RARITAN TWP. — For many kids who have lost a tooth, seeing money left by the tooth fairy is a special moment.

One local mom says the magic was ruined for her daughter when a health teacher told a class the magical fairy doesn't exist.

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The mother says her 9-year old daughter, a fourth-grader at Copper Hill Elementary School, shared the news of the tooth fairy with her family on April 15 while watching a television program on fairies at home.

A health teacher apparently told the class the tooth fairy is really their parents, believing the students are "old enough to know this."



The daughter told her mom, "because the teachers tell the truth, it had to be true," the mother said.

Mom said she discussed the remark with friends and shared it on social media, and the teacher's comment wasn't appreciated.

The mom said she also met with school Vice Principal Vanessa Ahmed, and was told the remark came up during a discussion about beliefs, with the tooth fairy being an example.

"The vice principal said she got quite a few calls from parents about the comment," the mother said. "I felt the school should know" because she felt her daughter "would tell other kids that are younger."

She said Ahmed apologized.

Then the girl's mother and father talked with their daughter and her sister about the tooth fairy and beliefs.

Now the mom wonders if her daughters will believe other things she and her husband say, if a teacher contradicts them.



School officials in the Flemington-Raritan School District, to which Copper Hill Elementary School belongs, did not return repeated calls for comment.

This story has been updated to clarify that the 9-year-old was watching a television program on fairies at home, when she shared with her family what her teacher had said. We've also removed mention of the family's name.

Please note: Comments on this story have now been closed; look for this discussion to continue on the story included with our poll.

Christine Lee may be reached at clee@njnpublishing.com. Follow her on Twitter @Cleespot. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.