Is this an appropriate video for a public school?

Question

http://bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/12/08/news/local/144099.txt

A public school teacher showed students a video called "A letter from Hell" He said the video was "more religious than he would have liked" but he showed it anyway. He said the purpose of the film was to show the dangers of alcohol, but at the very beginning of the movie the stated purpose of the film was laid out -- to get students to "share Jesus" with friends.

The whole point of the movie was, that if you don't accept Jesus, you will go to hell.

A Jewish student in the class complained to her parents and they complained to the school board. The teacher KNEW she was Jewish, and he showed this "believe or burn" video on the first day of Chanukah.

How should the school handle this. What should happen to this teacher.

My opinion - The teacher should be fired.

A link to the video so you can watch it yourself

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=e10543891fd2e7277d15

Ok, maybe not fired, but suspended without pay, until he could demonstrate that he knows the boundries as far as evangelising he religion goes.

I don't buy his story that he only wanted to show kids the dangers of drinking & driving. Most schools have a supply of such videos,and there are plenty available.

The video was NOT about the dangers of alcohol, the video was about the "dangers" of dying without accepting Jesus. That the "letter writer" from hell happened to have died as a result of alchohol was incidental.

This teacher knew the film was religious and chose to show it anyway.

He then flippantly dismissed the Jewish girl who asked him why he showed such a video. He told her to "sit up straight" or some such thing. He doesnt seem to open to offer an apology, since he blew off a Jewish student on the first day Chanukah day for showing such tripe. In fact it wouldn't suprise me, if she was his intended audience, since she had just recently told him she's Jewish

Kenny P.

This is not a matter of "censorhip" this is a matter that the gov't is not supposed to sponsor religious indoctrination. The stated purpose of the film was to bring students to Christ. I think the teacher was being disingenous when he said he only wanted to teach them the dangers of alcohol. There are many non-religious education films available on the matter.

If the teacher showed a video with the stated purpose of encouraging atheist students to share their atheism with Christians, the teacher would be fired already.

Kenny P - Education ABOUT religion in a history or social studies class is fine. Talking about the religious motivations and influence in history, art, literature is fine.

The religion in this film was not at all relevant to a health class, and really did NOTHING to show the dangers of alcohol, AND the stated purpose of the film was to encourage evangelising.

To show a film to a Jewish girl (the teacher KNEW she was Jewish) on the first day of Chanukah, that says "You're going to hell unless you convert" is not acceptable in a public school.

If this teacher trolled an atheist you tube site (this video came from God tube, so his lame protestation that the video was "too religious" is disingenous) and showed a film, that boldly announced at the beginning of the film that it's purpose was to encourage atheist students to try and convert Christians into atheists, the teeacher would have been fired already.

Answer 1

I am a Christian and I am appalled. That video had nothing at all to do with drunk driving. Had that been his intention, he could have called MADD and they would have sent him a video or pointed him the right direction. Whether a Jewish student was in the class or not, it should never have been shown in school.

Answer 2

In the exact same attitude, one of our adult sunday school teachers in the church I attend showed a video clip of Al Gore. The point of this clip was that we are responsible for the environment and we should take care of our earth.

He gave this disclaimer before he showed the clip, even though this church doesn't approve of Gore's political position, this wasn't shown as a political gambit.

Yet someone had to go whine and complain to our pastor.

I see this incident in the same way. The teacher gave his disclaimer, and his purpose wasn't "religious" in nature, like the Al Gore clip, it should have been taken at face value.

Too many people where their hearts on their sleeves, so to speak, and get riled up over nothing!

The teacher should be more sensitive to the students in his class, but to fire him? A reprimand and an apology to the class should be enough.

Strangely, a public apology from our sunday school teacher wasn't enough for this one man, and he left our church. (This attitude is sad, if you ask me!)

Granted, at the very beginning of this film clip, the movie stated that the purpose of the film was to get students to share Jesus, but this teacher was showing the film for some other purpose and that should have been taken into account.

I say the same thing about the Al Gore clip that was shown - take into account what the teacher was trying to get across, and be mature enough to filter out the rest.

Of course, I can understand that a child would be offended, but an adult to be offended? Overboard, if you ask me.

And, again, this teacher should have been a little more sensitive in making this presentation, and an apology SHOULD suffice.

In the OLD days, an apology would go a long way, but that was before everybody suddenly became hyper sensitive!

Answer 3

The Midwest Sex Show itself is very enlightening, but I wouldn't focus on fetishes in a public middle/high school class. As a future health educator, I am impressed after looking at other videos they have produced and love that they are trying to get through to teens! But the fetish episode in particular has a lot of cursing, and parents would not be too happy. You would most definitely need to get parental permission for that episode. Best of luck!

Answer 4

Even the teacher knew it was "more religious than he would have liked" but he showed it anyways. If he really cared he would've at least asked the school to provide an alternative video he could have used. There are TONS of education films and organizations about the dangers of alcohol if you look for it.

I think he should have been reprimanded or suspended. Firing may be too extreme for me, but that's just me. Simply put, I don't think he put in any effort to find a more appropriate video....

EDIT: Ok, nvm....after watching a lil of the film, I think he should've been fired.....

Answer 5

Queeney,
How can a person become a better teacher if they are not properly instructed and taught how to handle situations? This "teacher" was very wrong in what he/she did but needs to be carefully monitored and instructed on what is right and what is wrong in the public school systems. That can be done without firing him/her. I am a Christian but I never showed any film that had any religious references in it during my teaching career of nearly 30 years. Have a great week.
Thanks,
Eds


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Answer 6

I find it hard to believe that was the only dangers-of-alcohol video he could have found. First day of Chanukah or not, it was wrong. But if it was a young teacher, I think writing him up and giving him a talking to would be better than ruining his career for one mistake.

Answer 7

I don't think anything like that should be censored because it has religious overtones.

If if were inappropriate, as in naughty material, there would likely be nothing said

Stuff from other religions such as Muslim, buddah, etc. are often included in class discussion with not many or any complaints, so why would you agree to censore anything with Christian overtones that isn't preaching but merely presenting?

Isn't that a bit discriminatory?
Especially for a Country founded with a Christian heritage?

Answer 8

The a clause in the first amendment clearly defines separation of church and the state (some people deny its in the constitution, and use the first amendment as an excuse to have prayer in public school). It is not up to the school to teach children about faith; thats up to parents to decide.

There are after school clubs/groups that typically meet weekly to discuss faith and prayer. Thats a fair compromise.

If I had a child in this class, I would surely take this as far as i have to to get my point across, that this is unacceptable in public schools. The teacher should face disciplinary action. (not necessarily termination, but some sort of action.)

Answer 9

I thought that schools had to have videos preapproved. Maybe that is just where I live, but I think that videos should be preapproved by others in the school before they are shown. I can see why the student was upset. It bothers me when Christian teachers do this simply because in my opinion, it opens the door for others to attempt to share their personal beliefs.There is so much for kids to learn these days and I think teachers should be focused on preparing them for future jobs and college. While I am a Christian, I want my children to learn about Jesus at home and at church.

Answer 10

Boo Hoo, all view points should be taught in school. Kids need to know how the "other half" lives so they can make their own decisions. A 7 minute video probably isn't going to make anyone convert. I watched the Hebrew Hammer and I am not jewish. It was like two hours long!!!