Religious school assignment - your thoughts?

[Fiddytree]

No, Fiddy. I have been arguing the OP. You have not. Your arguments are out of context.

Aunt asked us in fairly generic terms how we would feel about such an assignment. I addressed such an assignment through the lens of the profession as well as from the discipline of history. Then, when it came to wondering what that specific instructor did, I gave some benefit to Aunt's knowledge of the atmosphere of the school.

So - my 12 year old just complete an essay (or - a series of short-essays) that he had to do based on a movie they watched in world history on Moses (public school district - he's in the 8th grade) . . . as they watched a movie about Moses they were to write down numerous 'key points' from the biblical story of Moses and then select several to write into a paragraph or so and turn it in for a grade.

How would you handle this, what would you think?

Here's the original post.

Here's what Stonewall said:

Originally Posted by stonewall50
I had to learn about the Bhagavad Gita in a class. That doesn't make me Hindu, nor susceptible to becoming Hindu.

Here's what you said:

8th grade, public school, history, required? No way. Never happen, where?

Now cut the crap.

 

[sangha]

Talk to me about Moses outside of the biblical perspective.

He said "religious perspective", not "biblical perspective"

And a teacher could discuss the stories associated with Moses and the effect the belief in such stories had on civilization w/o endorsing a specific religious perspective

 

[Aunt Spiker]

He said "religious perspective", not "biblical perspective"

And a teacher could discuss the stories associated with Moses and the effect the belief in such stories had on civilization w/o endorsing a specific religious perspective

I don't believe that's possible and it's obvious to me that's not the case. Trying to say otherwise is letting ones self be fooled. Especially when the majority of people in this area are Christian - not Jewish, not Islamic - Christian.

Perspective- this isn't religious history in a college nested in a large university. It's Junior High School.

 

[sangha]

I don't believe that's possible and it's obvious to me that's not the case. Trying to say otherwise is letting ones self be fooled. Especially when the majority of people in this area are Christian - not Jewish, not Islamic - Christian.

Perspective- this isn't religious history in a college nested in a large university. It's Junior High School.

I disagree about the fooling myself remark, though I *do* understand your concern given the age. IMO, it would be more appropriate in a High School.

 

[Risky Thicket]

Aunt asked us in fairly generic terms how we would feel about such an assignment. I addressed such an assignment through the lens of the profession as well as from the discipline of history. Then, when it came to wondering what that specific instructor did, I gave some benefit to Aunt's knowledge of the atmosphere of the school.



Here's the original post.

Here's what Stonewall said:



Here's what you said:



Now cut the crap.

Fiddy, what am I missing here? Are you saying that you and Stonewall and everyone else who has provided anecdotal examples experienced those examples in public school, 8th grade history classes?

I too have had classes discussing religion, religious literature and comparative religion. They were, each and everyone, extremely valuable. NONE, zip, nada were disguised as public school 8th grade history classes. That is the core of the OP. I'm thinking you haven't read it.

 

[Fiddytree]

Fiddy, what am I missing here? Are you saying that you and Stonewall and everyone else who has provided anecdotal examples experienced those examples in public school, 8th grade history classes?

I too have had classes discussing religion, religious literature and comparative religion. They were, each and everyone, extremely valuable. NONE, zip, nada were disguised as public school 8th grade history classes. That is the core of the OP. I'm thinking you haven't read it.

I'm assuming that they have provided grade school experiences that either predate or come shortly after 8th grade. I couldn't offer 8th grade scenarios, as most religion units are covered in widescale World history courses, which are saved for 6th graders or 9th graders. 7th grade around here they learn geography, 8th grade American history, and state history. In the 6th grade we were no strangers to religious history, so I offer that experience. In the 9th grade, you were no stranger to religious history either. Both are required history courses. The notion that I had to provide a Biblical story in the 8th grade is ridiculous. It won't exist. It will in grades that predate that and come right after that. It all depends on the set up of the state and the district, but I nearly guarantee you, you will find across at least much of the United States, an attempt to grapple with religious figures from many different religions and how they are perceived from the cultures that value them.

