This is appalling!
May. 4th, 2009 08:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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.
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.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 02:21 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 02:35 am (UTC)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. ;-)