WINCHESTER — Evander French Jr. has done what the judge in Miracle on 34th Street would not do — go against Santa Claus.

French is the longtime and well-respected principal of McCall Middle School and he has been taking a beating on talk radio over the past several mornings because he canceled a seventh grade field trip to a matinee stage performance of a popular movie in which Kris Kringle goes on trial in a New York City court room.

The sold-out, 30-show engagement at the Stoneham Theatre is sponsored by the Stoneham Independent, a weekly newspaper that is owned by this paper, the Daily Times Chronicle.

French said in an interview Tuesday that while the decision to have the seventh grade attend the play seemed like a good one at first, he later changed his mind.

"I approved it (the field trip) initially and didn't give it much thought," French said. "It seemed innocuous enough at first, it seemed a quality educational tool. The state curriculum standards encourage live performances."

However, some number of parents objected, French rethought his decision, and the field trip was canceled.

Meanwhile, Matt Chapuran, general manager of the Stoneham Theatre said that while he had heard about the flap, none of the tickets have been returned. He said that this production has no new twists or angles to it. It is the traditional version of beloved black and white movie of the thirties.

Chapuran said many schools bring students to the theater's matinee performances. He said all 30 performance of "Miracle on 34th Street" are sold out.

There may soon be some tickets available for the Dec. 19 show.

"I was contacted by parents who were concerned that the focus of the play was all about Santa Claus, and that was objectionable," French said.

"I had to think about that," French said, concluding, "it really doesn't fit into our curriculum, and it is objectionable to some parents."

French said he has approved previous trips to the North Shore Music Theatre to see Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," but he said that production has much closer ties to the sixth grade curriculum because students in that grade read an abridged version of the classic story.

When asked how widespread the parental objections were French said, "It is not a pertinent. It could be one or 100 — if they are right, if they're argument is a correct one. And plus, I don't want to cause anyone to become a target."

French said the decision to cancel the trip was made in conjunction with the school leadership team that includes the top administrators and fellow principals.

Meanwhile, French said he has heard from many parents and the majority "are heavily against my decision. But most people will grant that there is another point of view. My job is to be principal for everybody in the school, for all the kids."

French said the option to have parents decide whether or not to permit their seventh grader to attend the play "Miracle on 34th Street" was not acceptable because "it was not practical." He said there would be a problem with what to do with those who did not attend, and what curriculum would be provided to them on the day of the play. "Plus," he said, "it would single them out in a way that we don't want to do."

"The students are required to be in school for 180 days, and parents are required to get them here. It is my responsibility to make sure the curriculum we offer is appropriate for all the students every day," French said, adding this is the reason that the concept of opting out of a field trip is not "viable" to him.