We all love legends that inspire us, but are they fact or
fiction?
Heroes have always formed a very important role in the
education of any community. We all need stories with heroes and a social
message which embodies beliefs and concepts and ideological ways of questioning
and making sense of our world.
When discussing character education in Early Childhood, Dr.
Thomas Lickona says, “Qualities such as courage, self-control, kindness, honesty,
compassion, cooperation, diligence or hard work are the kinds of qualities that
we need, to both lead a fulfilling life and to enable us to live together
productively and harmoniously. Character education develops these virtues in
every phase of school life”.
Legends In Education:
The characters of many myths become so popular and familiar
to everyone, they take on a role of reality.
Here are just a couple of legends we enjoy and which have been taught in
schools for many generations.
Robin Hood:
Robin Hood robbed the rich and gave to the poor and fought
against injustice and tyranny. He was a fugitive from the law and led a band of
seven outlawed yeomen (prosperous farmers or bodyguards in a noble or royal
household), known as the band of Merry Men.
William Shakespeare refers to Robin Hood in a late 16th
century play, ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona‘. In an attempt to give the legend more
credibility there is a gravestone with Robyn Hood’s name on it.
King Arthur:
King Arthur was a legendary British soldier who defended Britain
against the Saxon invaders. It was the
12th century French writer who made the addition of Sir Lancelot and
the Knights of the Round Table, as well as adding the Holy Grail to the legend.
Father Christmas:
Many say Saint
Nicholas truly existed and give away gifts, long before the story evolved into
the current commercial practice of Father Christmas. His various names were
Christ Kind, Sinter Klass, Kris Kringle, Pere Noel, St Nicholasand of course
Santa Clause and Father Christmas.
Legends questioned:
Some say that William Shakespeare, a very prolific poet and
playwright of amazing genius, is nothing more than a corporate name,
representing a conglomerate of writers. However, heedless of the true facts
about the writer, Shakespearean plays have been translated into every major
language and been performed more often, than the plays written by any other
scriptwriter.
Imaginary Legends:
Children have always loved to read and hear about the
imaginary characters you find in legends and myths and are well able to
distinguish between fiction and fact.
Irish Leprechaun (shoemaker)
It is said the mischievous Irish Leprechaun, with his lucky
four leaf clover, hides your TV remote and steals your underwear and one of
your socks, in the dark of the night. Others say that anyone who manages to
catch a Leprechaun will have hidden treasures revealed to you.
Big Creature Legends
Is that the myths of oversize creatures serves some odd
purpose in explaining the unexplainable, that gives them their popularity? Many
different cultures have so-called sightings of these creatures.
The remote forests in the Pacific Northwest
in America is
said to be the home of Bigfoot.
There are recent reports of having seen the footprints of
the abominable snowman ? the Yeti of the Himalayas.
In the Scottish Highlands is the monster of Loch Ness, which
does wonders for the tourist trade in the area.
Lurking in the Australian Outback is the Yowie. It comes out
from the ground at night to eat whatever it can find, including human beings.
Halloween, vampires and witches have their place in the
myths and legends of many cultures. While ghosts roll onto a whole new
area. Its up to the individual teacher
and the goals and aims of the teaching institution , as to what children are
taught about the area of the paranormal.
About the author
YouMe
Support Foundation, with winaresort.com is offering Seachange Lodge as a world
first Blue Moon Opportunity Internet Raffle, to raise funds for non-repayable
high school education grants for children who will never see the inside of a
high school classroom without outside assistance.
Tags: arthur king, british soldier, father christmas, french writer, gentlemen of verona, holy grail, king arthur, knights of the round table, kris kringle, many generations, merry men, pere noel, prosperous farmers, royal household, saxon invaders, sir lancelot, social message, thomas lickona, two gentlemen, william shakespeare
