Our substitute teacher asked if I had Jesus in my heart...

[WillParkinson]

[vlyons]

1. These fundamentalists are just ignorant people

They mean well, but they are going about it entirely in an unattractive and unproductive way. It's a big big turn off to agnostics and atheists, to people of other religions, and even to other Christian denominations sometimes. I'm a Buddhist, and I was told by an old high lama not to try and convert people. Don't talk about Vajrayana Buddhism to non-Buddhists, because they won't understand and will probably get all kinds of crazy ideas about it. Don't proselytize, because it's a waste of time. People have to first ask for teachings from an authentic spiritual teacher. That way, you know they are ready to hear it and practice the teachings.

A much better and more effect approach is to teach kids about ethical morality and personal virtue. One doesn't have to be in a religion to practice honesty, truthfulness, civil and respectful discourse, civic responsibility, generosity, kindness toward others, mental focus, self-restraint, modesty, temperance, patience, courage, justice, etc. Are these qualities no longer taught?

[Doreen]

2. I second everything you said.

I like that we are taught to take responsibility for everything we do, don't do, say, and don't say. I have never liked the idea of being allowed to lay the responsibility of my actions and inaction's on some type of deity or some man hung on a cross.

[msongs]

3. they dont "mean well" they are spreading poision and hate to satisfy their own egos nt

[pandr32]

4. Not often enough--to answer your question

Wonderful post by the way.
There are still some of us who have managed to bring up our children to have the qualities you outlined. Proper socialization is key--be the good example, but a parent now also needs to be able to discuss the endless bad examples children see and hear each and every day--making the job of parenting harder than it should be, thanks to emboldened intolerance and bigotry. We can't even drive down the street without seeing someone next to a parked truck covered in scary signs claiming babies are being murdered by democrats and we have to save our country from fags and illegals--capped off with Jesus is king or something similar--so many variations--even in the check-out lines of our stores are filled with outspoken disgruntled people who cannot tolerate someone in the line speaking a language other than English.
We live in a diverse country and world. Children should be taught about other cultures in our schools beginning right at Kindergarten. Mentions of religion should include all the major beliefs in the world and point out the rich mythological features and stories that are often similar. The reason for a separation of church and state should be made clear as children are taught civics and have been taught of a diverse world and history.
Needless to say--there is much to teach our kids. My hat is off to parents who stand up for ethics, virtue, and reason each and every day. It is a battle.

[maddiemom]

17. Universal Consciousness...

has been addressed in some (usually literature) textbooks I've seen. It's usually quite interesting to many high school students and if approached in the right way, SHOULDN'T offend anyone---but, again, some parents take critical thinking as an affront to their religious beliefs.

[pandr32]

24. Exactly why we need good public schools!

Not all parents prepare their children for the reality of our diverse world, our international economy and our globally shared challenges.
The responsibility of public schools was once and should be still--to educate our children in every neighborhood. Critical thinking should be part and parcel.
Unfortunately, not all people who are caregivers to a child are competent and responsible. It takes a village!

[The River]

5. Not Ignorant

just fearful that their ego will not continue in time. It's the most primitive fear there is. Almost as soon as human consciousness became aware of linear time with a past, a present and a future, they also realized that their individual consciousness, their ego, would not continue to exist "in time". They promptly began constructing an "afterlife" in which their ego would continue to exist.

Religion is an evolutionary response to the "death terror". We will out grow that fear "in time" and come to realize that "I" have always existed outside of and prior to time even if our ego does not.

Your second paragraph is spot on.

[Volaris]

11. The difference between the I and the ego is a lot of pain

And it seems to me a lot of these people have been told they shouldn't have to endure it, cause they're special, or white, or, male, or somesuch bullshit...

[Major Nikon]

13. All religions rely heavily on proselytizing, even Buddhism

Religionists almost without exception proselytize to their children, which is where most of their followers originate. If people allowed their children to wait until they are adults to make any decisions about religion, organized religion would die out almost entirely in one generation. The reason some religionists are so adamant about proselytizing in public schools is because they know children is where most of their new business is going to come from.

There's no shortage of people in the US who believe they only moral compass comes from a book that teaches you how to sell your children into slavery. So no, true ethics and more importantly critical thinking in regards to making ethical decisions aren't truly taught by many. Instead they hand their children a book that says witches must be put to death with the full confidence that everything will turn out OK.

[SonofDonald]

6. Live and let live

Is my motto, I don't believe but I do believe you have the right to do so if that's what you want, I have zero problems with others beliefs.

Until they use them against me, I won't go into how that's been tried before, it's all personal choice until it's directed at others.

I don't know where the universe came from, or anything prior to it's existence, I don't think we are meant to know or will ever have enough information to try.

But I know I'm real, and we exist, how and why I'll never know, I just look up at the sky at night and wonder, I read everything I can understand about our universe and leave it at that.

And it's so damn beautiful.

And that's enough for me now, look at the stars.......

[kimbutgar]

7. I am a substitute teacher and would never bring up religion or politics

Kids try to ask me about chump and I say he is president and we have to respect him. I want to vomit inside my mouth saying this. But I am the teacher no have to be neutral on religion and politics.

[LOL Lib]

8. But children are like sponges...they deserve truth and facts.

Telling a child to respect a monster like trump does not sit well with me. Why should we teach a child to respect a person who has zero respect for others? Do you not think that creates a huge conflict in a budding young mind?

[kimbutgar]

12. I agree but as a "public" school teacher I feel I have to be neutral

I get around it by talking about bullies and how it is wrong to insult, demean, talkdown and become physically abusive to others. They are sponges but I want them to have opportunities to critically think. My favorite thing is to point out the differences of fact vs opinion and how to spot the difference. I have been implementing these techniques since November.

[NoMoreRepugs]

14. Good on you to encourage critical thinking.

If we had a bit more of it amongst the voting age population in this country we would not be in the trouble we are in.

[LOL Lib]

22. Nice!!!

I applaud you. I do understand that you walk a fine line. Please keep up the fact/fiction/opinion discussions. That can't be stressed enough.

Thank you for doing one of the most thankless jobs ever.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Wrong answer.

"Respect the office" is the right answer.

A little bit longer answer is "Respect the Office of the President, but form your own opinions and own reactions to the statements and actions of the various people who have been and are President."

You do not need to respect the person. Realistically, we need to actively disrespect the Mango Mussolini.

[No Vested Interest]

18. While I agree that as a substitute teacher you should not reflect partisanship to

your students, I don't know if I could go as far as to say "we have to respect him."
I can see saying "He is our President". Period.

Of course, a (substitute) teacher must watch tone and facial expression as well in those matters.
Best wishes to you. You are fulfilling an important role.

[Skittles]

25. why do we have to respect a traitor?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. As is too often the case, a meme graphic about education has an egregious spelling & grammar error.

And there is a post title in this thread with a spelling error.

[NRaleighLiberal]

19. +1. If I were a grammar teacher, that would get a pretty low grade!

[Xipe Totec]

15. He brought a plastic knife to an Occam's razor fight. nt

[randr]

16. I would have responded by stating that since I hold no prejudices or hatred against anyone

I just might.

[NRaleighLiberal]

20. The correct answer would be "no, just blood"

[BigmanPigman]

21. As a teacher for 15+ years I would've been reprimanded by my administration and "written up"".

That's against the law unless you're in a religious, private school. Students don't even have to say "The Pledge" as long as they stand up. I would've reported that teacher. Due to various religious beliefs we aren't allowed to do or say a lot. Jehovah's Witnesses can't even partake in celebrations like birthdays.

[msongs]

23. so was the offending sub teacher reported for this recruiting of minors? nt