Teacher ruins Disney magic

[Lisa_M]

So I know you all love a good teacher thread, but this is not intended to be a teacher bashing thread. Today, my first grader comes home and tells me that Mickey is not real and there is a man or woman in the costume. One of her teachers told the class about this in the context of a lesson. I was upset, well disappointed really ,as we were hoping the magic would still be alive for 1 more trip. DH is quite upset and he wanted to contact the principal. I talked him out of that and convinced him that if he really wants to bring up the subject with the teacher, he should contact her directly. We are wondering how would you feel in this situation. Is it something that you would contact the teacher about or leave alone? Part of me wants to let it go because it's not a big deal in the grand scheme, however I know this revelation will lead to questioning of things like Santa, etc. She is our oldest, so this little milestone is new to us.

 

[Disneylover99]

Although my kids believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Toothfairy, they've never thought that Mickey or any of the Disney characters were real. But the magic is still very much alive for them.

Certainly mention the situation and how you feel about it to the teacher if it's bothering you, but definitely don't involve the Principal.

 

[Jennasis]

I know my opinion doesn't count (I don't have kids), but I can't possibly imagine pursuing this in any way. I would let it go.

 

[OZMom]

Wow, that's tough. I guess I would need to understand the context of the lesson? I just don't see how that would be relevant to whatever she was teaching?

I would at least approach the subject with the teacher, without being accusatory or attacking. Maybe just explain to her your concerns and see what her reaction is. She may not have realized that this was a revelation for some of her students.

DS5 pointed out to me that the characters were just people in costumes on day 1 of our first trip to Disney, so I understand that heartbreak. I think you will find that the magic is still very present in their experience

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Until I came on the DIS, it never crossed my mind that someone would tell their kid that Mickey was a real living being. I was, to be honest, flabbergasted, the first time I read it.

In first grade kids are working pretty hard on learning to distinguish fiction from non-fiction. I can absolutely imagine the topic coming up in that context.

 

[minkydog]

Please don't let your husband call the principal with this absolutely ridiculous complaint. If he wants to take it up with the teacher, well, go for it, I guess. Personally, this wouldn't be an issue for me AT ALL. Of course, my kids never went through a period where they actually believed that large fur-covered creatures were living, breathing entities, so there's that...

 

[pooh4evr]

I agree with he previous poster, ours love meeting the characters but never really thought of them as a "real" 5 ft mouse, bear, rabbit or whatever. I would not contact the principal at all, and would probably not bring it up to the teacher. What do you hope to get out of discussing it with her?

 

[nugov2]

Honestly I would never contact the teacher or the principal. I think that is kinda silly to be upset about it. Mickey Mouse is a fictional character and I doubt many people pretend he is real similar to characters like the EB or Santa. I will say if you do contact either of them, you will be giving the teachers a good laugh and plenty to discuss in the teacher's lounge!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I see no reason this needed to be brought up in class. I'd give the teacher a chance to tell her side & then remind her many small children still believe in things adults have long since given up. It's not her place to try to speed up the process.

 

[nugov2]

I was thinking about this still, but would you be upset if she told your child Spongebob was fake? You can go to Universal and meet him too.

 

[ksjayhawks]

I agree to let it go. As you say, in the grand scheme of things this isn't a big deal. What will be gained by contacting the teacher?

 

[Lisa_M]

Wow, that's tough. I guess I would need to understand the context of the lesson? I just don't see how that would be relevant to whatever she was teaching?

I would at least approach the subject with the teacher, without being accusatory or attacking. Maybe just explain to her your concerns and see what her reaction is. She may not have realized that this was a revelation for some of her students.

DS5 pointed out to me that the characters were just people in costumes on day 1 of our first trip to Disney, so I understand that heartbreak. I think you will find that the magic is still very present in their experience

The context was the music teacher was discussing Walt Disney and according to DD how he created a movie about a mouse and wanted people to have fun at his parks so he dressed up men or women in mouse costumes.

This absolutely won't be brought up to the principal, DH was just upset. I certainly don't want us to be teacher's lounge fodder, however I'm sure DD isn't the only one who believed he was real.

I see no reason this needed to be brought up in class. I'd give the teacher a chance to tell her side & then remind her many small children still believe in things adults have long since given up. It's not her place to try to speed up the process.

This was kind of my thinking. She was talking to DH tonight about how she "guesses the princesses aren't real either." I think he is just sad for her.

I was thinking about this still, but would you be upset if she told your child Spongebob was fake? You can go to Universal and meet him too.

Excellent point, but would you be upset if it was Santa?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I agree to let it go. As you say, in the grand scheme of things this isn't a big deal. What will be gained by contacting the teacher?

