Of all the sciences known to humanity, history is probably the most volatile and subject to change. Even more than economics. At the very least because, as we know, history is written by the victors—and it is far from certain that what we “officially” learned from textbooks was 100% true of the past.
And sometimes, it so happens that the simple ignorance of a school teacher leads to us memorizing some “historical facts” for a long time, only to realize later—years later—that they were not true. And it’s precisely such facts that are the subject of a viral online thread, a selection of the best materials of which we present to you today.
More info: Reddit
#1
Rosa Parks wasn’t the first to refuse to sit in the back of the bus. Shout out to Claudette Colvin!
Image source: Dirty_Sanchez74656, Tory Burch Foundation
#2
That the Pilgrims came over to America for “religious freedom”. Painted them as these kind of progressive liberal Christians and across the pond was too stifling and controlling. No not the full story. Pilgrims came over here because they wanted to be religious whackadoos.
Image source: DisciplineBoth2567, Robert Walter Weir
#3
D.A.R.E. taught me that people would be offering me free [substances] everywhere. Boy were they wrong.
Image source: Accurate_Interview10, David Duky
#4
I remember doing something in primary school (about 7-8year old) on explorers.
This included that Columbus was European in America and that captain cook discovered Australia.
Being a weird dork I knew that vikings reached North America and Abel Tasman reached Australia first.
My teacher refused to accept this was right and I distinctly remember that being the point when I realised not all adults were clever.
Image source: bigbadbolo, RDNE Stock project
#5
Lot of Columbus hate in here, and for good reason. But I’d just like to add that the impression I got in school was that the Native Americans were all these incredibly peaceful, pipe-smoking hippies who shared the land and just wanted to beat their drums and grow corn. It turns out, they were unbelievably violent to one another and often stole each other’s land.
“But that doesn’t make what Columbus did right!” Nope. It sure doesn’t.
Image source: United_Wolf_4270, Elena Olesik
#6
That Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.
Image source: Rogue-Hero94, Lucrezia Carnelos
#7
Watson and crick discovered dna. rosalind franklin did the bulk of the work, they were involved and published the findings, tho, so they got all the credit!
Image source: zed42, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
#8
I’m a teacher so I like to check myself when I say something that they’re surprised by. Recently I found out that Black Widow spiders only eat their mates in captivity and it’s actually not common.
Image source: Can_I_Read, Bruno Guerra
#9
Turns out the American Civil War was not a result of “Abraham Lincoln being a poopy-head”. Gotta thank the Mississippi school system for that one.
Image source: regurgitator_red, Pixabay
#10
Who else here was raised in the 80s where the Food Pyramid was drilled into your head? I’ve known longer that it’s hogwash than I ‘lived’ with it – but I still can’t get it out of my head, and my subconscious will always think that’s the ‘appropriate’ way of meal planning.
Image source: Nail_Biterr, freepik
#11
The discovery of America. Columbus was FAR from the wide-eyed visionary explorer children’s books make him out to be. Very, very far.
Image source: Zorothegallade, Nicole Geri
#12
5th grade, 1990. Teacher tells the class “all of the Central American countries are Spanish speaking.” My aunt had just returned from Belize and I rose my hand and said “Belize is officially English speaking.” Teacher says “No, they are all Spanish”.
Image source: OleThompson, RDNE Stock project
#13
Early 90’s in Sweden I learned about “ättestupa” – the viking practice of seniors throwing themselves/being thrown down cliffs when they could no longer sustain themselves/contribute to the commune. They did not.
Image source: xfactotumx, A24
#14
In 7th grade my geography teacher taught us that China had such a big population because of the Asian monsoons (which basically means the “rain season”). Didn’t get it? As my teacher explained, China had a big population because – due to the rain – couples would stay inside more, get bored and f**k to pass the time – leading to more children being born. She even asked this in a test.
Image source: nerodidntdoit, Wavebreak Media
#15
Quicksand was a threat out to [end] me and everyone I love.
Image source: YoucantdothatonTV, The Roaming Picture Taker
#16
That if you did something blatantly illegal, the cops would arrest you.
Image source: anon, Kindel Media
#17
Tastebuds. I vividly remember a textbook saying that since we had the soft spot at the tip of the tongue, we liked licking ice creams and 7-years-old me obviously believed this piece of collective knowledge because obviously a book had to be right!
Image source: javier_aeoa, pvproductions
#18
That nobody walks around with a calculator in their pocket…
Image source: MustangGuy, Kindel Media
#19
Eating carrots helps your night vision.
#20
Blood being blue until exposed to oxygen.
Image source: dohrk, FRANK MERIÑO
#21
That where the bible said Adam donated a rib to make Eve, it said it as a theological way of explaining “why men have fewer ribs than women”.
Image source: kurtrussellfanclub, Ta Z
#22
I had a teacher in the 90s laugh at me when I said I didnt think currencies needed to be tied to gold.
He didnt know the gold standard ended decades ago.
“What are countries just gonna say its worth something?”.
Image source: MxOffcrRtrd, Pixabay
#23
Young George Washington and the cherry tree. That story was in textbooks in our elementary school.
Image source: CanisArgenteus, Steven Van Elk
#24
“Nobody knows what [ended] the dinosaurs”.
Image source: anon, Allan Ramirez
#25
That the dollar sign is a U superimposed on an S, that stands for the United States. The Symbol predates the US.
Image source: stonefarfalle, Frederick Warren
#26
In the Philippines, that Filipinos invented the fluorescent bulb and karaoke.
Image source: Jaives, Mikhail Nilov
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