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You CAN'T teach kids anything that even suggests a religion is false in any way in schools, actually, yeah. Public schools are not supposed to touch upon religion is such a way.
Maybe some kids thought God's existence was a fact. Maybe some thought it was an opinion. Maybe some thought it was a common assertion. The issue is using God as an example of this in the first place. This isn't separation of church and state. This is bringing God into a public school and forcing them to acknowledge what she says is the right answer. Opinion wasn't even correct, like I would think, it is common assertion that is the right answer. She is telling them that the existence of God is not substantiated. Even IF that's true, that kind of stuff is supposed to stay out of public schools.
I don't know why this is even being debated. The principal and district agreed and so would most people who recognize separation of church and state, as public schools fall under state. This was not a secular question. She could have made the exact same point using another example. You can teach the principles of Christianity but you cannot declare a status on the existence of God. Those are two completely different subjects.
Yes …
Again, this is NOT about "The God Question," but is about The First Amendment separation of Church and State ...
Except you don't believe in a rock and once again you're being condescending and pretending like a rock and an organized religion that is 2000 years old are the same.
If you can't see how incredibly condescending it is to call someone's faith a fairytale then it is hopeless. And I'm not even a religious person. I identify with a religion but I'm not that into it. If it makes you feel better about yourself and what you believe to make others seem or feel inferior to you, then that's on you. But I don't play that way.
Yes …
It has long been my observation that many (supposedly) scientific/skeptical/rational Atheists are every bit as closed minded and obnoxiously arrogant as the unscientific/rationalistic/desperate Fundamentalists …
Only because a kid texted her parent from her seat the second the assignment was handed out. Why kids are allowed to text in class, I don't know.
Remember this was NOT a discussion assignment, it was a "circle the correct term" worksheet. No one was teaching anything about God or religion.
There was discussion about why Common Assertion is the 'correct' answer. The teacher had to explain why CA is 'correct' and Opinion and Fact are wrong. If you think a 7th grade English teacher should shake 12 year-old children's commitment to God' existence, fine. Fortunately, the school district and school principal know better.
She injected Religion into that quiz by listing God as an answer.
Could have easily bypassed religion and used "Easter Bunny" or "Tooth Fairy" or even "Santa Claus" instead.
The school was right in the actions they took.
Separation of Church and State. The State shall make no religion. And the teacher works for the government.
Her personal beliefs need to stay out of the classroom.
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