Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
And what kind of Christian would you happen to be?
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlygal
I'm a Christian. I think all of those students should get a big fat "F." Books are about learning and becoming educated. Gay people aren't going anywhere. At least read the book to find some human common ground.
Seriously, all types of books feature characters that are murderers, liars, thieves, adulterers, etc. Heck, that describes a good portion of the Bible. Are they going to refuse to read most literature because the characters aren't perfect?
We had a discussion about it a while back and while they didn't crack the top 10, they are frequently challenged. Other classics like Of Mice and Men are on the top ten list in past years.
It's a big country, someone is always offended about something.
I've also taught Of Mice and Men, in addition to Huck Finn.
I did have one parent who disagreed with the teaching of it. That's okay, he was entitled to his opinion - didn't change my curriculum. I taught it at the middle and high school level. I also taught various volumes of the Chronicles of Narnia. I had a student who didn't think he should have to read C.S. Lewis, as he found it offensive to his religious beliefs. He was a behaviorally disordered student with Asperger's Syndrome, and from an extremely fundamentally religious family who firmly believed that he should not be assigned any reading that was from any source other than the Bible. He would have doubtless attended a private Bible school, but those available to him were unable to meet his special needs, so he did not. He'd have been out of luck if he'd wanted credit without completing the work, so it was a good thing he got over it. I've taught The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is a contemporary YA novel that is frequently disputed as an appropriate choice, due to its depictions of violence and addiction on Indian reservations, as well as content that involves strong language and adolescent sexuality (mostly references to masturbation or looking at girls, as the main characters are all teen boys). I assume that Of Mice and Men disputing dad would have also disputed it, were he even remotely familiar with it, but as it stood, he was not.
It really doesn't matter who challenges my curriculum choices, I've always freely chosen my curriculum.
Isn't one of the key elements of a university eduction to encourage free and critical thinking. If a student is supposed to unquestioningly accept the course material and then simply regurgitate what the professor expects of them on tests and and assignments to "pass the course" then it's no longer an education, rather indoctrination.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MoonBeam33
If you are not going to college to learn, to broaden your horizons, to challenge your pre-set ideas, then you shouldn't be going to college.
These "kids" are adults now, it's time to act like adults.
Do any of you weed a garden ?
Why is this important ?
In banks they do not train tellers to spot phony money, they spot phony money because they handle the real thing all the time.
Some of you I would not want working in the medical field ,you would not take infection seriously.
“The book is a quick read but not an easy one; it made me uncomfortable at times, which I think is one of the most telling reasons why it's so important for students to read,” Anand added. “It has the potential to start many arguments and conversations, which, in my opinion, is an integral component of a liberal arts education.”
The Duke Common Experience Program is designed to give incoming students a shared intellectual experience with other members of their class, with the summer reading choice as a key focal point. During orientation welcome week activities, students will discuss the book in small groups and as a larger community as part of their evening at the Durham Performing Arts Center.
Books are supposed to make you think, and that doesn't mean just reinforcing what we believe to be true. Knowing WHY people think the way they do, feel the way they feel is an important human learning experience and not one that we should ever stop doing.
Isn't one of the key elements of a university eduction to encourage free and critical thinking. If a student is supposed to unquestioningly accept the course material and then simply regurgitate what the professor expects of them on tests and and assignments to "pass the course" then it's no longer an education, rather indoctrination.
I never had a single college class where I was required to agree with the content of the course material - only study it and gain exposure to a variety of perspectives.
And I went to a religiously affiliated college. Zero indoctrination. Liberal arts philosophy, free and critical thinking was king.
I seem to recall selecting my courses based on the title of the course alone, but some of the courses were mandatory for the program I was in, especially in the first and second years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Salmonburgher
I agree with these sentiments. Nonetheless, if the prof assigns the book for reading, the students are required to do so.
I wonder if the students knew when they registered for this class what the reading assignments were going to be?
I seem to recall selecting my courses based on the title of the course alone, but some of the courses were mandatory for the program I was in, especially in the first and second years.
There is generally an add-drop period, if you choose not to continue a class once it's begun.
Are there consequences for dropping a class, if it's required? Sure. But it's your choice, ultimately, so I guess it really depends on how important it is to you to protect yourself from any exposure to philosophies, ideas, or topics that offend your sensibilities.
Sure, and why don't you just venture out of your left-liberal "bubble" and read Mein Kampf and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. That's essentially what your suggesting believing Christians should do when insisting they read gay porn.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauradrops
This is true, but they have no right to change a schools curriculum. They should quietly take their F for not doing the assignment.
If one chooses to live in a conservative christian bubble, then one should not venture outside of the bubble. If your beliefs are so strong, then you belong in a Christian college located in the bubble.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
