Lawsuit tests religious speech in class

[Panono]

In a lawsuit that's shining a spotlight on the role of religion in higher education, an Ohio community college philosophy professor says administrators punished him because he made a point of disclosing his Catholic beliefs in the classroom.

While the college hasn't presented its side of the story yet, it appears that the case will pit the professor's freedom of speech against the school's right to control its staff. There's a larger question too, one that will be debated outside the court system: Even if it's legal, should educators ever tell students about their faith?

One national organization has already jumped into the fray. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a five-year-old legal advocacy group, is assisting James Tuttle, who filed suit on June 30 against Lakeland Community College of Kirtland, a Cleveland suburb.

"Apparently, at Lakeland College, Thomas Aquinas wouldn't be able to teach philosophy," says David French, president of the Philadelphia-based FIRE.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0712/p11s02-legn.html

[Nikia]

1. I went to an independant liberal arts college

It was no longer in any way religiously affiliated. The professors had a wide range of religous beliefs. Many professors did bring up their relgion if it were in some way pertainent to the subject. The funny thing is the closest thing that I heard to a sermon was from an agnostic Russian literature professor. He was explaining Russian Orthodox beliefs in reference to the book that we were reading. Then he said "I don't know why I am preaching Christianity to you. I am an agnostic."

[fdr_hst_fan]

2. As long as they're

not PUSHING their faith on anyone, I have no problem with it; when I was in High School, I had a class in Comparative Religion: we were taught the basics of the religions of the world, but the teacher didn't have his OWN religious agenda that he was pushing.

[Placebo]

3. Thats just silly...

I knew all of my teacher's religious affiliations, it just sort of came up over time. It didn't mean they were trying to convert me or anything, I don't see a problem with what this man has done.

and i'm one of the most crazy pro-seperation of church and state people around. i once staged a protest because my US history teacher was giving extra credit to students who could name all the gifts from the song "on the 12th day of christmas" before christmas/winter vacation!

"what if someone is jewish? or muslim? or raised atheist? it's unfair to punish them by not allowing them to have the same chance at getting academic extra credit!"

SHE said "it's not a religous thing, it's a cultural/american thing, they should know it" yea, shuuuuuuure... :grr:

[Nikia]

4. Several Christmas songs were written by Jews

For them, it was an American culture thing. The irony of it all.

[pop goes the weasel]

5. I am surprised he wasn't called on the carpet before

From the article--
In the note, Tuttle describes himself as a "catholic Christian philosopher and theologian" who is "passionate, controversial (not politically correct), candid and zany/earthy." He urges students to "be aware of where I am coming from" and says his critics often "have personal issues with faith, religion, morals and ideology."

So, he's emotional (passionate), rude (not politically correct), blunt (candid), and vulgar (zany/earthy), and students who find him offensive "have personal issues."

I think this guy has personal issues with taking responsibility for his own behavior. I've known enough philosophy instructors to know that they often are front and center with their religious beliefs, but they also make a point of not treating people who disagree with them rudely or with contempt. This guy, I'm not so sure.