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 ??

You need a Steiner school, OP. Plenty of fairies and gnomes as part of the curriculum.

I'd be furious OP. I haven't heard that type of fundamental Catholicism in a long time and I'm surprised its going on. That's the type of thing that stopped in 1970s as far as I'm aware. I'd be worried what other extreme Catholic views they are promoting - original sin, going to hell etc. I'd be making enquiries about whether this was the schools ethos or just a teacher specifically talking about unicorns and fairies. Are they allowed celebrate Halloween and talk of Santa Claus? If so then it's probably just the teacher. Still worth a complaint though I think.

Even if it was the only school available I couldn’t let my kid go to a catholic school. Too much god talk.

Is it really the only option? Or just the most convenient location?

@YesSirMam this is exactly my point. All religion aside as it seems to be mixed opinions on whether this is to do with religion or not... I think children should be allowed to fun free with their imaginations. Especially at this age

But unicorns are real, op! It just means, 'one horn' and could be based on sightings of narwhals, for example. Most past belief in mythical creatures has some sort of basis in real life. I've just explained it to my children in an age appropriate way. They find it really interesting.

If you like the magic and make-believe, just explain that just because people have never seen something, doesn't mean it's necessarily not real. There are more things in heaven and earth, etc, etc....

The idea that you should lie to children to keep them happy is bizarre to me. 5-year-olds are perfectly capable of being happy without believing in made-up things, and perfectly capable of getting enjoyment out of playing pretend.

You'll find it's All Saints Day, which is one of the origins of Halloween.

Yep. I’m at a C of E school. All mention of Hallowe’en is banned. The fact that we will be studying and making skeletons that week is purely coincidental.

I tell my granddaughter witches and monsters are not real. I haven’t mentioned fairies yet! But Father Christmas is real..and he will be carrying grandma’s gift to their house.

people think the OP should move schools because the teacher told the truth that unicorns aren’t real? I don’t think it’s anything to do with it being a catholic school either.

I have a massive issue with stories etc portraying the myth that polar bears and penguins live in the same place. I’m forever correcting children (who ever will listen lol) and to me it’s similar.

Im not sure I would go out of my way to tell a child unicorns don’t exist but I would if asked.

Total bollocks

Catholics are fine with fairies and magic

It’s a 4,5,6 year old thing to want to think fairies, unicorns etc could be real. It’s a natural phase of life and exists in every culture I’ve experienced. There was no need for the teacher to intervene, children come to the conclusion they’re not real, just as they do with Santa and the tooth fairy.
Do the school never do lessons on creative writing where kids might dream up mythical creatures? Do they never explore the history of Greece and Roman Empire and all their gods/goddesses ?

Laughing over the comments saying it's a Catholic school so no magic allowed!
I'm Catholic and my kids attend wonderful Catholic schools- they still have Halloween discos, the headteacher of the primary loves nothing more than dressing up in his own Hogwarts costume for dress-up days and gets fully into character, our daughter has included unicorns and fairies in many stories and drawings over the years, our son has included dragons and all sorts of fairytale creatures too. No teacher has ever had any problem with this.
So no, it's not "well it's a Catholic school" 😄 Suspect the people saying this are likely not Catholic and even more likely aren't religious so they're unlikely to have the best experience of this.
I think the teacher was out of line. Unicorns are the National animal of Scotland so they have their place in history and storytelling.
Speak to the school and go from there. Good luck 🥰

@Finteq same here with my 3yo - I (probably nonsensically) feel differently about Father Christmas, but otherwise if he asks me is something is real or not (frequently as he's figuring out the world - he asked if frogs are real yesterday) I tell him the truth...

I'm surprised at a lot of the responses. OK I don't think many people actively tell their children that unicorns are definitely real. But would be interested to know how many people who voted yabu also do the whole tooth fairy thing with their children as well

@LittleMonks11 I genuinely think we have made a mistake here. I had no idea that it would be like this.
As I said, I'm not religious but I have no problem with religion either. My daughter went to a nursery where she was the only non Muslim.
BUT I think it's mean to not let children engage in fantasy talks.
We love Halloween as a family...

So there was an alternative.

You can opt out of religious worship in non denominational schools.

Near you, OP?

https://elmfield.com

https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/27/103876

Wait are we meant to be telling our young children that fairies, unicorns etc are real?

Quite. My dd's at 4 or 5 were really taken by drawing pictures of fairies, reading stories about fairies, colouring books with fairies, even dressing up as fairies. . .

but they were perfectly aware that fairies aren't real. Just an excuse to use sparkle or wear bright tutus and wings.

Bloody hell most of the myths on this thread are what people think about Catholicism 🙄.
This was nothing to do with the school being catholic, the teacher is just mean. My kids go to a catholic school and they have loads of imaginary things like aliens leaving books around etc.
Also to the poster above who referred to Jesus as a mythical being - it is very well documented that he was a real person.
Whether you believe he was a prophet, or the son of god, or just a normal bloke, is up to you.

I have Christian friends who never celebrated Halloween..not sure why..they used to have alternative parties at Halloween.

At our local Catholic schools they have mass every day and prayer time three times a day!

When they say that they ‘bring God into everything they do in the school day’ it means more than just a few hymns and the odd assembly!

@Osirus we don't drive unfortunately. This really was the only option. I will not rely on public transport due to the amount of strikes and issues with it where we live.
If I had known it would have been like this.. I may have reconsidered !

Like …the four unicorns of the Apocalypse?
😆

No they dont

You've got some pretty ignorant religiously bigoted views going on there.