.
That's a lot of pressure. And so they come from around the world to attend the Charles W. Howard School in Midland, Mich. The school offers a three-day, 40-hour course for Santas aspiring to excellence.
"Good Morning America Weekend Edition" co-anchor Bill Weir went to the school and even earned a diploma in the art of Santa.
There's a real range to what Santas earn, from big bucks for large events to no pay for charities. One thing that bonds them all is a pure love for children, and very few jobs include being worshiped by a mall full of children.
"The very first time I did Santa, I was hooked," said one of the students attending the school. "I would have done it without any money. I mean, I just love it."
A former Macy's Santa named Charles Howard founded the Michigan school in 1937 with the fervent belief that being St. Nick demands so much more than a belly and beard.
"A lot of commercial institutes will think if you have a suit and you're a Santa, here's a picture, yada yada," said Tom Valent, the school's current dean. "It's more than that. A child never forgets that visit."
So with a pet reindeer, his aptly named wife Holly and a workshop full of wonder, Valent is Santa's drill sergeant.
"Santa Claus can be a religious figure," Valent said. "He can be a non-religious figure. He's a man who stands for all good things."
The school teaches everything from breathing techniques for carol singing to the subtleties of beard maintenance. There are lessons in child psychology, sign language and even media training for talk-show appearances and call-in shows.
Santas also need to make sure they know all the names of the reindeer and how to deal with savvy children. What's harder to deal with, however, is children who ask for Christmas gifts like bringing daddy home or making mommy happy again.
After spending time in the classroom, Weir donned full Santa gear and went to the mall to test his training.
Despite one little skeptical boy named Sammy, Weir spread the magic of Santa to adoring children. He, did however, make one rookie mistake: At one point, his hat fell off, and he was unsure how to react.
"You're the real Santa," Valent said. "Pick that hat up, slip it back on, keep smiling and do your job.
"You've got to stay on top of your game," he added. "Even the last one at night, when you're tired, you've got to remember: This one's forever, so do a good job."
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