|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Teacher talking about God in a public school - 11/12/2008 5:05:24 PM
|
|
|
cih92
Posts: 125
Joined: 4/18/2005
Status: offline
|
I know a woman at my church who used to teach at a public elementary school and she said that she was not allowed to say anything about God. I thought a public school teacher could talk about God as long as the teacher is not doing evangelism or giving favoritism to a particular belief system. Does it depend upon the school district whether or not this is allowed?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Teacher talking about God in a public school - 11/12/2008 5:38:30 PM
|
|
|
Cawfee_Mod
Posts: 56
Joined: 2/28/2008
From: OH, I dunno...
Status: offline
|
We were at a Veteran's Day play at my son's school Monday and the principal was up front talking about God and stuff.
_____________________________
-Christine
Music is moonlight in the gloomy night of life. ~Jean Paul Richter
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Teacher talking about God in a public school - 11/13/2008 9:28:46 AM
|
|
|
kernsfamily
Posts: 1425
Joined: 4/26/2006
From: Dallas (originally Detroit)
Status: offline
|
The "rules" are very "iffy" on this....
The BEST rule of thumb, even as a Christian parent or a Christian teacher, is to try not discussing it at all. Their "belief" as to who God is, and theology may differ greatly from what I want my children to know.
Another aspect: If you're OK with a teacher talking about God to the class at school....are you then OK with the teacher talking about all the other "Gods" of all other religions that are out there, as well? And, putting them on the same "playing field" with the God that we, as Christians, believe in?
In instances like these, I usually refer people to a document, distributed every year, by the U.S. Dept. of Education that clearly outlines what is permissible.....though, it really doesn't cover this particular instance (it focuses on the constitutionally protected rights of students to pray, exercise their religious freedom, etc..etc...)
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html
_____________________________
Proud dad of 3 great girls....Erin, Emilie and Elise
Blessed to have all of them in a "totally awesome" public elementary school!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Teacher talking about God in a public school - 11/13/2008 12:33:36 PM
|
|
|
ladyingrace1979
Posts: 414
Joined: 3/14/2008
From: Fresno CA
Status: offline
|
What I have heard from my teacher friends here in Central CA. is that they are only allowed to bring up religion when the student asks a question or starts a discussion, then they are free to share their own beliefs.
Kim Q
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Teacher talking about God in a public school - 11/13/2008 6:24:29 PM
|
|
|
artemis
Posts: 865
Status: offline
|
Teachers can talk about religion in the classroom, but they should be very careful about what they say, why they say it and how it comes across. Like Kernsfamily pointed out, if you are OK with a Christian teacher talking about God, then you have to be OK about another teacher talking about Allah, Buddah, or whatever other aspect of another religion they want to.
The Bible comes up in my classroom a lot. I teach Spanish and Catholicism is a huge part of hispanic culture. I always stress to my students that we are learning a particular story or custom because it is part of the culture and not because they are required to believe the story. We talk about the Christmas story when we study about the 3 kings (who bring gifts to all good little hispanic girls and boys  ) and when we learn about the legend of the poinsettia (where a little boy brings some weeds as a gift for baby Jesus and they are miraculously turned into flowers). We also spend a few days talking about the Virgin of Guadalupe. So yeah, I talk about religion, but within context and as it relates to the class.
I know that the history teachers around here talk about both Christianity and Islam when they cover the crusades. I'm sure God comes up in other contexts as well. It is still best to be careful, though. For the record, I don't talk about my political views with my students either
_____________________________
Digital Worship
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Teacher talking about God in a public school - 11/14/2008 3:41:20 PM
|
|
|
ladyingrace1979
Posts: 414
Joined: 3/14/2008
From: Fresno CA
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: artemis
Teachers can talk about religion in the classroom, but they should be very careful about what they say, why they say it and how it comes across. Like Kernsfamily pointed out, if you are OK with a Christian teacher talking about God, then you have to be OK about another teacher talking about Allah, Buddah, or whatever other aspect of another religion they want to.
The Bible comes up in my classroom a lot. I teach Spanish and Catholicism is a huge part of hispanic culture. I always stress to my students that we are learning a particular story or custom because it is part of the culture and not because they are required to believe the story. We talk about the Christmas story when we study about the 3 kings (who bring gifts to all good little hispanic girls and boys ) and when we learn about the legend of the poinsettia (where a little boy brings some weeds as a gift for baby Jesus and they are miraculously turned into flowers). We also spend a few days talking about the Virgin of Guadalupe. So yeah, I talk about religion, but within context and as it relates to the class.
I know that the history teachers around here talk about both Christianity and Islam when they cover the crusades. I'm sure God comes up in other contexts as well. It is still best to be careful, though. For the record, I don't talk about my political views with my students either
Yes, history and world religions and cultures have come up a lot in my daughter's schooling. She also gets some in music. I think too the area you live in plays a part too. We are in a very conservative area of California. When Billy Graham was here he described it as the Bible belt of California. So people here are much more accepting of Christianity than say the Bay Area which is far more liberal.
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
