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A student asks a teacher if she believes in God. What is the right response?
washingtonpost.com ^ | 3-14-2016 | Emma Brown

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 ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Education; Religion; Society
KEYWORDS:
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I heard part of a Trump rally online. I like how he said he was bringing back Christmas.
1 posted on 03/14/2016 5:37:57 AM PDT by Citizen Zed
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To: Citizen Zed

The correct response is “I am here to teach Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic- not religion- go discuss that with your parents”


2 posted on 03/14/2016 5:41:55 AM PDT by Mr. K (Trump/Cruz 2016)
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To: Citizen Zed

I would say, “Yes, I do”. Now, can you write that in cursive?


3 posted on 03/14/2016 5:44:08 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (America is not a dump, sewer or "refugee" camp. It's my home.)
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To: Citizen Zed

Zarathustrian. They won’t believe you, but maybe they’ll learn a thing or two looking it up ;-)


4 posted on 03/14/2016 5:44:38 AM PDT by JoeDetweiler
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To: Mr. K

If you’re working in a godless public school, then yep, I agree. A friendly form of “I’m not here to discuss my personal life” is probably the best approach.


5 posted on 03/14/2016 5:46:37 AM PDT by 20yearsofinternet (Border: Close it. Illegals: Deport. Muslims: Ban 'em. Economy: Liberate it. PC: Kill it. Trump 2016)
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To: Citizen Zed

How about this question from the young ‘uns:

“Teacher, if my mother wanted to kill me before I came to term, would you have fought tooth and nail to allow her to do that to me, or would you have fought for my right to live?”


6 posted on 03/14/2016 5:46:50 AM PDT by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: Citizen Zed
"First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits officials from from establishing or promoting religion"

"Congress shall pass no law" -- Says nothing about congress, teachers or anyone one else "promoting" religion.

7 posted on 03/14/2016 5:52:25 AM PDT by precisionshootist
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To: Citizen Zed
where the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits officials from from establishing or promoting religion

It does?
8 posted on 03/14/2016 5:52:36 AM PDT by needmorePaine
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To: precisionshootist
At the time of the adoption of the Constitution, several states had their own established churches. At that time, no court ever adjudicated that those churches were unconstitutional. I read an interesting article by Stanton Evans in Imprimis Magazine - which I kept from that time. Here is a link to the archive at Hillsdale College, which lays out his case that the current widely-held position on church/state is made up and wrong.
9 posted on 03/14/2016 6:12:43 AM PDT by Sgt_Schultze (If a border fence isn't effective, why is there a border fence around the White House?)
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To: Citizen Zed

“Of course”.


10 posted on 03/14/2016 6:23:17 AM PDT by marron
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To: Citizen Zed

None of the kids’ business what the teacher’s personal life is.


11 posted on 03/14/2016 6:32:38 AM PDT by SkyDancer ("Nobody Said I Was Perfect But Yet Here I Am")
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To: Citizen Zed

I teach in public schools and I tell them I’m a servant of Jesus Christ.


12 posted on 03/14/2016 6:36:09 AM PDT by struggle
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To: Citizen Zed

The right response is the truth.


13 posted on 03/14/2016 6:43:45 AM PDT by Phlap (REDNECK@LIBARTS.EDU)
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To: Citizen Zed
A student asks a teacher if she believes in God. What is the right response?

The correct response is "Yes."

14 posted on 03/14/2016 6:45:57 AM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Sgt_Schultze
At the time of the adoption of the Constitution, several states had their own established churches. At that time, no court ever adjudicated that those churches were unconstitutional. I read an interesting article by Stanton Evans in Imprimis Magazine - which I kept from that time. Here is a link to the archive at Hillsdale College, which lays out his case that the current widely-held position on church/state is made up and wrong.

I've been blowing that same trumpet since the 1990s. Yes, official state religions existed before and after 1787. The constitution itself ends with a reference to "Our Lord" and exempts the President from working on Sundays.

What people believe nowadays is just crap made up by legal activists and kook judges.

Here is a piece of historical evidence I like to share when this topic comes up.


15 posted on 03/14/2016 6:49:58 AM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Mr. K

Good answer!


16 posted on 03/14/2016 6:54:09 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Keep calm and Pray on.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

+1


17 posted on 03/14/2016 6:54:32 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Keep calm and Pray on.)
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To: Mr. K

Nicely played


18 posted on 03/14/2016 6:56:25 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: 20yearsofinternet

Yep.

Fortunately, during almost all of my teaching career, I was in Catholic schools, so I brought up religion regularly, and we said a prayer for the start of each class period.


19 posted on 03/14/2016 6:59:30 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Keep calm and Pray on.)
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To: Citizen Zed

Not a challenge for me. If a student asks me that question I give them my answer. If the follow up with more, as they invariably do, I answer those, as well.


20 posted on 03/14/2016 7:06:34 AM PDT by MarDav
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