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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

725 replies

AutumnalPumpkin · 14/10/2023 11:16

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 ??

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albalass · 14/10/2023 11:54

I genuinely had no idea that people brought up their children to think unicorns, dragons and fairies were real (with exception of tooth fairy I guess)! My son (age 3) views them all in the same way as monsters, fairytale characters etc. I wouldn't be happy for a teacher to lead him to believe they were real!

Tryingmybestadhd · 14/10/2023 11:54

They are Catholic, they only believe in made up men in heaven 😂. Wait until she tells her there is no santa

Original poster
AutumnalPumpkin · 14/10/2023 11:55

@CuntRYMusicStar I think i will do this once she is over blindly believing anything and everything the teacher says
I am sad about it as they are so young

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radiantorange · 14/10/2023 11:55

Yes, the unicorn is mythical but you should let your daughter know it it the national animal of Scotland! Which I think is pretty damn cool.

Original poster
AutumnalPumpkin · 14/10/2023 11:55

@Finteq Tell my pet unicorn that

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gotomomo · 14/10/2023 11:56

Assuming you are in the U.K., Catholic schools are very much in the minority and there's always a non catholic option, I'm guessing this is the better rated school rather than the only school?

Marblessolveeverything · 14/10/2023 11:57

In Ireland there is a rich tapestry of the little folk. Not so much unicorn, probably didn't suit the climate!

But if they were strictly following the Catholic faith and reteric then there would be no time for magic, Halloween etc.

Whereas the reality is An Samhain(Halloween )was a huge pagan festival is massive on schools.

Original poster
AutumnalPumpkin · 14/10/2023 11:57

@PartyFearsTwo if there was another option I would. It was this, or a school with an awful report.
Definitely second guessing my choices now !! 😆

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IlonaRN · 14/10/2023 11:58

There is as much evidence that unicorns exist as there is that god exists.

Tell your child that (preferably loudly, in front of all the other children 😆)

Finteq · 14/10/2023 11:58

Sounds like it's turned u to a Catholoc School bashing thread now.

But I would be concerned if any school was teaching kids unicorn and dragons were real.

I really would be surprised if any non-religious schools were teaching that. You don't have to be religious to tell kids ghosts and witches and unicorns are not real.

Original poster
AutumnalPumpkin · 14/10/2023 11:59

@VisionsOfSplendour there were 2 options for us. This one and a school in a not so nice area with a really bad report. So this was the best option for us as we can't really rely on public transport and can't drive. We are in a city which I've found aren't always the best for school choices. For some reason.

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Eustaciavile · 14/10/2023 11:59

AutumnalPumpkin · 14/10/2023 11:37

@ilovesooty well all schools have some element of religion don't they. With hymns in assembly and the like.
I didn't realise there would be such a stark difference. But it's either this school, or a school with the worst ofstead report you can imagine.

It’s only an OFSTED snap shot-schools change, religious doctrine doesn’t.

I wouldn’t have sent my children to a Catholic school because y’know, we aren’t Catholic 🤷🏻‍♀️

TheFifthTellytubby · 14/10/2023 11:59

Janieforever · 14/10/2023 11:27

I don’t think this is anything to do with religion. It’s nothing to do with Catholicism, it’s daft to think it is. Simply the teacher is correcting them. It’s not like she said Santa isn’t real.

There was an evil teacher at my primary school who allegedly relished in telling the children just that. I was in her class but fortunately must have been absent that day, as I only found out about it years later from others who had been treated to her "wisdom". I can well believe she did it though, as it's just the kind of thing she would do...😥

autumndayswherethegrassisjewelled · 14/10/2023 11:59

@albalass exactly - at people also telling their children monsters are real (genuine question)?

Finteq · 14/10/2023 12:00

AbbeyGailsParty · 14/10/2023 11:51

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 ?

At aged 4?

Don't think the curriculum covers Roman and Greek God's in Reception.

Original poster
AutumnalPumpkin · 14/10/2023 12:00

@PTSDBarbiegirl Jesus I am shocked by this honestly... I think we are going to have to move. HELP! 🤣

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CharlotteStreetW1 · 14/10/2023 12:00

Dulra · 14/10/2023 11:42

Majority of schools in Ireland are Catholic that has nothing to do with it. We are the land of folklore, fairy forts, mythical creatures, we even learn some of it history in lessons for junior kids. Google Tir na Og and the children of Lir to see what I mean.

The teacher was mean leave kids and their imaginations alone, pretty sure there are no adults walking around thinking unicorns are real!

As a frequent visitor to Allihies, can I just say this is the worst "tourist attraction" ever? Makes me laugh every time I see it.

As for the OP, I'd be a bit sad too. Especially given the stuff her school WILL be encouraging her DD to believe (other religious schools are available).

To think that a RECEPTION teacher shouldn't have said this ???
lilmishap · 14/10/2023 12:00

I don't believe in god it's made up but how dare they tell my daughter, who I sent to catholic school, about other made up things.

It's comedy brilliance Well Done OP

KnittedCardi · 14/10/2023 12:01

It's not all religious schools, and not even all Catholic schools. DD's school wouldn't have done that. It is that particular teacher.

Santa is IK, by the way, because he is actually also a saint. Jesus was an actual historical figure. God.... Meh. I used to tell my DD's it was just another version of Nature.

As for Fairies, we had a garden bed full of ferns and hostas. I used to send DD down the garden to sit for an hour around twilight to see if she spotted any fairies. Great for keeping them entertained 😂

Original poster
AutumnalPumpkin · 14/10/2023 12:01

@Hocuspocusnonsense but 90% of the children there are actually Muslim!! What goes for them? I honestly can't believe I have been so naive.
We live in a big city and it has a high Muslim population. I can't imagine why they'd send their children to a catholic school either. My guess is everyone's in the same boat and people have sent their children there (not all) because it was their only or easiest option

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Hitherehi · 14/10/2023 12:02

Other than this school, how many miles away is the nearest primary school? You must live in a very rural place for there to be only one primary school in your catchment area.

I remember believing in the tooth fairy at that age and would've been upset if my teacher told me fairies weren't real.

viques · 14/10/2023 12:02

Be interesting to see what happens at the fund raising Christmas Fair, will they have Father Christmas in a grotto handing out gifts that cost 50p on payment of £2.00? Or will he be replaced by one of the three kings, or a shepherd.

SunnyFrost · 14/10/2023 12:03

I went to a devoutly catholic primary school, albeit 30 years ago, and as a grown adult I look back at it in utter horror. I remain deeply resentful of my parents for sending me there. As non catholics we had plenty of other options but it was our nearest school.

The things we were told - tiny infant aged children being told we were evil sinners and immersed in what I can now see was a borderline fanatical catholic environment. My mum tells me she did have doubts at one point when I was sobbing in bed at age 6 because I was such an awful sinner. And yet they didn’t move me. As a mum, I can’t comprehend that. It had a profound effect on my mental health which has lasted to this day.

Please, if you have any other option, take it.

SunnyFrost · 14/10/2023 12:04

I don’t mean this to say that all catholics are awful or anything like that, but my catholic education has scarred me for life and I would be lying if I said otherwise. I would home school my children before sending them to that environment.

Original poster
AutumnalPumpkin · 14/10/2023 12:04

@MoiraRosesBaybay @CasaAmarela
I haven't told her they ARE real. But I wouldn't set out to tell her they are all made up, if she clearly believed they were real.

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