Top Ten Lies Your Teachers Told You in School

10. The Peppered Moth








Via bbc.co.uk
Lie Told

The peppered moths of Britain evolved from light to dark because of the pollution caused by the industrial revolution.

Why It Is a Lie
Teachers love this little story because it makes it so easy forstudents to understand the concept. The image of the light and darkmoths on light and dark surfaces is simple to grasp. Too bad the taleis more black and white than the moths.

Peppered moths came in a variety of shades, from light to dark andhave existed as such since before the industrial revolution. Byoversimplifying the situation, natural selection is painted as alife-or-death situation.

Why It Shouldn’t Change
Middle school students don’t really need to grasp the complexitiesof natural selection. Further explanation in later grade levels buildson this basic, but not complete concept.

9. Van Gogh’s ear







Lie ToldCrazy Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear and gave it to a girl as a token of his love. Did we mention that he was crazy?
Why It Is a LieWhile the crazy part is a fact, and the gift giving part may betrue, Van Gogh did not cut off his own ear. He actually lost it in afight with friend and fellow artist, Paul Gauguin.
Why It Should ChangePeople don’t need to think Van Gogh was crazier than he was.

8. The Scientific Method







Via Sciencebuddies.org


Lie Told
Scientists follow a rigid procedure called the “scientific method” for every experiment conducted.
Why It Is a Lie
There is no one method or procedure. Science isn’t a wash, rinse,repeat kind of thing. While hypothesis-experiment-conclusion is amethod used by scientists, it is one of many.
Why It Should ChangeBy telling such a lie, children are led to believe that there is no creativity or imagination in science.

7. Pocahontas








Lie Told
Pocahontas was an adult Powhattan princess who saved John Smith’s life and later fell in love with him.
Why It Is a LieFirst and foremost, Pocahontas was twelve at the time that JohnSmith and his crew landed in the New World. That takes care of theadult and, hopefully, the romance pieces of this tale. Furthermore,there were no witnesses to the part about her saving John Smith’s life.Last but not least, John Smith had a well recorded tendency toexaggerate and embellish stories.
Why It Shouldn’t ChangeThe Disney remake would be far less magical.

6. Salem Witch Trials









Lie Told
Witches were burned at the stake in Salem, MA.
Why It Is a LieWhile many accused witches were burned at the stake in England,British law did not allow the punishment in their colonies. Instead,witches were hanged if they managed to survive death row.
Why It Shouldn’t ChangeThe method of death is far less important than the reasons for thedeaths. While factually inaccurate, the important information about theevents doesn’t have to do with the manner of death.
5. The Founding Fathers’ religious beliefs







Via wilsonsalmanac.com


Lie Told
The Founding Fathers were all Christians.
Why It Is a LieThe Founding Fathers held a wide array of religious beliefs, rangingfrom Christianity to Deism. Thomas Jefferson rejected the concept ofthe Trinity and loathed the idea of a national religion. BenjaminFranklin and John Adams were Deists.
Why It Should ChangeIt is important that the reality of our founding fathers beliefs beunderstood, but it is most important that the emphasis of theseparation of church and state be taught.
4. Ben Franklin and the Kite






Via ushistory.org


Lie Told
Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity by flying a kite in a lightning storm and, subsequently, getting struck by lightning.

Why It Is a LieWhile Benjamin Franklin did propose the idea of a kite experiment,he never actually went through with it. If he had, he would likely havedied.
Why It Shouldn’t ChangeChildren already know being struck by lightning will kill you. They can keep this story.
3. George Washington and the Cherry Tree







Lie Told
Little George Washington chopped down his father’s cherry tree. Whencalled out on it, he confessed to being a pint-sized pain in the butt.
Why It Is a LieGeorge Washington’s biographer inserted the made-up story, and othertall tales of the late President, into his two books. He did this,presumably, for his own amusement.Why It Shouldn’t ChangeIronically, it teaches kids that they shouldn’t lie.
2. Thanksgiving







Lie Told
The Native Americans and Pilgrims had a potluck dinner/lovefestfilled with fat turkeys and corn. Everyone lived happily ever after.
Why It Is a LieThe entire story is a romanticized version of history.

While thePilgrims and Native Americans did break bread many times, it was nevera tradition or annual occurrence.

Why It Should ChangeLearning the reality of the relationship between the Pilgrims andthe Native Americans would give students a better historical insightinto the foundations of America, and the impact of our arrival here onthe Native American way of life.
1. Newton and the Apple






Via telegraph.co.uk


Lie ToldIsaac Newton discovered the law of gravity when an apple fell on his head.
Why It Is a LieThis story was never mentioned by Newton. It didn’t come intoexistence until around sixty years after it allegedly happened. The liewas first told by John Conduitt, who was most likely using the apple asa literary device. The part about the apple viciously attackingNewton’s noggin was added later.
Why It Shouldn’t ChangeIt gives children hope that one day they could have that “lightbulb moment” just like one of mankind’s geniuses.