teacher fired for referring to bible!?

Question

here is a link to an interesting article about this situation. from what i read, i think they were a little harsh on the guy. i think critical thinking is an important characteristic to help determine an answer, or to give it credibility. maybe they didn't provide enough details in this article for me to really know what happened, but did it really hurt these kids for 8 days to learn about another possiblity? the guy says he wasn't "teaching" creationism, just giving a different point of view. what do you think?

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/20/teacherfired.ap.ap/index.html

i'm pagan, i don't believe in creationism, i believe in evolution

i'm pagan, i don't believe in creationism, i believe in evolution - just to give you an idea of who i am

i really don't understand what NAZIS, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, and EVOLUTION have to do with each other, what was the link? maybe if i knew what this meant i would feel differently

lol - ok - blonde moment - i didn't realize that "planned parenthood" meant abortion - i thought it implied planning your family. yes, i am educated, but try to stay away from pro abortion discussions. please excuse my ignorance
what a horrible way to sugar coat abortion!

Answer 1

Without seeing the exact materials or transcript of what he was saying, I am in no situation to judge the consequences or his actions.

If this supplemental material was covered over eight days, however, without reference to other religion's creation myths, then it would likely represent an intolerable form of religious bias in a secular classroom.

Answer 2

I am a Christian and do not believe in evolution. Having said that, this 'teacher' obviously had a hidden agenda that was, knowingly, not in accordance with the curriculum that the school had. He was trying to present his opinions under the guisse of education but doing it in such a way as to usurp the school board.

The argument that he was trying to elevate critical thinking is probably not correct. If he was he would have shown the flaws in the 'creative design' theory as well.

For these reasons he did deserve to be fired.

As for accusations of child abuse and damage to the children, they are rediculous. The example given in the story is that a student discussed what was going on with a parent. Isn't that a good thing that parents and their children are able to talk about things? So come on down off of your high horse and join the real world where people are able to talk respectfully about their different points of view.

And for those who are arguing that school is not a place for teaching myths and opinion you are clearly not in touch with history. Schools, at every level, have been doing just that (teaching myths as if they were fact) for years and continue to do it. In the case of evolution, this is just a hypothesis about the origins of the universe. It is not a fact. It has not been proven. If you become upset and agitated by this then perhaps science has become your atheistic god and the possiblility that evolution may be incorrect hits at the core of your belief system. But don't pretend that it is something more than it is... a hypothesis... an educated guess... not testable... not able to be examined.... not even a theory.

Answer 3

I don't see anything harsh in what the school board did. I'm an agnostic but I have done enough bible reading to say that there aren't many Biblical references I can think of that are relevant in a biology class. There is one, however that is relevant: Genesis Chapter 30, the story of Jacob, Laban and the goats. Jacob got rich because he picked up on an autosomal dominant phenotype, in the terms of modern genetics. Whether God clued him in 2,000 years before Mendel figured it out or whether Jacob was simply a highly astute observer of goats I leave it to others to decide.

That said, there isn't exactly a wealth of material like this in the Bible. From my reading of the article, if he's bringing in material referring to things like Nazi Germany and Planned Parenthood, the teacher is at the least confusing the curriculum in a manner and to a degree that is irresponsible. At the very least, that sort of discussion might be appropriate for a unit on science and politics or science and ethics, but those things have nothing to do with science.

Answer 4

I am not Christian, and I do agree that they should keep religion out of the schools. There are too many different paths that people follow to justify teaching just on in the schools.

The schools are there to teach our children how to read, write, and function in the business world, not to help them explore which spiritual path they want to take, that is up to the family.

Also, I think things like Nazi Germany, should be kept to history class, not science, and Planned Parenthood, to Health Education. Now the theory of evolution is a scientific theory, and as a theory can be discussed in science, along with many other scientific theories.

I will be my child's spiritual teacher, the schools are there to give them the facts, teach them how to read and write, and how to function within society. I will take care of the rest.

