can a teacher really make me do this for a midterm?

Question

hi i am taking some history in college and our whole midterm is on the Mormon faith movement. i for one am not Mormon and i don't see why i need to write a paper on the Mormon movement. i mean if i refuse to do this. can he give me a bad grade. doesn't this fall into separation of church and state?

oh BTW this is a not a religious college at all

we started the course on the civil war but like i said there isn't one thing about the civil war on this midterm i would think that the civil war was more important than the Mormon movement

Answer 1

I am not Mormon, but researching and learning about another religion (or even, another culture) will only help you better yourself. You may not see the point in the assignment, but your teacher can fail you and will have cause to do so. The teacher is not asking you agree with Mormonism or defend the religious or except Jesus as your savior, but is asking you to learn about someone else's belief system and lifestyle.

But then again you are right. I mean, what kind of world would we live in if we started caring about something other than ourselves? What if, God forbid, the Isrealites and the Muslim community learned about one another? What if, again hypothetical, Black people and White people had to learn about each other's past and even go to school together?

I mean, I for one will be damned if I am going to learn about any other religion or culture. I refuse to be asked to learn about Jewish people, or Germany, or Hinduism, or anything else that isn't exactly like me.

(I hope you're picking up on my sarcasm. I'm laying it on pretty thick.)

Answer 2

Your midterm, unfortunately, does not fall under the law of separation of church and state.
This is a history course you're taking and the Mormon faith movement is part of US history.
It doesn't fall under this particular law because no one is forcing you take this course, I'm sure there are other alternate history courses that you could have taken to full-fill the requirement.

Honestly if you don't like the fact that you have to write a paper about this particular subject that's just too bad for you.

And yes the teacher most definitely has a right to give you a bad grade or no grade if you wish not to complete it.

In the classroom, it doesn't really matter what you think or believe in. You're there to learn and the teacher is there to teach and guide you.

If you do have a problem with the chosen topic I'm sure you can have a discussion about it with your professor but you not being Mormon is not a good enough reason or explanation for you not to complete the assignment.

Answer 3

I am not Mormon, but Mormon's played an important part in the westward expansion of America during and after the Civil War. It is a relevant part of history. I am sure that you learned about the voyage across the ocean in the Mayflower, right? Well, that is also a religious-centered event, and yet it is considered to be a VITAL part of American history. Same thing with this. If it really bothers you, then speak to an advisor at your school. If you just think it's a lousy assignment, suck it up and do it anyway. You'll forget what you've learned ten minutes after the test is over anyway.

Answer 4

First of all, sorry to burst your bubble. But there is no such thing as "separation of church and State". that phrase is not in the constitution. what is meant is that the Church will not control the State and vice verse. Our country was founded on political and religious freedom. "in God We trust". Second others have it right that you volunteered for this class and it's history, not politics your studying.

imhalf_the_sourgirl_iused_tobe's is right on though. For a hint. many of the major cities (besides the ones in Utah) were founded by Mormon pilgrims. To include Reno, Las Vegas, and other cities in California, Colorado, and Wyoming. Promontory Point is where the east meets west, coast to coast railroad was established, in Utah. In essence, the Mormon pioneers paved the way (with their lives) for the whole country to come out west.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

If you were attending a public school then you might be able to protest the paper to the principal or teacher, and only if the paper had absolutely no relevance to the course. The problem is you're attending a College not a public school. You are not required to go to college as you are required to attend public school. So basically the teacher can assign a paper on any topic he chooses because you are paying for the course not the Government.

Your best option is to ask the teacher about the relevance of the topic, to find out why he assigned it, and see if you have to write favorably about it; sometimes teachers appreciate dissenting opinions with good arguments.

Answer 6

What is the history course and what's the prompt? Maybe the Mormon movement was really influential, or important historically, or symbolizes some larger idea of Americana?

If there is a good secular reason for studying this, then they are allowed to do it (ie: it's a symbol/metaphor/foil or something). Also, is he preaching Mormonism or just talking about it in a historical context?

Answer 7

Can you be forced to answer this? I guess you can be forced to do that. If there is an issue with the course, you can go after the dean or president later if needed.
You can honestly answer the questions above. It is true that the number of questions is suspicious.
Mormons are separated by their own doctrine and Joseph Smith telling them that large parts of teaching have been "lost" He siad that without any evidence and that makes them look like buffoons.
The Kirtland banking/ antibanking society does not help the Mormons look any better!

Answer 8

You aren't always going to agree with something your college professor wants you to write about. An approach to this would be to do your report ONLY on the history of the Mormons...who started it, why they felt they needed to, etc. Treat it as you would the history of a non-religious group of people...say...Deadheads. You should not have to delve into the spiritual side of it. Has your professor asked you to read any religious material that is against your beliefs?

Answer 9

Yes.

The Mormon's played a tremendous and often overlooked role in America's history. For example, they settled over 700 cities across the United States from coast to coast, within Canada, and Mexico.

Have fun and learn something new. Its called history.

Answer 10

I think the subject was very likely assigned BECAUSE it would be hard to write about. And yet, it is a factual part of history. Even with your bias, can you be objective enough to write about it? This isn't a separation of church and state issue. Suck it up and do the work.