It’s idiotic to let one parent ruin this for everyone (keep your kid home next time, lady). But, I have to ask - what is the educational purpose of a field trip to go see some mall Santa?
Maybe something to do with the observation of capitalism in action?
A couple of my students got a lesson today. We went to the hardware store to get some paint, and the woman in the line ahead of us was buying large plush reindeer decorations. "Aren't these on sale?" she asked the clerk. "No, ma'am," said the clerk. "They won't be reduced until after Christmas!"