Poll: Teachers Not Allowed to Discuss Personal Religious Beliefs in Class

[Spiny Norman]

Not much of a place in class for religion, unless in a circumstance like in the OP, its relevant to discussion and can facilitate the learning. But policies are in place for a reason, although I still don't like that they can't say the pledge of allegiance, just because of the word God.

The truth is most of these blanket policies are in place for fear of lawsuits. School districts are very afraid of students feeling that the teacher is imposing different beliefs on students. I have to say though, that the addition of God to the pledge of allegiance is total Red Scare paranoia bullshit. To me that is religious proselytizing, albeit of a non-denominational religious variety.

 

[Spiny Norman]

I think that they should be allowed to mention their beliefs off hand. i.e. "I'm personally a christian."

They should NOT however be allowed to teach religion in schools.

I agree with the first part of your statement, as long as the teacher stops there and doesn't keep repeating it. However, I disagree with the second part of your statement. I think a World Religions class is very useful for students (generally High School age). Religion is a large part of our history and the world we live in as well as our present day. Having students know about the beliefs of different religions and the genesis of those beliefs is a historical necessity. However, the administration should be absolutely sure that this class isn't being used as a soap box for religious (or atheist for that matter) viewpoints. The class should be simply about learning different beliefs and why different religions believe them, not as a way for certain religions to get propped up or pissed on.

 

[drisky]

Not much of a place in class for religion, unless in a circumstance like in the OP, its relevant to discussion and can facilitate the learning. But policies are in place for a reason, although I still don't like that they can't say the pledge of allegiance, just because of the word God.

The truth is most of these blanket policies are in place for fear of lawsuits. School districts are very afraid of students feeling that the teacher is imposing different beliefs on students. I have to say though, that the addition of God to the pledge of allegiance is total Red Scare paranoia bullshit. To me that is religious proselytizing, albeit of a non-denominational religious variety.

Like I said the policies are there for a reason, Its too hard to have a concrete rule of when its acceptable, so never is the only way to keep the school safe form lawyers.

You lost me on the second half, I wasn't aware God was added to the pledge, I thought it was always there.

 

[clarissa]

Well, here in my country these issues are kinda different... teachers and students here always talked openly about their religion, unless they belonged to some obscure and secret group (I've met one of those). But even so, they are kinda open and there is no law here regulating this sort of discussion.
And I have never saw a situation in which someone got offended in these discussions. For instance, one of my teacher is a convinced atheist, and he talked about it and everyone respected, even the most religious girl of the class.
The problem, here, is that some catholic schools have catholic disciplines in which everyone is obliged to attend. And I think that is pretty unfair with those who are not catholics (there is even a grade and tests).

 

[DudeistBelieve]

Just to give some background, I am a 12th grade student in an Honors English Class.

My class's most recent assignment was to read Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Today, we continued our class discussion on the novel. If you've read Heart of Darkness, you know that it brings up many questions about good, evil, and the human condition. Therefore, the book indirectly raises the question, is there any good in the world? We discussed this and the discussion continued to become more and more abstract until we were asking how are good and evil truly defined.

Now, this was a very interesting discussion until one student asked my teacher what he personally believes evil is defined as. At this point my teacher started to explain, but then stopped himself saying that there is a rule (either a district policy or state law, I cannot remember) that prevents him from discussing his own religious beliefs in class. Now, I may not be religious, but i was still very interested to hear my teacher's point of view. So I personally feel that this rule or law prevented us from progressing an education and interesting discussion.

So my question to you is: Should teachers be allowed to discuss their own religious beliefs in the classroom, and if so under what circumstances? My answer is obviously yes, especially under this circumstance where the teacher was directly asked by a student.

Ask him when he isn't off the clock?

I'm not sure what the exact law states. I don't like any teacher preaching religion in the class room. I clearly remember one social studies teacher lamboasting the greek and egyptian religions as we learned them, constantly reminding the kids in our class there was only one God. Being raised pretty much a-religious, I was confused by this and constantly would mutter "but no one knows really". Back then I was too niave to understand what was going on but now in my twenties I'm pretty pissed she pushed her POV on us.

I'm not against teachers discussing their views when approached outside the class time, by inquiring students who want to know, but during the general class time it's not appropriate.

