Should a Teacher Be Fired for Discussing the Bible in Public School?

1. 77

   crankaliciousposted 11 years ago

   http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/nyreg … login&
   
   This is an old article, but worthy of discussion. If you're a teacher in public school and you assert that Noah's ark carried dinosaurs, should you be fired or defended for being able to express your right to free speech?
   
   Is this an issue about free speech or about bad teaching?

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   1. 75

      aliasisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This teacher, according to the article, said:
      
      -Dinosaurs were carried in Noah's ark
      -Evolution is not scientific
      -Only Christians have a place in heaven
      
      Um... YES this guy should have been fired! No question about it. This is a public school, and telling kids that non-Christians are going to hell? That alone is one big bye-bye. And no, I don't think you really have a place in academia if you are trying to push non-academic stuff. If you want to deny science and teach Biblical mythology in a public school... enjoy your firing and apply to a private school instead.
      
      OP, I have to say, your title is very misleading. This teacher did not "discuss the Bible in public school" (which might be appropriate, depending on the situation). This teacher basically preached and told non-Christian kids they were going to hell, and did not teach the curriculum. He did not do his job, and he did not show tolerance to his students. "Free speech" isn't applicable to your employers and at work. Especially when you're being paid to do a certain job, but you act like a jerk instead.

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   2. 69

      JG11Bravoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with... well... pretty much everyone else.  There isn't much else to add.
      
      Frankly, I don't care if people want to teach the concepts of biblical creationism and all that so long as it is presented as one theory and taught alongside evolutionism.  Giving kids the information is fine, forcing your opinion on them is not.

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   3. 62

      prettydarkhorseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      According to the article yes, he should be fired.

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   4. 60

      vehnhposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Anyone that believes crap like dinosaurs were carried in Noah's Ark, evolution is not scientific, and only Christians have a place in heaven, etc. has no place in the education system. It only proves  how poorly educated the teacher is and for a quality educational system to work, you need quality educators. That clown needs to be working drive thru at McDonalds.

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      1. 76

         wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         No thanks.  I want a Big Mac, not a dinoburger.

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   5. 60

      MelissaBarrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Reason 217 why I homeschool.

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   6. 60

      BuddiNsenseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      No he should not be "fired" but send him to a school to get educated.

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      1. 61

         Silverspeederposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Personal beliefs have no place in the education system, discussion of religion, evolution, politics and science in general should be.
         
         Teachers, lecturers and trainers who bring their own personal beliefs into the classroom for the purpose of indoctrination should always be dismissed.

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         1. 60

            BuddiNsenseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            That means he is not educated and it is those people who appoint him are those who should be fired.

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   7. 81

      Credence2posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is about bad teaching, I am concerned about 'establishment', a teacher promoting a religious belief in a public school classroom. You can discuss and compare beliefs in an academic setting, of course. But topics and approaches best left to Sunday School in your place of worship should not be used here. In your contract with the city or town where you work you agree to be a teacher, not a preacher and avoid using your position to influence impressionable youngsters in an inappropriate way.

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2. 66

   psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

   Anyone who tells a mixed group of kids "only Christians had a place in heaven" is a jerk.  I mean, how would a Christian parent like a teacher from another deist religion saying that to their kids?

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   1. 0

      Onusonusposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Never been to a Muslim country.

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3. 76

   wildernessposted 11 years ago

   Free speech or bad teaching?
   
   Neither one.  No one has free speech when they are working for someone else, doing the job they are hired to do in teaching youngsters.  And spouting personal beliefs, particularly ridiculous ones like this, isn't teaching.  So neither one applies, just lying to the kids.

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4. 87

   rebekahELLEposted 11 years ago

   After reading the article, it's clear that it's about his role as a teacher.  He abused his responsibility and position of being a history teacher.  He was preaching religion in a public school.  He indirectly told the non-Christian students that they were going to hell.  Separation of church and state?
   I would be very upset if my child came home and told me this is what he learned in history class today.  I would have pulled my child from his class. 
   
   It doesn't sound like the teacher was fired although he deserved to be if he was preaching in the school for 15 years, as he later admits he was. He also lied. I tried to find out more about the story and found Matthew LaClair's speech.  It's quite detailed and worth a read.

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5. 59

   Joel Okimotoposted 11 years ago

   Like many of the people in this forum I agree that this man should have been fired. He was trying to shove his own personal opinion on the people around him. What he said had no place in a public school.

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6. 60

   paradigmsearchposted 11 years ago

   Paradigmsearch gets job as teacher. First day at school...
   
   "Alright, all you kiddies. Here's the real deal... We are all a bunch of lab rats. And then you are all going to die. 10 of you by cancer. 10 of you by alzheimer's. 10 of you by strokes and heart attacks. The rest of you will reach your demises in various other interesting ways. Live with it."
   
   Principal shows up in classroom second day...
   
   Paradigmsearch admires his spiffy new mop as he cleans the hallways.
   
   .
   .
   .
   .
   
   Just kidding...

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   1. 81

      Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      oh no, they wouldn't even hire you as janitor!  and that is pretty good work if you can get it!

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7. 63

   SagaSphereposted 11 years ago

   +1
   Paradigmsearch

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8. 61

   kessposted 11 years ago

   Oh, it seems like many are happily ignoring the fact that the teachers role is specifically to influence his students,  through which they learn.
   So if therefore the teacher is christian, then of course this is the conviction of which he would convey to his students. This bound to occur, overtly or covertly.
   
   The same is true if the teacher  is an  Atheist, Muslim or Buddhist.
   Do I need to also say, the chemist, the biologist or the pilot....or what soever  men will call themselves, including but not limited to a rapist, thief or murderer.
   
   Are you also quickly forgetting that many atheist are atheist because of and despite of christian influences.
   
   The christian exhibited a higher standard of righteousness than those who condemn him, because after all he was merely being what he knows himself to be....that is a christian.

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   1. 87

      rebekahELLEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        No, that is not the teachers role.  He is hired to educate his students on the subject/s of which he is assigned to teach.
      
      Whatever he is, his role is to perform his job as a teacher, not a preacher.

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