This is appalling!

[fabrisse]

THIS ruling appalls me.

As far as I'm concerned, the teacher's first amendment rights have been violated. I must say, I'm not sure why creationism was being discussed in AP European History, but referring to it as "superstitious nonsense" is not out of line.

School introduces everyone to new ideas. That includes the family that brought this lawsuit. The reparations they are requesting, like having the teacher's classes monitored, put a cold chill on my academic heart.

Comments

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, there are plenty of soapboxes to go around. That one's for 100% organic soap. *G*

One of the problems with "accepting the scientific method into my heart" a couple of years ago is that free thinking -- as my bosses at the Vrije Universiteit called it -- is not accorded the same respect in American discourse as religion.

Had the kid gone and spoken to the principal, or even if the parents had spoken to the superintendent or school board, I would have no problem with it. But however personally offensive the remark was -- and however out of line it might have been within the context of the class -- a teacher cannot be afraid of expressing an opinion in his classroom.

The students are supposed to be exposed to all points of view.

Part of my problem is that, even when I was devout, and I was, it never occurred to me that evolution wasn't part of God's plan. The Muslim idea that God put us here to understand him and science and mathematics are the clues -- and our brain the tool -- He gave us was closer to my beliefs than creationism.

[innerslytherin]

Well, I personally am of the opinion that it honestly doesn't matter whether evolution or creationism is correct. I believe 100% that God created the world, and I don't sweat the details of HOW He did it. *shrug* If He felt like taking all the years that the scientists say evolution took, that's cool. If He felt like doing it in 7 days and just put fossils and stuff there to baffle us, okay, fine.

LOL I'm afraid I'm too much a Liberal Arts major to give a crap either way. I think it's fascinating to discuss either possibility, but a 100% correct answer? What the hell's that, I have a BA! *G*

I do agree that teachers shouldn't have to be afraid in their own classrooms. Of course, this is one reason I wouldn't want to be a teacher. It's a frightening amount of responsibility and a terribly thankless job, obviously. I do take exception to calling someone's belief system nonsense, but I also take exception to suing over something ridiculous like that.

Then again, I am a strange creature politically. In an ideal world I would be a Libertarian, but in the world we're stuck with, I'm an elitist bitch snob, because I think that people are too stupid and lazy to take responsibility for themselves.

>.>

It's possible that opinion also makes me a bad Christian. I'm working on that.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

My father went to a Baptist university, back in the day. His physics teacher taught them the Big Bang (and in the 1950s, that was waaaaay out there), but reminded them that something had to say "Go."

I was always taught that belief in God did not preclude science. It bothers me that mainstream protestantism, which used to be the hotbed for religious humanism, is now leaning toward biblical literalism.

Sadly, too many Americans seem to think taking responsibility for themselves means bringing a lawsuit. Had there been active discrimination, that would be one thing.

Your "elitist bitch snob" comment (welcome to the club, by the way.) reminded me of a guest we had in my "London Theatre" class in college. He was talking about his very Labour party views. When he left, the teacher turned to me and said, "that man is one of nature's aristocrats."

A really bad Christian wouldn't be worried about it or working on it. ;-)