Maybe she doesn't ruin it next year.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

BTW, my wife works at an elementary school. If anyone would be the topic of conversation in the lounge at our school, it would be the teacher who spoiled the Magic, not the parent who complained (assuming they were polite). Our teachers are VERY careful about these kinds of topics up through at least 4 grade.

 

[aprilgail]

Until I came on the DIS, it never crossed my mind that someone would tell their kid that Mickey was a real living being. I was, to be honest, flabbergasted, the first time I read it.

In first grade kids are working pretty hard on learning to distinguish fiction from non-fiction. I can absolutely imagine the topic coming up in that context.

I agree- it seems weird to me that people tell their kids that the characters are real- a 6 foot mouse? a giant dog that walks on 2 feet- just odd. You could get away with that with the easter bunny or tooth fairy since the kids don't really see them, but to think people in costumes that they can see is odd.

 

[mousehockey37]

The kid is in 1st grade, so about 6 or 7 years old. I have a couple examples of things here.

When I went on Disney Magic Music Days with the band, my sister was younger but along for the ride since my parents were chaperones. When we went in backstage the day of our parade, they (the CMs who were with us) asked my parents if they wanted my sister to go in a different way so that she didn't see the costumes hanging backstage so it wouldn't "ruin the magic for her".

A few years later, I became a band director, and one harder thing to deal with in middle school is the changing mentalities and just kids growing up. Well, undoubtedly, in one of my 6th grade classes, the Santa debate came up. It ultimately led me to saying to the kids that they each knew their own "truths" as to who Santa is. This left some knowing it was parents, others, the guy in the big red suit.

Why this topic got brought up is beyond me. I'd love to know the context of the lesson. We want kids to have heroes and idols, well, if it's princesses or a mouse or stitch or whoever, then kids should be able to think they're real for as long as they can/want to and not have a teacher tell them they are wrong and that it's just a person inside a suit.

We wonder why kids aren't imaginative and have a sense of wonderment anymore... It's teachers like this one that kill it. You want to talk fiction and non-fiction, there's other ways. Using characters at destinations they travel to is not the answer. Heck, I'm in my early 30's and 2 years ago and this past year my dgf and I got our pictures with almost all the princesses. Were they just people in costumes? Yes, but at the time we were with them and immersed in things, no. They were the characters and I was interacting with them.

OP, I would suggest following a chain of command. Talk with the teacher. Explain how you'd like to see how what they said fit their lesson plan. At this point you'd want to also let them know that they were fully unaware of humans in costumes and that you were going to let them find out on their own as they got older. Not through a lesson in a classroom by a teacher. If the teacher then is uncooperative or unapologetic, move to the next level. If this teacher is allowed to continue teaching this way to every student they encounter for years to come, you won't be the only unhappy set of parents.

 

[nugov2]

The context was the music teacher was discussing Walt Disney and according to DD how he created a movie about a mouse and wanted people to have fun at his parks so he dressed up men or women in mouse costumes.

This absolutely won't be brought up to the principal, DH was just upset. I certainly don't want us to be teacher's lounge fodder, however I'm sure DD isn't the only one who believed he was real.



This was kind of my thinking. She was talking to DH tonight about how she "guesses the princesses aren't real either." I think he is just sad for her.



Excellent point, but would you be upset if it was Santa?

The only difference is that Santa is a common fictional character that people say is real and has been a tradition for a long time. I don't think you can say the same for MM, SB or even Strawberry Shortcake. I guess for me is where do you draw the line. Do we pretend every popular cartoon character is real? I just think if this was Spongebob we wouldn't be reading a thread about it.

 

[mousehockey37]

The context was the music teacher was discussing Walt Disney and according to DD how he created a movie about a mouse and wanted people to have fun at his parks so he dressed up men or women in mouse costumes.

This absolutely won't be brought up to the principal, DH was just upset. I certainly don't want us to be teacher's lounge fodder, however I'm sure DD isn't the only one who believed he was real.

The teacher needs to come up with another way to say Walt wanted people to be able have fun while at his parks, so he used his Disney Magic to make Mickey come to life and off the screen.

As I said, I was a band director and NEVER would I ever tell a kid that something they believed in didn't exist. I actually went the extra mile to go to the kids who knew the "truth" and tell them off to the side that it's ok if you know, but if they still believe in something, don't fight them about it. Let them find out on their own.

 

[TheSchragFamily]

I'm sure it never crossed the teacher's mind that anyone would want a first grader to believe the characters were real.

 

[undertheradar]

We are drawing conclusions based on the relayed story of a 1st grader. I don't think I'd be circling the wagons. With all the technology in use in our everyday lives, I believe kids are much smarter than they get credit for. I'd let it go, just let it go.