Posted on 03/14/2016 5:37:57 AM PDT by Citizen Zed
It's not uncommon for curious elementary, middle and high school students to ask questions about their teachers’ lives — including their religious beliefs.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you worship Allah? Are you Jewish?
Such questions can be challenging for teachers, especially those working in public schools, where the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits officials from from establishing or promoting religion. But public school teachers do have the right to answer direct questions about their faith, according to experts and advocates. And some groups, like the Christian Educators Association International, encourage teachers to take the opportunity to explain how religion guides their lives.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The response is to answer the question yes or no, but tell the child that it’s a personal thing and he shouldn’t let the teacher’s view substitute for his own. This is a big question and everyone needs to explore it for him/herself.
If the child asks for reasons why you do or don’t, then give him the reasons. Otherwise, leave it there.
“What a wonderful, insightful question, Janey. I consider my religion a very private, intimate matter that brings me great joy and comfort. With you parents’ permission and outside this classroom, I would be happy to discuss my beliefs with you. However, now it’s time to get back to fractions ...”
That’s about the way I handle it. None of my personal life is the business of students, who would certainly find something you shared in sincerity a point of laughter for their ignorant selves.
The truth is always the right response.
The 1st amendment keeps government out of religion; it does not keep religion out of government.
The government unconstitutionally took control of public schools leaving many young people and teachers confused.
Amen to the truth. And in answer to those who have commented about their “private” lives, my faith is both private AND public...and I find it offensive when the state tells me that I must only treat it as a private matter while allowing the atheist/the non-religious to parade their “private” lives in public without the same restraint they would place on the person of faith.
My approach, back in my classroom days: “What do YOU believe, and why?” Listen, and then mention that some believe X, and some Y, and others Z. "The important thing is to pick one that motivates you to be a better YOU. That may not be the same one that works best for others, and that's fine too... as long as the goal is personal growth and understanding of our existence."
My notion was that I was there to teach them HOW to think, not WHAT to think. I considered it a failure on my part if I mentioned MY opinions or beliefs, even when asked directly. (LOL Circumlocution is a tool that most teachers eventually add to the toolbox.)
!
Matthew 10:31-33
Also the least informative answer.
Bravo Sierra!!!
Are you an atheist? Do you always deal in half-truths? Do you always exclude the "free exercise" clause?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her answer could (just as correctly) be,
"I am not respecting an establishment of religion, but, under our Constitution's First Amendment, am personally using my right to free exercise of religion when I tell you this: I believe the Bible tells me that God is the Creator and designer of everything that exists, and I believe in Jesus Christ, His Son, as my personal Lord and Savior.""You will soon learn that there are a few nasty, selfish, and evil people in this world who want to deny us those rights, but, like Satan, their leader, they deal -- at best -- in half-truths, if not outright lies..."
"That is the end of my personal answer and your civics lesson for today; let's get back to our original subject..."
Apparently, you. ""Mr. K", need to be a civics lesson on what The First Amendment says, concerning religion:
"Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Half-truths are lies.
Of course, if your proposed answer were applicable to the teacher's beliefs, it could have been used, as well. But -- it is not "The correct response"...
go take your meds and calm down
are you incapable of disagreeing without shouting?
That’s is a much better answer than mine! (by a long shot)
Thank you for sharing
FYI, FR, itself, boldfaces "Mr K" -- and the other instances were merely emphasizing truths in the Constitution that you insisted on ignoring.
How else does one get the attention of a liar who deals in half-truths -- while exposing his perfidy for all other readers to see?
No doubt, those other readers observed you avoiding discussing the facts while snarking and majoring on superficials.
Pitiful...
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