Stop saying I haven't read the OP, when you're just being ridiculous.

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

Fiddy, what am I missing here? Are you saying that you and Stonewall and everyone else who has provided anecdotal examples experienced those examples in public school, 8th grade history classes?

I too have had classes discussing religion, religious literature and comparative religion. They were, each and everyone, extremely valuable. NONE, zip, nada were disguised as public school 8th grade history classes. That is the core of the OP. I'm thinking you haven't read it.

Mine was from high school. But the grade is pretty irrelevant. What would seem to be the deciding factor on appropriateness is the context it was taught in. If the context is kept secular and academic then there isn't really an inherent problem introducing it to the class room.

 

[Risky Thicket]

I'm assuming that they have provided grade school experiences that either predate or come shortly after 8th grade. I couldn't offer 8th grade scenarios, as most religion units are covered in widescale World history courses, which are saved for 6th graders or 9th graders. 7th grade around here they learn geography, 8th grade American history, and state history. In the 6th grade we were no strangers to religious history, so I offer that experience. In the 9th grade, you were no stranger to religious history either. Both are required history courses. The notion that I had to provide a Biblical story in the 8th grade is ridiculous. It won't exist. It will in grades that predate that and come right after that. It all depends on the set up of the state and the district, but I nearly guarantee you, you will find across at least much of the United States, an attempt to grapple with religious figures from many different religions and how they are perceived from the cultures that value them.

Stop saying I haven't read the OP, when you're just being ridiculous.

Fiddy, It very much indeed depends on the state and district, but I'm willing to bet you that Spiker's kid's district won't support your assertions. Not a chance.

Read the OP.

Risky

 

[Risky Thicket]

Mine was from high school. But the grade is pretty irrelevant..

No, sorry mate. The grade is relevant.

 

[spud_meister]

Oh, the horror. A child learnt something about religion...

No, wait, I guess it's better that a child learn to mock religion, than to be tolerant and understanding.

 

[Fiddytree]

Can you stop mindlessly telling me to re-read the OP, when I have done so several times? It's insulting to my intelligence that I didn't approach this fairly and with knowledge surrounding how this is done.

How about this one: Re-read my posts.

 

[Risky Thicket]

Can you stop mindlessly telling me to re-read the OP, when I have done so several times? It's insulting to my intelligence that I didn't approach this fairly and with knowledge surrounding how this is done.

How about this one: Re-read my posts.

I did re-read your posts, Fiddy. That is why I suggested several times that it might be helpful to you if you understood the OP. Maybe you should read it again. Can't hurt.

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

No, sorry mate. The grade is relevant.

Besides the possibility of the lesson not being age appropriate, why would the grade matter? Clearly such material can be taught and used in teaching, without ever endorsing it

the specific grade seems immaterial to that

 

[sangha]

Besides the possibility of the lesson not being age appropriate, why would the grade matter? Clearly such material can be taught and used in teaching, without ever endorsing it

the specific grade is immaterial to that

Aside from the one reason why teaching such a lesson might be inappropriate, teaching such lessons is totally appropriate.

 

[Risky Thicket]

Besides the possibility of the lesson not being age appropriate, why would the grade matter? Clearly such material can be taught and used in teaching, without ever endorsing it

the specific grade is immaterial to that

The OP addresses the issue regarding 8th grade, public school, history.

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

The OP addresses the issue regarding 8th grade, public school, history.

Yes, and I'm telling you there seems little reason to be focused on the 8th grade. Maybe explain why it being the 8th grade is important when considering the issue?

 

[sangha]

Yes, and I'm telling you there seems little reason to be focused on the 8th grade. Maybe explain why it being the 8th grade is important when considering the issue?

