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32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time

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There are some things we learn at school that are accurate at the time yet are found to be false later. At the same time, some things are already incorrect, but we are taught them regardless because the teacher lacks knowledge or their information is outdated.

Most people will likely have had this experience. And because it’s always fun to share and read about these things, when one Reddit user raised such a question online, the post blew up, with people bombarding the comment section with replies. Scroll down to see what they wrote. And if this list doesn't satisfy your hunger, have no worries because we have two more of these for seconds and dessert!

More info: Reddit

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#1

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time I was told theres no such fish as an alligator gar when I chose it for a report. The teacher refused to let me look it up on the internet(very early at the time and "untrustworthy") or encyclopedia(would take too long). So she asked the kid in the room who was known for being into animals. He had never heard of it, so it couldn't possibly exist.
I will NEVER not be salty about this

710forests , Florida Fish and Wildlife Report

Final score:

226points

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#2

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time When I was in junior high in the mid 80s, our Earth Science textbooks had continental drift, and our teacher said, "Okay, so I need you to ignore all of Chapter 4" (or whatever it was). "Plate tectonics has been the accepted theory taught in colleges for 10 years now, but K-8 textbooks haven't caught up yet."

I feel like the version of plate tectonics I learned was a tiny bit garbled compared to what kids learned 10 years later, but my teacher was directly pulling from college texts and published scientific papers and distilling it down for 6th graders, so more power to her!

AliMcGraw , NASA Report

Final score:

213points

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#3

“Just ignore the bullies and they’ll go away”
“You can be anything you want to be when you grow up”

Pure-Contract7101 Report

Final score:

198points

R.A. Haley 1 year ago

The only bullies I ever saw stop, did so because someone whooped their a**.

13points

Moë 1 year ago

When boys pick on you that means they like you! Ha no it means they are mean little jerks

6points

TheGoodBoi 1 year ago

Ohhh the poor souls I witnessed in school who tried the ignore tactic. It in fact fueled the bullies to try harder🤬 ...

6points

DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago

Oh yeah let the bullies bully people, they aren't the ones doing the wrong thing...geezzzzz.

5points

Dogcat vet (retired) 1 year ago

You can't be anything you want to be when you grow up...I have a lazy left eye and poor depth perception: do you really want me to fly your commercial jet? I get motion sickness in a car, doubt I can be an astronaut. And so forth.

3points

Auntriarch 1 year ago (edited)

Ignore the bullies is the school's way of not having to do anything themselves

2points

Donkey boi 1 year ago

The first, I wasn't taught, but I always believed it was best to make them fear for their lives. The second, I was often told, but to put things into perspective, my parents never said it to anyone else in the family, as they genuinely believed I was intelligent and adaptive enough to do anything.

2points

Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago

Just ignore the bullies and make yourself a target for life

2points

Teri Hall Smith 1 year ago

AMEN, bullies don't always go away and no, you can't be whatever you want to be.

1point

Lisbeth Guz 1 year ago

Worst advice ever, specially if your bully was the principal's son.

1point

Grace Knowlton 1 year ago

JMO (Just my opinion) if I had a dollar for every time I heard "ignore them" STOP TELLING KIDS THIS BS!! DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Ignoring it can make it worse!

1point

Bubs623 1 year ago

'Just work hard and you can achieve anything!'

1point

Whitefox 1 year ago

I was always taught to stand up for myself. An older girl approached me in middle school and told me she was gonna "mess me up" I told her to go ahead and throw the first punch. That she should make sure it put me down, because it was the only one she would get. She tried to stare me down, but I just watched her calmly until she stormed off. I was left alone after that.

1point

Meh 1 year ago

My son was getting into fights at school ( uk years 7-8). I was bullied horribly and was told to ignore bla bla so told my son to fight back, but only in defence ( never start a fight and never take it to far). He had a hard punch and was never injured seriously himself but the constant stress was getting to him. I was called each time it happened and was told the other child would be suspended but towards the end they called me in for a meeting to say my son would be punished too. I clarified that he'd be punished for self defence, they clarified yes. I turned to my son and said "hit them properly next time" the teacher didn't say a word and the next fight was his last. We also changed his school where he's had no issues at all. The original school was known for being rough but as he didn't take the 11+ there wasn't much choice. He'd been working hard and took the 13+ and is now in a grammar school with his little brother

1point

pamela nichols 12 months ago

Bullies don't go away and it takes a lot of support to be what you want to be. Grown ups don't think about what they say and how it will impact a life l

0points

MarsFKA 12 months ago

The best day I had at my high school began one-tenth of a second after I walked out the gate for the last time and I never saw any of those bastards again. Since then, I have been doing just fine.

