American idol: God does belong in public schools, if a student wants him there

[cbayer]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/09/23/american-idol-god-does-belong-in-public-schools-if-a-student-wants-him-there/

By Charles C. Haynes, Published: September 23 at 10:41 am


(istockphoto)

If you ask a class of 5th graders to write about someone they “look up to,” don’t be shocked when at least one of them decides to write about God.

That’s exactly what happened in Millington, Tennessee earlier this month when 10-year-old Erin selected God as her idol because, as she explained, “He is the reason I am on this earth.”

A red flag went up for Erin’s teacher who told the student she couldn’t pick God and directed her to choose someone else.

Erin, who sounds like a very good little girl, complied and picked Michael Jackson, a choice acceptable to the teacher.

more at link

[trotsky]

1. I wonder what the reaction would have been if the girl had written about Allah being her idol. n/t

[immoderate]

2. ... or Satan!

--imm

[LostOne4Ever]

4. Very different

They would have screamed about Sharia law, and MAGICALLY discover the separation of church and state.

Yet...its the same god

The girl would be demonized, rather than set upon a pedestal.

It would of been even worse had it been a wiccan.

[LostOne4Ever]

3. The teacher is mainly guilty of a poorly thought out question.

The teacher should have said, "a person" or "a human being" the child looks up to, and she/he would have avoided the whole controversy.

That said, I see that being a very easy mistake to make.

[cbayer]

7. I agree with the school's decision that the teacher should have allowed

the student to write about god if that's what she chose.

The child is not the state and has the right to her own religious beliefs and expression, imo.

And I don't think we should assume that there would have been a different response if she had said Allah. Maybe that is exactly what she meant, as the article doesn't say what religion she is. If she had said Satan, I would still advocate that that would be acceptable, but would wonder if it was a red flag in terms of the child's welfare.

There may have even been an opportunity here for the class to talk about religious differences and the need for tolerance and understanding.

[LostOne4Ever]

8. I also think the school made the right decision

I was just saying that the situation would have been avoided had the teacher titled it differently. Kind of like asking the class what their favorite breed of dog is and then one student choosing a cat. Asking who the child looks up too opened up the possibility for the child to say god as she did.

I feel the child was well within her rights there, the teacher should have allowed it, and again, the school replied in the correct manner.

That said, I think the response from the school would have been the same had it been Allah, or Shiba, or any other religious figure. But when it comes to the reply of the media and the public, I feel it would have been anything BUT positive if it referred to any non-christian god. I expect right wing activist would have assailed the school for promoting sharia law, and the media would have painted the school in the worst light possible.

In my mind Im thinking of the florida congresswoman who supported school vouchers UNTIL she found out that those vouchers would be used by islamic schools. Or, how the media had a love affair with that one valedictorian who lied to his school and gave a christian prayer at his graduation disregarding any consideration for non-christian students.

Sorry, but I am a bit cynical when it comes to the media.

[cbayer]

9. I think you are probably right about the media and public - there would have been

a different kind of response, particularly from those on the religious right.

Those stories about how some push through legislation without ever thinking that it would apply to all religious are pretty rich. The image you posted in this thread says it all.

[tularetom]

5. After God, her second choice was Michael Jackson??

Yeah, I've often thought about the similarity.

[Goblinmonger]

6. Though this may shock some, I would have no problem with that essay.

I have had many students right about god and their religious beliefs. There is nothing wrong with that. It would be wrong if I were to make that part of the assignment or if the student was allowed to "preach" to other students. But students should feel free to express what they are thinking.

[Uben]

10. Religions do not belong in politics...or schools

If you teach religion in schools, you can't just pick one, you have to cover all of them. That's what churches are for. I do not want my kids subject to someone else's beliefs...keep to yourself and your family. Sorry, you do not get to control what my kids believe....that's my job!

That's why I abhor organized religion of all sorts. Religion is all about control, and what we are seeing in todays demographics is that more and more people are realizing this and turning away from religion. The church has done it to themselves.

My personal belief is that all preachers/ministers/priests are con-men, selling a pig in a poke. I cannot respect these people one iota. I can't deny that some good does come out of religion, but there is also a lot of bad things that come out of it. But, religion is a personal choice and and should be kept to one's self.

Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and I do not wish to influence anyone one way or the other. Believe what you want, as long as it does not affect my life, and we'll get along just fine!

[Goblinmonger]

11. But this isn't teaching religion

This is a student deciding, on their own, to complete a generic assignment with their thoughts about god. There's nothing wrong with that in 98% of instances. Likely higher. I can think of a few examples when it would be problematic but not many.

[cbayer]

14. OMG, Goblinmonger!

No only are we making the same argument, we are using the same words!!

Must be a cold day in hell.

[Goblinmonger]

16. ...........

[cbayer]

12. But this is not about teaching religion.

It's about an individual's right to embrace the religion of their choice without government interference.

The child wasn't proselytizing, she was just expressing her own ideas.

And the teacher incorrectly interfered.

If anything, the child's 1st amendment rights were the ones being violated, as the government (teacher) was telling her that making a choice based on her religious beliefs would not be permitted.

My father is a minister and he's not a con man. Sorry to see that you have generalized to such a degree. If this were being aimed at any other group, one might easily apply other terms to what you are saying here.

What is different about someone expressing their ideas as a believer and you expressing yours as a non-believer? If neither of you use your position to harm others or restrict their rights, why would you be more entitled to express yours?

[Goblinmonger]

13. If you didn't have me on ignore

you would see how much we agree on this one.

[cbayer]

15. We were again writing at the same time. I don't have you on ignore, btw.