Would you consider this a violation of Church and State?
2007-11-16 13:31:25 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think that it is wrong for her to attempt to sway a child's mind in any way. Teachers have a great deal of authority in their classroom, and the younger and moare impressionable the child, the more authority and weight that teacher's opinion carries. For a teacher to attmept a child in a public school would be inappropriate. But I don't know if I consider it a violation of Church and State. That was intended to keep the government out of church, and vice versa. While I understand that the public school is indeed a responsibility of the government, it is not a governing authority. They neither write nor enforce laws as a part of their stated responsibilities (don't quibble about the laws thing - we all enforce some reasonable rules of behavior in our lives). They don't "govern" if you will. So I don't think the Church and State argument is what we should be making. I just don't think it works within the spirit of the Church/State reasoning. However, I still think it would be wrong for the teacher to influence the student. That is the right of the parents and other family members, and, ultimately the decision is the child's to make.
2007-11-16 13:45:28 · answer #1 · answered by Katie Short, Atheati Princess 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Depends when she said it. If a group of students asked her then no I dont.
The opposite just happened recently in a school. A kid was writing in his journal because the teacher said to write about something and he wrote about God.(elementary school) On the playground the kids were talking about what they wrote and the kid said God and so these kids started talking about what they thought about God. A teacher came over and told them to knock off all the talking about God. Later in class before the next recess she told the kids no talking about God. Of course the kids still did and the kid was told to knock off all the god talk or he will get in trouble.
Is it ok for a teacher to ban God, esp on the playground?
Clearly the parents were pretty upset when they heard about what had happened and had a meeting with the teacher and principal. The teacher admitted she was having a bad day and had no right to tell the kids those things and apologized so it was resolved.
2007-11-16 13:44:59 · answer #2 · answered by cadisneygirl 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not if she's just explaining it as a personal thing and it's outside of class time.
But preaching in class in an attempt to convert her students would be a violation because she'd be using school time and resources to do it.
2007-11-16 14:00:26 · answer #3 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not unless she is teaching it in class. If she is just talking about it or explaining it because someone asked, then it isn't a violation of Church and State.
2007-11-16 13:36:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
you cant speak about religion in school. is just wrong. not all kids believe the same things. and don't give me the "freedom of speech" crap. your rights begin the moment mine were violated. what's to stop a islam praising Ala in school, a buddist, budda; or a christian, with all there damn diferent churches, to the same lord. God is praised in personal life, not to show everyone your a believer
2007-11-16 13:42:37 · answer #5 · answered by Nergal 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The easy answer is "Yes". Mostly because most people who'd feel the urge to make such statements are unable / unprepared to stress that this was a personal choice and did not demean another's path.
.
2007-11-16 15:46:45 · answer #6 · answered by Rai A 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's called free speech. She can talk about her faith all she wants, as long as she isn't pushing it onto others. Do people actually want to start banning the use of the word "God" now? Sheesh.
I'm big on the whole "church and state" separation, but people are taking this to the point where expressing any religious faith in public is frowned upon.
2007-11-16 13:37:48 · answer #7 · answered by Alex H 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Not if someone asked her, if she just interjected it onto her class or a public forum in a school than I would consider it a violation.
2007-11-16 13:36:40 · answer #8 · answered by calmlikeatimebomb 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is illegal to discuss or share religious views or beliefs with any minor without parental consent. You can find yourself before a judge for doing so. And I never give my consent in a publicly funded school environment.
2007-11-16 13:40:11 · answer #9 · answered by Khimaera 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
it depends.
did she say "i love my religion because jesus IS the way"?
if she's teaching her religion as truth, then it's absolutely a violation.
if she says, "my religion believes that jesus is the way. i love it because it gives me a sense of community and fulfills my psychological needs for answers to my concerns of the afterlife"
that's fine as long as it's not an answer to a student asking" i have concerns about death. can you give me advice?"
then it is soliciting and aloso a violation.
2007-11-16 13:42:42 · answer #10 · answered by eelai000 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