0points

Ronnie Beaton 12 months ago

Bollocks.

0points

Marie BellaDonna 1 year ago

This one wasn't just taught by schools...

0points

marianne eliza 1 year ago

Talent is distributed evenly. Opportunity is not.

0points

vogonpoet 1 year ago

I don't know what y'all think, but do bullied people hold onto the stuff they were bullied about? I messaged a couple of people who were instrumental in bullying me whilst making me a conduit for their bullying of someone else. I was the new kid at school, and they wanted me to deliver a letter to someone else. After I did what I was told to do I was sent to see the school counsellor and the girls that gave me the letter tried to flush my school bag in the toilets. I'll never forget it, and it was the beginning of much more. They've all forgotten it, like it was a rite of passage in adolescence.

0points

Foxglove🇮🇪 1 year ago

I was terribly bullied in school physically and verbally ."Just ignore them" - didn't work. After a few years, I was advised to fight back - which only meant I got a bigger hiding. I don't remember it ever being resolved. I remember avoiding it all by leaning on a pillar reading my book at break times, I'd generally get left alone if I wasn't paying attention to anyone. No wonder I'm an introvert!

0points

Phillip Nolan 1 year ago

"They're just jealous. Have you tried being their friend? Turn the other cheek. This is an opportunity to give a good witness (JW's)"

-1point

MC C 1 year ago

Did you want to be the snowflake you've become?

-1point

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#4

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time We were taught that Rosa Parks didn't get up from her seat because "she just got tired one day"; that the entire action was the spontaneous action of a lone woman.

In fact, the entire thing was scripted and choreographed. While Parks was a seamstress, she was also the secretary to the president of the local NAACP chapter.

She was recreating the protest done by Claudette Colvin. The NAACP wanted Parks to recreate it because Colvin was very dark complected, and a single mother.

The NAACP thought Parks, who was lighter skinned, would appeal to white audiences seeing this on TV

StillSilentMajority7 , Unseen Histories Report

Final score:

180points

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#5

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time Komodo dragon bites were deadly due to high concentrations of bacteria, not venom. Turns out that they are, in fact, venemous

actual-hakim , Jeffry Surianto Report

Final score:

178points

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#6

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time I’m now under the impression that we did not, in fact, have a nice friendly thanksgiving dinner with the native Americans

witwebolte41 , krakenimages Report

Final score:

176points

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#7

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time the we wont be walking around with a calculator in our pockets

Need_Bacon , Mohammadreza alidoost Report

Final score:

158points

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#8

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time In the early 80’s we were told that soon we would soon use the metric system in the US.
Still waiting .

Low-Argument3170 , Darling Arias Report

Final score:

148points

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#9

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time We had lessons on how to get out of quicksand at school.

I have no doubt that the method is valid - but the ‘disproven’ bit for me is the need to know how to get out of quicksand. It really isn’t an issue.

In a similar vein, we had a lot of education about stranger danger. Again - not disproven. But much more valid would have been education about how much child abuse and abduction is committed by someone known to the victim. Australia’s Most Wanted had me petrified to look out the window at night. Turns out the dangerous person wasn’t lurking outside waiting to get in. He was a member of my family.

KetoCurious97 , Clevergrrl Report

Final score:

146points

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#10

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time The tastebud zones thing.

keepinitrealzs , Don Hassan Report

Final score:

145points

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#11

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time That as a kid, strangers were going to constantly offer you [illegal substances] . Thank you, D.A.R.E. program.

marimba79 , Murat Emrullah Aydoğan Report

Final score:

138points

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#12

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time "putting aboriginal children in schools was okay at the time (I was taught ) and they wanted their children to go. The aboriginals were treated with respect and their traditions and values were protected." - Canada in the 90's, more specifically my social teacher in grade 6 or 7.

Pretty sure now that's not how it went down.

brkuzma , Zakaria HANIF Report

Final score:

134points

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#13

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time When I was little, I was taught about the brontosaurus, mighty long-necked plant eater of the dinosaurs.

Later, I was taught that, whoops! They accidentally stuck some random bones together and there was never any such animal.

Later still, I recall hearing that, oh, actually, there was a brontosaurus after all!

Or was there?

To this day, I am still, as a 42-year-old man, unclear on whether or not there was ever such a thing as a brontosaurus.

sosomething , Vaibhav Pixels Report

Final score:

132points

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#14

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time Eggs are bad because of cholesterol.

Lucius_Funk , Nick Fewings Report

Final score:

130points

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#15

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time Respect those in authority.

