It seems plausible that ignorant students are the result of terrible teachers.
Recently, a prominent political figure in my home State was invited to speak at a high school. The politician is an outspoken Christian which is problematic for terrible people including those who happen to be teachers. Several teachers stepped up to educate me about their terribleness.
“Religion, as our Founding Fathers believed, should be kept separate from matters of state,” wrote a public school teacher whom we’ll call ‘Kels.’ “The doctrine espoused by Jefferson also means that the government should not interfere with religion. It works both ways. Would you want a representative from the government to come into your church and regulate all that you do?”
Kels (who, remember, is a teacher) lectured that the government should not interfere with religion AND that representatives from the government cannot regulate what happens in church. Both of those concepts are true while also being the exact same concept. In between her restatements of the same idea she says, “It works both ways.” Which is not only wrong, but also incorrect. Aside from that, she is mistaken.
The separation of church and State goes in one direction. The government cannot force you to go to church, pray to Ra, worship cows, or celebrate Kwanza. At the same time, the government cannot stop you from doing those things or any other kooky ritual your religion requires. Kels understood that as a teacher, she can’t force her students to cross themselves but doesn’t understand that as United States citizen, she is allowed to cross herself, pray facing Mecca, or wear a medicine bag around her neck without violating the separation of church and State.
That’s only half the problem…
Another person, who we’ll call ‘Sands,’ made this astonishing statement: “I am a teacher at a public institution, and I am an atheist. I do not teach my students about atheism, nor do I prohibit any discussion of religion in my classes, however; there should not be any proselytizing for religion in public school.”
Sands (who, remember, is a teacher) claims that she does not prohibit ANY discussion of religion…except proselytizing. That’s like allowing discussion of sports as long as you don’t mention your favorite team. You can discuss health and fitness but you can’t talk about your personal diet.
Sands went on to say, “In public schools you have people of many beliefs and no beliefs. It’s disrespectful to make it seem like one set of beliefs is better than another.” Sands (reminder: a teacher) actually said there are people in public school with ‘no beliefs.’ She’s unaware that saying you have “no beliefs” is itself a belief.
“John, you jerk!!! You know what she means!!! She’s saying that some people aren’t religious!!!!”
I know that’s what she’s saying. I also know why she’s saying it.
Atheists think that saying, “I don’t believe in God,” sets them free from the constraints of religious convictions. They believe it’s not religious to say, “It’s disrespectful to treat one belief as better than another.” They don’t see any disrespect in telling Christians to leave their beliefs at home. Atheists believe incoherence and self-contradiction are exclusive to ‘religion’ and it is therefore impossible for them to be irrational because they aren’t ‘religious.’ Understand? If you do, I dare you to try and explain it these teachers.
So…A politician expressed his religious views in a public school and the religious response from public school teachers was that religion does not belong in public school. These teachers insist that they are not religious because that would be a violation of the separation of church and State.
I think terrible teachers might be having a negative impact on public school education.
(Romans 1:20) For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
