Comments on: Should Teachers Leave Their Faith at Home?

By: Cortney

Cortney — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 22:14:52 +0000

In reply to Joy. Imagine being agnostic in the south. Lol

By: Pastor John Wagner

Pastor John Wagner — Tue, 12 May 2020 07:18:07 +0000

I would say, we cannot decide for someone if they should leave their faith at home while they are at work. Faith is not in your control, it is a gift of God.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 02 May 2016 18:40:56 +0000

I think that it’s a really fine line to walk to bring up religion in public schools. I think it is, however, easy(ish) to speak truth without being religious. I think we can teach students basic principles that Jesus teaches us without mentioning his name or making it a religious thing. (be kind to your neighbors, love your enemies, take care of the less fortunate, forgive each other) You can model these qualities for your students regardless of what their religion is. I am an ESL teacher so I come across all religions in my classes. I also have very small classes and develop close relationships with my students. I am open about the fact that I am a Christian and am able to share more with my Christian students than I would with others. I am also bring up religion and my faith in certain conversations, mainly revolving around English and Social Studies. Often in literature, much of what we read comes from a Christian worldview or contains biblical allusions, I’ve been able to teach bible stories in a neutral when a piece of literature makes reference to it. I definitely don’t “leave my faith at home”, but I share it in a non-forceful, respectful and inclusive way, mostly just by being who I am and living out my values.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 02 May 2016 13:56:52 +0000

I personally feel by and large all religions teach us to be good and do right things. So instead of talking about specific religion can’t we teach our kids to be just good human beings, be helpful, speak the truth, do your duties and above all do right things in life simply because the right is right.

By: Neena Namrata Bali

Neena Namrata Bali — Mon, 02 May 2016 09:59:40 +0000

I personally feel by and large all religions teach us to be good and do right things. So instead of talking about specific religion can’t we teach our kids to be just good human beings, be helpful, speak the truth, do your duties well and above all do right things in life simply because the right is right. Look for leaving a mark in life for which you will be remembered because of your good deeds. Rise, awake and stop not.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 21:31:10 +0000

In reply to steve. I'm a Christian and I have no problem at all with my children's teachers teaching their religious beliefs. I want my children to learn that people are different and to learn to respect others beliefs. In 7th grade there are actual lessons on religion and beliefs. Knowing about other religions is critical knowledge. It is the ignorance of religions that breeds evil, such as kicking out all Muslims from the US. Such ignorance! You have to be very insecure about your own beliefs to worry about this. Also, what values will they teach that will harm my child? Seriously. I really don't think that anyone here is saying to crack open the Bible and have students praying. But there is nothing wrong with telling my students that I'm Christian. There is nothing wrong with me teaching and expecting high standards. Tell me a Christian standard that would harm a child? or a Budhist? or a Muslim? Jewish? Hindu? Standards and values DO NOT equal religion.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 21:18:55 +0000

In reply to Miss Night.

No need to be horrified. Religious beliefs all have value systems. You can live by and teach value systems without teaching or proselytizing a religious point of view. I haven’t read all the posts yet, but I don’ think Linda is saying to convert your students to your religion. Value systems exist for a reason. I’m certainly not teaching religion when I promote my value system that I learned from my religion. I’m not going to leave my values at the door because my students or their families have values that may be of a negative societal nature.

As an example. I may have a student who is taught to get revenge as an appropriate response. This is anti-social and destructive behavior according to my faith. I would teach to treat the offender nicer than they treated you. I do teach this and explain that it becomes increasingly difficult to harm someone who is nice to you. I have a problem with (horrified?) that everyone assumes that you have to separate your values from your teaching. Values do not equal religion just because that’s where you got them from. We are not robots. If you want robots teaching your kids… I’m not sure that would turn out so well.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 15:12:35 +0000

I love this post so much. Thank you for writing such a compelling call to action for teachers everywhere. I’m a student teacher in the NYC DOE. I live my life by these principles, but it’s not easy. Our school unique because there is a period dedicated to Social and Emotional Learning. Although the lessons are scripted from a curriculum book, I take this opportunity to mold these lessons from a Biblical perspective, teaching my students in the ways of our Lord, praying that their eyes be opened to the Way. Thank you, again.

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 23:47:15 +0000

I teach science in a public school in the south. Down here a lot of ignore Supreme Court rulings.
But I get questions such as do you believe in “the Big Bang theory”.

First of all I tell my students that in science we deal with the natural world. And then I explain to them that I am a Christian but I don’t have A problem reconciling science and Christianity. God gave us a brain. I believe that the things that God told his early people he told them in simplistic terms because that’s what they could understand. We have Learned a lot about the natural world and I think that as we learn and understand more to me that doesn’t take away from the miracle of God it adds to it.

I have students who are Muslim and I’ve had students who were Hindu and I always try to respect them. I ask them about their faith. Some of the Muslim students of had a rough time in recent months. So no I don’t leave my faith at home but neither do I proselytize. Religious faith is part of the world it’s part of our community we should be able to talk about it openly

By: Joy

Joy — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 23:38:30 +0000

I’m a first year teacher and I find myself struggling with this constantly. Of course I teach my students to have good morals and to treat everyone respectfully, but I often find myself feeling alienated for the lifestyle I live. I don’t drink or curse, which automatically makes me stick out like a sore thumb. I also dress differently than most. It’s hard when my students ask me why I dress the way I do (I don’t wear pants) or when a discussion/questions about heaven comes up when we’re talking about things in the sky for our science unit. It’s terrible to feel like I’ll be penalized for my beliefs when answering students with inquiring minds. I get that I shouldn’t “preach” to them, but it’s so hard to be open and honest with them when you have to keep so much about yourself from them.