The government, your company, your boss have your best interest at heart.

If you work hard and play by the rules, you'll get ahead.

Pour_me_one_more , energepic.com Report

Final score:

129points

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#16

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time I remember learning that MSG (sodium glutamate) was really bad for you. It was one of those things I heard both at school and in my family to the point where we wouldn’t buy any product that had MSG in the ingredients.

There have been multiple studies showing no evidence of adverse health effects from MSG. There is a subset of people that report hypersensitivity to it. But in double blind experiments, their symptoms tend not to show up when they don’t know they’ve eaten it. Conversely the symptoms DO show up when they think they’ve eaten it but haven’t actually.

Conclusion: MSG is literally just salt and glutamate protein, which is separately in just about everything you eat anyway.

Approximatl , Elina Sazonova Report

Final score:

127points

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#17

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time the food pyramid

loquacious_avenger , Jane Doan Report

Final score:

124points

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#18

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time I've got 2 good ones.

I had a social studies teacher tell me that Asian eyes were slanty because it was a defense mechanism for sand blowing in the wind. This was who taught topics like history and geography. She also said some other racist stuff against Asians that I won't repeat here.

That same teacher told us that the city of Buffalo was named by taking the original native American name for the land Belle Fleuve (which is French for beautiful river or something) and "mucking it up". I never questioned why native Americans were giving things French names.

Anyways, in hindsight I now realize she was a terrible teacher.

716green , Antony Trivet Report

Final score:

107points

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#19

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time Humans are the only animals that use tools.

bullet_proof_smile , Anna Tarazevich Report

Final score:

98points

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#20

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time Margarine is better for you than butter

Ill_Plankton_4225 , Felicity Tai Report

Final score:

93points

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#21

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time That you should tilt your head back when you have a nosebleed

richelle2020 , Pixabay Report

Final score:

91points

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#22

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time Where did we end up on “you can see the Great Wall from space”? Because at different points that was both true and definitely disproven in various textbooks I had.

anthonystank , NASA Report

Final score:

86points

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#23

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time That men have one less rib than women 🙄

LordVolcanon , Alex Stolarczyk Report

Final score:

84points

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#24

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time God damn, I'm gen x. We learned that given then-current rates of productivity, we'd all be working 3 day weeks by 2010. Without being told we'd be *paid* for 3 day weeks, or that our labour would be offshored to Chinese prison camps.

Sauterneandbleu , Tiger Lily Report

Final score:

83points

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#25

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time Blood is blue in your veins and only turns red when you bleed bc of oxygen

tiddysprinkle , National Cancer Institute Report

Final score:

82points

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#26

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time I was taught that in college you will spend all of your study time in a library reading and researching using books and reference catalogs. The internet was evil and full of lies and not a valid resource for academic research.

Begany11 , Iñaki del Olmo Report

Final score:

76points

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#27

That the teachers in the next grade up “Will not slow down”

I remember hearing that in middle school. High school teachers and college professors were super chill and helpful most of the time.

Humidwinterz Report

Final score:

75points

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#28

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time That carrots make your eyesight better. This was in the early 90s.

show_pleasure , Nick Fewings Report

Final score:

74points

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#29

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time You’ll use cursive forever.

CharmyFrog , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

Final score:

58points

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#30

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time Dinosaurs are cold blooded.

LinearFluid , icon0 com Report

Final score:

51points

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#31

32 “Now-False Facts” That Were Really Taught In Schools, But Did Not Stand The Test Of Time My mom used to always say that muscle soreness from exercise was due to lactic acid. Now it's because of micro tears in the muscle.

Crane_Train , Anastase Maragos Report

Final score:

50points

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#32

That only you can prevent forest fires

Dependent_Main2643 Report

Final score:

49points

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Dominykas Zukas

Hey! I’m Dominykas, and I come from Lithuania. According to my diploma, I’m a UX Designer. However, when during my studies, I (re)discovered my passion for storytelling, I’ve been doing that ever since, mostly in writing. I have written a few short stories, some songs, and a good bunch of articles, and I plan to keep expanding on all these fronts. Aside from that, I’m also a film buff, traveler, casual basketball player, video game enthusiast, and nature lover who will rarely pass up on a little hike through the forest or a simple walk around a park.

Hey! I’m Dominykas, and I come from Lithuania. According to my diploma, I’m a UX Designer. However, when during my studies, I (re)discovered my passion for storytelling, I’ve been doing that ever since, mostly in writing. I have written a few short stories, some songs, and a good bunch of articles, and I plan to keep expanding on all these fronts. Aside from that, I’m also a film buff, traveler, casual basketball player, video game enthusiast, and nature lover who will rarely pass up on a little hike through the forest or a simple walk around a park.