Age is a valid concern when determining the appropriateness of a lesson. For example, sex education should include a lesson on how to use a condom, but not in a 3rd grade SE class.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Yes, and I'm telling you there seems little reason to be focused on the 8th grade. Maybe explain why it being the 8th grade is important when considering the issue?

How old are you and do you have kids?

My son's an 8th grader - 12 years old - and he has aspergers. . .a cognitive development disorder in the autism spectrum.

Age matters. Age goes along with maturity and so forth - why do you think it doesn't? Were you advanced when you were 12? Most kids are just normal and for a special-education classroom that is much less so . . .they're usually behind in one way or another.

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

Age is a valid concern when determining the appropriateness of a lesson. For example, sex education should include a lesson on how to use a condom, but not in a 3rd grade SE class.

Yes, I agree lessons need to be age appropriate, but that is nothing unique to this material

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

My son's an 8th grader - 12 years old - and he has aspergers. . .a cognitive development disorder in the autism spectrum.

Not to be flippant, but ok?

 

[Fiddytree]

How old are you and do you have kids?

My son's an 8th grader - 12 years old - and he has aspergers. . .a cognitive development disorder in the autism spectrum.

Age matters. Age goes along with maturity and so forth - why do you think it doesn't? Were you advanced when you were 12? Most kids are just normal and for a special-education classroom that is much less so . . .they're usually behind in one way or another.

My brother has PDD NOS and I have NLD. We went through the same curriculum.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Oh, the horror. A child learnt something about religion...

No, wait, I guess it's better that a child learn to mock religion, than to be tolerant and understanding.

So if my kid's aren't being taught religious stories in school then they're automatically being taught how to hate it?

That seems highly illogical. Explain please.

In my view: if they're not being taught religious stories in school then they're likely learning it in church if they attend - or from family and friends who are of faith. . . doesn't mean they're being taught to hate it just because it's not in the history curriculum.

My father's a minister - so just the opposite.

My parents at least have the decency to explain to the kids "we believe..." and talk about their personal faith rather than trying to fool the kids into believing that Biblical history is verified historical fact.

 

[lizzie]

So - my 12 year old just complete an essay (or - a series of short-essays) that he had to do based on a movie they watched in world history on Moses (public school district - he's in the 8th grade) . . . as they watched a movie about Moses they were to write down numerous 'key points' from the biblical story of Moses and then select several to write into a paragraph or so and turn it in for a grade.

How would you handle this, what would you think?

It wouldn't bother me, if they were critiqing a movie that they had watched. Much would depend on what the actual movie was, and what the content was. Was it supposed to have been historical, or was it a religious movie? This seems a little odd to me, even having been a kid in the 50's and 60's. I don't recall ever watching anything remotely religious in public school.

 

[blackjack50]

As such your post is irrelevant.

Absolutely not. I had American history in 8th grade. I have heard of schools setting it up different. Hence my qualifier that it DEPENDS on the curriculum. Given the OP...they said it was WORLD history that I took in 9th I believe. It is absolutely relevant to WORLD history. So why show a little respect and give me more than a "your post doesn't matter" response.

 

[blackjack50]

So if my kid's aren't being taught religious stories in school then they're automatically being taught how to hate it?

That seems highly illogical. Explain please.

In my view: if they're not being taught religious stories in school then they're likely learning it in church if they attend - or from family and friends who are of faith. . . doesn't mean they're being taught to hate it just because it's not in the history curriculum.

My father's a minister - so just the opposite.

My parents at least have the decency to explain to the kids "we believe..." and talk about their personal faith rather than trying to fool the kids into believing that Biblical history is verified historical fact.

I need to ask. For what class is this being taught? Subject and section. That is the biggest factor in determining reason. I mean a simple phone call to the teacher at a reasonable time might shed light on why that is an assignment.

Sadly we have a sue happy society and people often overlook the simple stuff in favor of a moderate action that may solve the problem. Again. I am not aiming that at you. Just stating that our society is so reactionary now that it is sad how fast some people flip. At least you had the decency to ask.