Should teachers debunk myths to students?

Eliza Ferree — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:22:32 +0000

Just yesterday my little girl (age 6) came home very upset, she didn’t come directly to me, instead she ran to her brother to tell him the teacher had told her something wasn’t real and instead fiction. Thankfully the subject at hand was a unicorn, yes the teacher informed all the little kindergarteners that there was no such thing as unicorns.

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My son quietly informed me and I couldn’t help but want to call that teacher and ask a few other questions before she debunked every myth I’d told my child. Think hard I know many of you have a few, especially men with beards. I ended up calling the teacher, now I ask you should teachers debunk myths to elementary students?

I called the teacher who informed me they are learning about fiction and non-fiction, what is real and what is fantasy. This made me think of all those others and I quickly asked her to do me one favor, “Please don’t tell her about…(you know who), it would ruin the holidays.” To which she responded, “I’m surprised you’d think I would do this.” Honestly I have no clue what she would say, I don’t know if she’s religious or one of those that believe in only honesty. How do I know what she will debunk now that one myth is gone? I was also told she taught them there is no such thing as wishes or magic.

She did inform me that our children would have to learn one day, I just hope I get to tell them and not a teacher. Now as a parent, what would you have done or how would you have responded? A tip, always call the school to talk to the teacher, but make sure you are calm. Maybe by chatting with the teacher they will make sure not to give some of those myths up. Have you ever experienced your child finding out through a teacher?