One of my middle school science teachers told our class that the earth is only 6000 years old, that dinosaurs never existed, and that carbon dating is pseudoscience. He said that all dinosaur bones and fossils are actually just pig bones. He is entitled to his opinions, but is he allowed to teach that in a public school?
2007-05-15 03:57:40 · 34 answers · asked by Graciela, RIRS 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
By the way, this happened many years ago. I'm now grown up and have a child of my own. I was just wondering if he could get in trouble for what he said.
2007-05-15 04:06:19 · update #1
Dee, you can say whatever you want but that doesn't make it right.
2007-05-15 04:14:30 · update #2
Not if it is a public school funded with tax dollars. A private school is allowed to teach whatever they want and parents who pay for their children's education look over lesson plans and decide if that is the way they want their children taught. Of course you know that.
EDIT on your EDIT
If it happened many years ago the matter should now be settled and you know if he got into trouble or not. Many years ago people's attitudes were much different than now. Most people were more tolerant of this type of thing
2007-05-15 04:09:18 · answer #1 · answered by babydoll 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe he or she may mention it, but not explain or go into detail unless it touches on the subject at hand.
In High School, we took a semester in the Bible as Literature. The teacher was Episcopalean. In that setting, it did not seem unreasonable that her religion be mentioned. But she was an enlightened person, and made sure that Jews, Atheists and the two Buddhists in the class were not left out of the discussions, and even had them bring in stories from their texts, or essays and writings that framed their beliefs.
That was in the sixties, which were more enlightened times in regard to acceptance of others by Christians. Things are starchier now.
2007-05-15 04:03:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What happened to freedom of speech? However teaching and giving an opinion are different - surely you do not begrudge your teacher an opinion? But teaching...........
IF your teacher TOLD you this then he or she is not terribly bright. I don't have a problem with the earth being < 10k years old. But dinosaurs are actually referred to in the Bible......the bones and fossils are real but there is little evidence for evolution (as opposed to natural selection and adaptation of species). This is not the place for such a debate!
But re the dinosaur (like the one on the Sinclair Gas Station signs?) - see -
JOB 40
v 15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. 16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. 17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. 18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
2007-05-15 04:05:37 · answer #3 · answered by pwwatson8888 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A teacher should be allowed to speak of their religious beliefs. Since a public school is public properly, they retain their right to free speech. HOWEVER, they should be fired the second they start teaching their religious opinions as fact. They should also be fired if they are clearly using their class as an audience to preach their beliefs, regardless of whether they are stating them as fact or opinion. A teacher's job is to teach, not to preach. If they want to preach, let them do it on their own time.
2007-05-15 04:04:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Report that teacher,if the principal does nothing,go to the board.If still no action,create a scene,write the paper. That teacher disgraces his /her profession and needs to be terminated immediately. Protest,that teacher must go,period. One is supposed to presume the teacher is teaching,so,even though he may have stated it was their opinion,A student supposedly learns from their teacher,so personal opinion cannot be separated from fact in a student/teacher relationship. What teacher?What school? I'll make it happen
2007-05-15 04:04:08 · answer #5 · answered by nobodinoze 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He doesn't know science well enough to teach it. He should not have been hired. No, he can't teach religious doctrine in public school. He should lose his job for that.
Bring a tape recorder to class and record it. Then report him to the Board of Education.
2007-05-15 04:00:18 · answer #6 · answered by Robin W 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No school is not the place to discuss religious issues my son was in school and they taught him evolution and we should him from the bible and other sources how that was adaptation and the creation of a grand creator.
then he had a teacher who was a lesbian and came home and started to tell us how she was explaining she was in an alternative life style and that was her choice.
While that is true that is her choice I didn't want it told to my children. So I had him put in a different room.
I wanted him to learn reading, english, math and history.
Leave the rest to the parents.
2007-05-15 04:05:01 · answer #7 · answered by Ruth 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. I believe that yes, he's entitled to his opinions. However, even if a student asks him about his religious beliefs, he is not allowed to share them in class. That is very much against the law.
2007-05-15 04:00:33 · answer #8 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I work in retail. My job is to sell products and keep the customer happy. Not to voice my beliefs to anyone else. Infact I would get fired for doing such a thing. The EXACT same thing applies to teachers.
2007-05-15 04:00:39 · answer #9 · answered by Puggz 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Burn the books! Call the ACLU! Sneak in a tape recorder! Fire the teacher! Where are the torches and pitch forks! How dare anyone challenge us!!
You folks sound like evolution Nazi's.
2007-05-15 04:17:01 · answer #10 · answered by Brian 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