Answer 5

I think the main problem is that the religion in school debate is such a huge issue in the United States right now. Schools need to assure parents, students, teachers, the government, etc. that they are only teaching the approved curriculumn. Although it may seem unfair to many, the reality is that evolution is an accepted scientific teaching, while religious references are not. He was a part-time teacher so he was probably in a "probation-like" position at the time. They were right to excuse him from that position, as he was teaching students unapproved material.

Answer 6

The article states:

"Kris Helphinstine included Biblical references in material he provided to students and gave a PowerPoint presentation that made links between evolution, Nazi Germany and Planned Parenthood."

This man is confused. Children must LEARN SOMETHING before they can use analytic skills to deconstruct it. As a temporary, part-time teacher, he isn't in a position to even consider building to the point where he can add to the curriculum to suit his own ego.

When ALL the kids have mastered 90% of the required material, it's okay to introduce one or two additional concepts--briefly--without destroying what they've already learned.

Your attitude is way off base. If teachers were allowed to abuse their leadership position like this, the kids would be stupid, agrumentative, and lack common sense.

Answer 7

The first paragraph in your link says he presented a powerpoint equating Nazism to Evolution and Planed Parenthood. Of course he should be fired! Such hate speech has no place in an educational system. I suggest reading your links before you post them.

Answer 8

It sounds like he went WAY over the line. (Not just for quoting Biblical passages in a SCIENCE class.) My guess is that he was saying that the theory of evolution and planned parenthood were somehow comparable to Nazi Germany. It sounds like he had some definite agenda. He was most certainly discussing and preaching things that had nothing to do with science. I don't think his firing was inappropriate.

Answer 9

The biblical reference were a bit out of line and personally I would not have him for that........HOWEVER.....that's not all he did is it? quote "included Biblical references in material he provided to students and gave a PowerPoint presentation that made links between evolution, Nazi Germany and Planned Parenthood." His blatant attempt at obfuscation by trying to link Evolution, the Nazis and Planned Parenthood......now that DID cross the line. He clearly has issues and is most assuredly a Fundamentalist who can't distinguish between fact and fiction, as such he deserved termination.

To even try to link Planned Parenthood with Nazis is so grossly out of line it tests credulity.

As for giving a different point view, that's plain BS and anyone, even a conservative who's honest would see it as such.

Disgusting really.

Answer 10

isn't a church, religious corporation, and so on., purely like quite a few different corporation who does deal in funds, salaries, amenities, and so on. can not a md or the board of directors be sure who does and who does not artwork in or for a corporation. Can they not set the factors and policies in admire to who does and who does not qualify? I for some reason look to work out 2 data or subject concerns jumbled in a theory and the outcomes is a multitude and confusion. certainty a million: it replaced right into a female instructor interior the Baptist church headed via the minister and a board of directors. certainty 2: the pinnacle of that particular church and the board of directors have been of the opinion that a female shouldn't instruct men interior the church, that particular church. With that clean what's the large deal that makes this single act of somebody not being qualified to do a job being removed from a job. What suitable does all people else might desire to tell me what regulations i will put in place in my corporation or family individuals individuals as long as i don't violate any regulation which will placed me in penitentiary. That Baptist minister has purely as plenty suitable to run his corporation as he sees in good condition of direction with the approval of the church board as a newspaper printed has to fireplace one that could not examine interior the enhancing branch. in the event that they don't look to be qualified via the regulations they should not be submitting the area and getting the rewards or reward even whether that is purely delight and not funds. Why do not the instructor purely flow to a distinctive place the place she will instruct or exchange the recommendations of the board and get the preacher fired. purely the recommendations of a "NO" who sometimes does see issues distinctive from others ok. i don't ask others to settle for my perspectives. it fairly is their selection. I purely smile and enjoy posting them.

Answer 11

Well, he didn't just 'refer' to the bible.
He'd worked there for 8 days and made links between evolution, Nazi Germany and Planned Parenthood (i.e. abortion).

Besides, 'giving a different point of view' or 'equal time' as creationists like to call it, is their shortcut to having the bible taught as the absolute truth in school.
It's their way to scienceclass without actually having to do any actual science.
And 'equal time' and 'a different point of view' applies only to the Christian believes; don't think for a moment that Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are part of the 'different point of view'.