Is it true that Jehovah's Witness students cannot put their heads on their desks?

Question

I am student teaching and know of another student teacher who had a student tell her that they cannot put their head on their desk, because of their religion. Is this connect to the religion in general?

Answer 1

There is no Jehovah's Witness doctrine which forbids putting one's head on a desk.

However, if this is done to imply participation in prayer, then many sincere persons might be reluctant to share in such an interfaith service apart from their own church. Jehovah's Witnesses do not participate in interfaith services.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/article_03.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/g/2002/9/8a/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Never heard that one before, I doubt if it's true. But then again, JW's like to "strain the gnat" and object to all sorts of trivial harmless things, so I can't say for sure. I am a disfellowshipped JW and never heard of that all the years I practiced.

I wouldn't rule it out, however, depending on the reason why the students would be putting their heads on their desks. They feel duty-bound to object to almost anything that in any way, no matter how trivial or far-fetched, might cause them to violate a Watchtower guideline. In the United States, though, I would say this is not standard Jehovah Witness practice.

Answer 3

I was a pseudo-Jehovah's Witness when I first became Christian (I agreed with a lot of what they taught, but not all of it. Things have dramatically changed since then, though). I have never heard such a thing. I do know that a JW won't salute or stand for the flag, nor recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

I can only assume someone along the way understood "putting your head down" loosely resembles bowing before someone, and hence that child has then been forbidden to do so (since a lot of there doctrine is based on the concept of 'if A = B, and B = C, since O looks like C, then O must equal A as well' [the Bible tells Christians not to eat blood, JW teach since eating blood is bad {by putting animal blood in your stomach}, then blood transfusions are bad too {because you're taking human blood into your own body to save your life}... or like with holidays.. we aren't supposed to worship any other gods, but God Himself... most modern holidays have either pagan or secular origins, but were absorbed into Christianity... in JW's eyes, since those holidays have pagan origins, then the people honoring and worshipping Jesus on Dec. 25 are really worshipping Saturn and Mithra, and those eating turkey on the, what, 2nd thursday in November, are really 'worshipping' the gov't {or, less bluntly, taking part in a wordly festival that's endorsed by the gov't}]).

Honestly, I've never heard of it... but it wouldn't surprise me.

Answer 4

" The call "Jehovah's Witnesses", in keeping with Isaiah 40 3:10, grew to become into accompanied at a 1931 convention of Bible pupils whilst below the management of Joseph Franklin Rutherford." They have been initially generic as "bible pupils" Following Rutherford's dying, Nathan Knorr took over the presidency of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Later, 1975 grew to become into heavily under pressure as a accessible date for Armageddon. In 1976, management of the Jehovah's Witness pass began to be directed via a "Governing physique".

Answer 5

Ex-JW here

Never heard of such a thing. They cannot partake in holiday or birthday celebrations or the pledge. Don't see any reason for the desk thing, never heard of it and I was in it for a long time

Answer 6

It might be a way out, as teachers are very loathe to discipline when religion is brought up as a reason something cannot be done

Answer 7

To put your head on a desk signals that the day is over.

Answer 8

As a JW, I have never heard that and I was raised a JW...

I'm assuming you're not joking and are really looking for an answer.

Answer 9

I prefer to keep mine on my neck.

Answer 10

that's sucks, i wonder when they sleep then..