Denis Krotovas

I am a Visual Editor at Bored Panda. While studying at Vilnius Tech University, I learned how to use Photoshop and decided to continue mastering it at Bored Panda. I am interested in learning UI/UX design and creating unique designs for apps, games and websites. On my spare time, I enjoy playing video and board games, watching TV shows and movies and reading funny posts on the internet.

I am a Visual Editor at Bored Panda. While studying at Vilnius Tech University, I learned how to use Photoshop and decided to continue mastering it at Bored Panda. I am interested in learning UI/UX design and creating unique designs for apps, games and websites. On my spare time, I enjoy playing video and board games, watching TV shows and movies and reading funny posts on the internet.

What do you think ?

A S 1 year ago

I got "most slave owners were actually very caring of their slaves" when i went to school in Texas. Even as a little kid my reaction was ssuuurrreee they were

21points

Sleepy children love Moon 1 year ago

I got the same teachings from Oklahoma in elementary and earlier middle school. except my history teacher in middle school was actually awesome and decided to teach us about the KKK and those things even though he wasn't supposed to.

4points

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CP 1 year ago (edited)

Most of these weren't myths, more information was discovered.

13points

kissmychakram 1 year ago

Quite.

2points

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DrKimball 1 year ago

Some lies taught in American schools: Columbus discovered America (not even close); many slave owners were benevolent and kind (laughably false); America was founded by devout Christians (Jefferson was mostly an atheist); America was founded as a Christian nation (nope it was all for the almighty dollar); the early Middle Ages were "dark" (absolutely the f uck not, not even kind of)

5points

liam newton-harding 1 year ago

It’s called, “the half-life of facts”. Knowledge is always advancing, one theory replacing another. One fact replacing another. It’s why doctors HAVE to keep learning, keep studying, going to conferences, because medical knowledge is changing constantly.

2points

malleymac84_1 1 year ago

As I understand it, the brontosaurus did exist, it just was renamed when they learned more about it. Now it's an apatosaurus.

2points

TMoxraaaar 1 year ago

I thought it was brachiosaurus.

1point

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Cydney Golden 11 months ago

When kids commented that it looked like the continents fitted together in the 50s we were told it was just coincidence.

0points

B Jones 1 year ago

How about your transgressions in elementary/middle school would go on your permanent record and follow you the rest of your life. Everyone everywhere said it but now? I'd like to see mine. Some kind of mass cooperation among all adults kept that going.

0points

Joe Publique 1 year ago

Knowledge improves as time passes. Nothing to see here.

0points

A S 1 year ago

I got "most slave owners were actually very caring of their slaves" when i went to school in Texas. Even as a little kid my reaction was ssuuurrreee they were

21points

Sleepy children love Moon 1 year ago

I got the same teachings from Oklahoma in elementary and earlier middle school. except my history teacher in middle school was actually awesome and decided to teach us about the KKK and those things even though he wasn't supposed to.

4points

Load More Replies...

CP 1 year ago (edited)

Most of these weren't myths, more information was discovered.

13points

kissmychakram 1 year ago

Quite.

2points

Load More Replies...

DrKimball 1 year ago

Some lies taught in American schools: Columbus discovered America (not even close); many slave owners were benevolent and kind (laughably false); America was founded by devout Christians (Jefferson was mostly an atheist); America was founded as a Christian nation (nope it was all for the almighty dollar); the early Middle Ages were "dark" (absolutely the f uck not, not even kind of)

5points

liam newton-harding 1 year ago

It’s called, “the half-life of facts”. Knowledge is always advancing, one theory replacing another. One fact replacing another. It’s why doctors HAVE to keep learning, keep studying, going to conferences, because medical knowledge is changing constantly.

2points

malleymac84_1 1 year ago

As I understand it, the brontosaurus did exist, it just was renamed when they learned more about it. Now it's an apatosaurus.

2points

TMoxraaaar 1 year ago

I thought it was brachiosaurus.

1point

Load More Replies...

Cydney Golden 11 months ago

When kids commented that it looked like the continents fitted together in the 50s we were told it was just coincidence.

0points

B Jones 1 year ago

How about your transgressions in elementary/middle school would go on your permanent record and follow you the rest of your life. Everyone everywhere said it but now? I'd like to see mine. Some kind of mass cooperation among all adults kept that going.

0points

Joe Publique 1 year ago

Knowledge improves as time passes. Nothing to see here.

0points

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