 

[Thaa'ir]

It can be enlightening to learn about someone else's beliefs. Today I learned a lot about Seventh-day Adventists from a random woman on the train and it was very fascinating. But it's too easy to slip into a debate about who is better, instigated by either the teacher or the student, and then the situation gets ugly. The entire prospect should be avoided.

 

[Tsunimo]

I don't think they should be able to talk about there religion in Elementary Schools, only Middle(Jr High) and High schools, as at that age, almost all kids are smart enough to know what they do, or don't believe in.

 

[xdom125x]

Absolutely, but only if the teacher is presenting it as his own beliefs and doesn't enforce it onto others.

The problem is that EVERYTHING ANYONE says influences EVERYONE who hears it. ESPECIALLY at a young age. And coming from an authority figure that people are supposed to look up to, this goes doubly.

Could you give a rough estimate at what age/grade level someone stops being of young age?
Also, maybe it is just me but I stopped blindly agreeing with authority figures when I was in 6th or 7th grade/ approx. 11 or 12 years old.
In my opinion, teachers should avoid explaining their stances in religion and politics to students until about 11th grade. And only when it is inquired about by the students and relevent to the topic at hand. Or if it is asked about outside of class.


Captcha: However, osaccom
Don't argue with me, captcha. And my name isn't osaccom.

 

[MaxwellEdison]

No. Not at all - those rules are there for a reason.

If you're interested, talk to them after class - a teacher LOVES a student who's interested in the course material, so if your teacher wants to discuss it, you'll probably get a good discussion.

 

[i7omahawki]

I'm gonna say 'Absolutely not' not because it'd be offensive or brainwashing, but just that its kind of irrelevant.

The teacher is there to teach you how to think, not what to think. The class should be exploring what they think and believe, the teacher being there to guide it and help them assess it, I don't see how it adds anything to include the teacher in this.

 

[meryatathagres]

Biased religious beliefs should never be taught in schools. History of religion yes, but no indoctrination even between the lines.

 

[Canid117]

if the kids ask yes, otherwise screw the cultists.

Oh man! Your so kewl! You hate religion and therefore are smarter than everyone else! You are so totally awesome!

 

[Taldeer]

I think it would've been quite easy for your teacher to circumvent that rule and answer the question simply by replacing "I" with "one". Religion is a fascinating thing to discuss intellectually. It all goes awry when dogma clashes with logical discourse and argument, but from what I gather, the discussion you were having in class wasn't so much religiously driven but rather concerned with the inherent existence of ethics. This is not the kind of thing the rule is meant to prevent. I think it's meant to prevent religious proselytism in class, which I totally agree with. I voted "Under Certain Circumstances".

 

[phantasmalWordsmith]

I don't normally discuss religion with my teachers but opinions are often shared on other topics. I think people should be allowed to share opinions, it makes for good conversation. If a teacher starts preaching, then there's a problem

 

[lacktheknack]

Of course. I still support free speech.

 

[jboking]

Just to give some background, I am a 12th grade student in an Honors English Class.

My class's most recent assignment was to read Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Woah, really? When I was in school, Heart of Darkness was considered a freshman level book. Anyway

Should teachers be allowed to discuss their own religious beliefs in the classroom, and if so under what circumstances? My answer is obviously yes, especially under this circumstance where the teacher was directly asked by a student.

No. Not under any circumstances should they be allowed to do this. Here is a fun fact, a teacher can talk about all of the belief systems in the world they want to, but they must never expose or make obvious their own personal belief system. The thing is, even at 17 and 18, there are students who are impressionable enough to change their beliefs to match their teacher's simply because it is their teacher's. I've seen it first hand. This is what parents are afraid of.

You can say all you like that no one in the classroom will be effected by it, but empirically, it is shown it will effect them.

So. Can teachers discuss religion? Sure! Can teachers point out their own personal beliefs? Hell no!

 

[ImmortalDrifter]

Depends on relevance, if it is relevant to course material then by all means yes.

If the teacher just starts blurting out beliefs then no.

 

[Kurt Cristal]

As long as it's a lecture entitled "How irrational I am."



But seriously, I don't think they should.