To think that a RECEPTION teacher shouldn't have said this ???

[AutumnalPumpkin]

My daughter goes to a catholic school (it was the only school available to us) we are not a religious family, but it does not bother me that she is being immersed in religion. After all, she will only make her own mind up later in life anyway. But this is relevant.
They use god in almost every part of the day, and in all aspects of learning.
As those who are not religious will know, we and a lot of others view god as "made up" or a myth, if you will.
Now this brings me to where I have a problem - her reception teacher has picked up on some of the class talking about unicorns. A typical 4/5 year old thing... and has proceeded to tell them that Unicorns, fairies and dragons etc are all made up, and do not exist.
This is absolute insanity to me!!? They are 4/5 and all have wonderful vivid imaginations.
We regularly take my daughter to "the fairy forest" and she immerses herself into it and tries to find clues to where the fairies could be hiding, and loves to think that at nighttime all of the magical creatures come out to play.
She's now come home saying that it's all untrue and they are made up.
I'm actually really upset about this.
How can you push the belief of god, and they go all out for Santa etc. but actively shut down the belief of magical creatures ??

I had an adult friend who thought that flamingos were mythical.

Wow! You’re criticising Islamic beliefs! Never seen that done on MN before 😯

Given that I told our DCs at about the same age that dragons, unicorns etc weren't real I can't say I have any real sympathy with your position OP. YABU.

I think Smiggle and the rights owners to the “That’s Not My…” franchise have more interest in unicorns than real pagans!
Unicorns in paganism is far more related to the 20th century resurgence than ancient pagan beliefs.

I object to all religious fairytales - it’s a secular approach. Popularised in schools all over Europe.

Plus which branch of paganism?😈

@MoiraRosesBaybay - you win!

Flingaloes (as DS called them) were one of his favourite bits of the local bird park, we used to visit them all the time.

Agree @SiousieSoo I also spent my entire education in a RC school with priests and nuns teaching us
1960s to 80s
and we were certainly never told we or any other religion was evil or that we were sinners or anything of the kind
What rubbish

Do you really want a teacher to say that fairies and unicorns are real?

What nonsense. You openly criticised ALL religions. Read your own posts!

Including this post.
🤣🤣🤣
apparently all Catholics derail the narrative

Yes - that’s what ‘object’ means. Do you own a dictionary?

@Testina I was told at school it was a Rhino. But early Christians/ Greeks also believed Jesus appeared as an actual Unicorn. We did that in Primary as well along with loads of other mythical beasts that had been believed in.
There's a winged Horse AND a Unicorn looking Horse mentioned in the Qu'ran as well. But they're now viewed as mythical bits or representational.

It's such a strange thing for a teacher to have done UNLESS he's about to drop a load of mythical beast/historical beliefs education on the reception class, but I remember some of those stories weren't suitable for reception age.

I’ve got a PhD in Modern European Literature so you’ve miscalculated my reading ability somewhat 😆 If you criticise ALL religions, as you are clearly doing, then are you including or excluding Islam? If you are including it then you are criticising it. If you are excluding it, why? Also, can you answer my question rather than launching another ad hominem attack?

Seriously? Do you only know how to play the man and not the ball? Your debating skills need work … a lot of work …

I didn’t realise people brought their children up to think dragons, fairies and unicorns were actually real. I’d rather my DD understands reality and knows what mythical creatures are.

Mine go to a Catholic school and they would never tell the children this, nor is religion rammed down their throats in any way (we dont believe in any religion at all, it was the best school all round to send them to). Sounds bizarre a Reception teacher would do this - surely imagination should be encouraged as much as possible? I would go to the Head and mention your concerns.

Meh…my 5 year old loves unicorns, mermaids etc but knows they aren’t actually real. I’ve had that conversation with her. However, she does believe in Santa and the tooth fairy and I go along with that. I am not sure it’s for anything to do with being Catholic. I’m Catholic and both my Catholic and non Catholic friends go along with pretending Santa, tooth fairy is real. But not so much unicorns etc. 🤷‍♀️

The cane was dished out at all schools in those days.
The head of Our local Grammar ( not Catholic shock horror ) used to line kids up in the school hall and take a good long run in order to make it a good hit.

They are 4/5 and it was totally unnecessary for the teacher to point it out. Im pretty sure the kids would work it out for themselves very soon! Just completely unnecessary, let the kids think magical things exist for as long as possible.

Using your vast knowledge of European literature- what does the word ‘all’ mean? And did I say: ‘I object to ALL religious fairytales’? If so, would that word’s meaning, used in this context, feel to you inclusive of all religions? I think so.

Jesus actually fucking wept.

It really irks me when non-religious people send their children to religious schools and then complain with either the school's belief system or what they are taught.

You claim to live in a "big multi-cultural city", you don't drive and you refuse to use public transportation for the school runs, so that leaves you with walking presumably? Well, I too have lived in a "big multi-cultural city", and there were numerous nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools all within walking distance.

So I'm wondering if you also "refuse" to walk to a non-religious school that may be slightly further away?

Anyway, you keep saying it's not about religion, but you're still a hypocrite, sending your child to a Catholic school and then complaining about what she learns there.

You are actually in the positive position of living in a big city that there are MANY schools to choose from. I'm just thinking you can't be arsed to walk to a non-religious school and if that's the case, bloody move then.

If it wasn't clear from my comment, I think YABU.