teacher responsibility and religion

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teacher responsibility and religion
By Nancy

All of us are paid to go into a classroom and educate children, and I think most of us agree that the education in most public school systems involve language/english, math, science, social studies, health/gym. We can also
set a good example, teach students to treat other people in a manner in which they would like to be treated, etc. without bringing any religious banter into it. Unless the original poster is in a private situation, and this has been said over and over, religion (whether you like it or not) does not belong in the classroom in a public school system.
In addition, what frightens me

a little is that this was posted on the "sub. board," so is the original poster a substitute going into other teacher's classrooms and "educating" those children to his/her beliefs? I would think that the regular classroom teacher might have some thoughts concerning the substitute teacher's use of her classroom as his/her pulpit. Certainly I think its a good way to get yourself in trouble and perhaps, to be blacklisted as a sub.

If the original poster truly wants to reach out to these children who he/she believes need to be "saved", please find a new arena, outside of the school classroom, in which to spread your word. People are very sensitive about their religious beliefs, and are entitled to believe what they would like, whether the original poster likes it or not. While the children in your classroom may not behave as "christians" in your view, they may indeed belong to some religious group (although probably not to yours) and would be incredibly offended if you tried to change it.

Anyhow, I know I've babbled... In a nutshell, religion is to be taught at home by parents, by clergypeople in church, in Sunday school, etc., it is not to be taught by a classroom teacher. If a child doesn't like the religious beliefs being taught to him, believe me, he or she will make up their own mind when they get older. But, keep in mind, just because they don't share a belief that someone else shares, does not make them immoral or just plain bad kids.