Redditor HotTamalesYum learned the hard way that you should preview every single YouTube video you intend to show your class of little kindergarteners before actually sitting them down to watch it. Granted, the video isn’t even THAT bad to someone like you or me, but keep in mind that a bunch of little 5-year-olds had to sit through watching The Giving Tree get chopped down by a bratty little shit in overalls.
I’m a kindergarten teacher that started the school year last week. Everyday, the students have a 10 minute snack time. During this time, I play read alouds of children’s books on YouTube while I walk around assisting in opening milk cartons and such.
We just got done listening to a read aloud of Green Eggs and Ham and I saw a suggestion for The Giving Tree. I asked my students if they have ever heard of this book and they said no. Hooray! I get to be the one that introduces them to one of my favorite books!
So I click on the link and continue walking around, doing my snack time duties. After about a minute into the video I think to myself, “Huh…I don’t remember this part.” Then, the bomb drops at 1:22. I rushed to the computer to turn it off, but it was too late. Some students were screaming, some were crying and I was ready to sign a letter of resignation. I called all the parents that night and told them about the mistake. Fortunately they took it well, but I’m pretty sure I ruined The Giving Tree for my students. =(
If we’re being completely honest here, I think that ending was 5,000x better than the actual ending to the book. Sure I have no idea how the book really ends because I’m 22 and haven’t read that thing since I was 8, but murderous children + axes = a better ending no matter what.
[H/T Reddit]