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

Question

i feel like this question needed updating so sorry if u have already answered this i am taking a college history course us history 101 and our midterm is on the Mormon faith movement in history
we started the course on the civil war and what caused it but that's not even on the midterm nore is the forcing of the native Americans off there lands we have to pick from 3 questions and write a paper on two them
the questions are

how were the Mormons persecuted for there religion

what separated the Mormons from other faiths

how were Mormons falsely accused of block voting

and why was Joesph smith murdered for something he didn't do

now i am not Mormon but as u can see these question are biased to make the Mormons look good he also said we are not allowed to talk about the moutian medow massicer because it was carried our buy some Mormons and not the higher ups can he make me do this paper or can i refuse to do this since. it is forcing his religion on me

sorry i live in illinois this isn't a relgious college at all

Answer 1

I don't believe he is forcing his religion upon you, if it is even his religion. 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 2

I am not a Mormon but I do love History. Especially when you include the beliefs and motives behind a movement. Too often this is left out of our current History texts. However, I don't see how these questions pertain to the subject matter that you have been studying therefore I would go to the Academic Dean and ask for His opinion.

Answer 3

You can honestly answer the questions above. It is true that the number of questions is suspicious. If you get a failing or miserable mark for _telling the truth with evidence_, I would be talking to the dean or the president.
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 4

The Mormons figured very prominently in the development of the American West. They were persecuted for their religion: fact. They were separated from other faiths: fact. They were falsely accused of many things: fact. Joseph Smith was indeed murdered for something he did not do: fact.

Now go write that paper.

PS: I'm not a Mormon so I have nothing to "prove" here.

Answer 5

You should talk to the Dean of Students about this, maybe he can do something for you..and maybe not.

The "higher ups" also did nothing to discourage the massacres...yes plural. There were many. Research farewell Bend, OR; they had Mormons masquerading as Indians killing people on the Oregon Trail because they knew westward expansion would threaten their "promised land". Also standoff with US Calvary at Echo Canyon, UT.
Or how they were run out of Missouri and many other states for their "cultist" compounds and not just religious beliefs.

Answer 6

If this is history 101, you must go to BYU. In that case, you've pretty much agreed to have Mormonism shoved down your throat for the next 4 years. You might have to transfer.

Edit: Oh, OK. No, he probably can't force you to take a specific side in a research paper - if you did and he marked you down for it, you can probably complain, but other than that, college profs have much more leaway in what they teach than public school teachers (even if it is a state school).

Answer 7

Where are you? If you're in Utah, maybe he can but if you're somewhere else I'd say ask someone on student council or another professor of that class. Your class is US history 101 not Mormon history 404 right?

Answer 8

To answer your question, Yes I'm pretty sure a teacher can ask whatever questions they want for midterm.
That is a really, really inappropriate test for a history class. Not being allowed to talk about the massacre and all and being so biased in nature. Do you go to Brigham young?
I would try to talk to your proff, if that leads you nowhere, try to switch credits to another teacher after talking to the head of his department or even the dean.

Answer 9

Only if he is a Mormon can you claim prostletyzing. You can take it to your advisor, one way or the other.

This would be like me asking for a report on Attacks to the Christian Faith, but telling you you can't use the Bible in a "contraditions" argument.

If you can't get it straight with your advisor, take it to the dean of student affairs.

Answer 10

I find it odd that all the questions up for selection are centered around Mormonism..and yes, in my opinion, they are all "twisted" to make that religion look good.
If you've already approached your professor on this matter, then the next step is to go to the head person/chairperson/dean of the department. And I would do this swiftly; do not hesitate.

good luck:)