Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Atheist Exile on February 4, 2012 at 9:39am

The best time to tell the truth is at your retirement party.

Tell the truth, but leave immediately after :-)

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Permalink Reply by Ryan McCauley on February 8, 2012 at 1:16pm

I think you should tell the truth. 6Th graders should be able to understand people think differently and I would hope by that age they understood differences in religion or beliefs.
I think it might also be good for the kids to see a positve role model that doesn't belive in god.
But it is a thin line and unfortunately some patents get bent.
I really think being honest could even help kids that might think that not believing in god is something wrong with them or something they need to hide too.
Good luck. Hope I helped a little.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Moore on February 9, 2012 at 12:05pm

Tell the truth, but tell them it is a highly personal choice.  You will teach them all to stand up for what they believe, even if it's unpopular.  Hopefully it also teaches them to question, which should be the main focus of education anyway...

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Permalink Reply by Max Johnson on February 10, 2012 at 1:59am

I hate being lied to, i was in 6th not to long ago, I wasn't dumb, most of them can probably handle it.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Ditto on February 10, 2012 at 9:22am

I wouldn't beat yourself up. It is a hard situation to be in and I would've probably done the same thing. If that little girl had gone home and told her parents that her teacher didn't believe it could've started a downward spiral.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy T on February 10, 2012 at 9:50am

That story reminds me of when I shed my 'faith', except it was 4th grade. I didn't ask if my teacher believed in a god, but learning the Scientific Method the period pretty much cemented my newfound non-belief.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Ditto on February 10, 2012 at 9:52am

"You might want to tell the girl that her family is not exactly lying, because they believe it themselves"

That's slippery slope when you are in a teaching position

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Ditto on February 10, 2012 at 9:59am

Well, that falls into the separation of church and state. She works for a state institution of learning. In my opinion something like that could get you fired and one's opinions about religion or politics should be left out of the equation.

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Tope on February 16, 2012 at 1:55pm

Unfortunatly, things like these are hard to determine considering the hidden curriculum. There are many things that teachers are forced to teach upon children. Depending on the situation of the work place for you it may be okay to actually question god to your students. I don't see why in the curriculum we are told to teach about god and the bible and what it means for the most part yet we cannot raise questions and disbeliefs about it. It really all depends on your work environment and if those types of things will be allowed in the classroom... which they definatly should be.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Ditto on February 17, 2012 at 8:19am

This is where we differ '. It really all depends on your work environment and if those types of things will be allowed in the classroom... which they definatly should be."

I don't think it should be allowed in public school systems unless it's a class on theology as an elective. Religion has no place in public schools and government.

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Tope on February 17, 2012 at 2:39pm

Well that's exactly what I was getting at. Of course religion should not be inforced in a public school system. It should be something of a choice, and not forced upon children. I was referring to atheisim in school systems. If our children are forced to learn about religion they should learn the contrasting views about it, and not just what the bible teaches.I do agree with you that religion should not be in the public school system or the government because yes it has no place.

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Permalink Reply by Ken on February 22, 2012 at 1:05pm

What are your feelings on teaching evolution? I mean.. a theory, disproved over 4 decades ago... countless modern discoveries that lead to intelligent design.... The acknowledgment of people like Dawkins who say,"It appears that everything has intelligent design," I mean.. don't you feel sickened that you are teaching these kids a bunch of false theories that are only kept around to not stir up trouble? 

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