What's so wrong with openly discussing religious beliefs in school?

Question

Why are there so many teachers/professors who are failing students based on their beliefs?!

Answer 1

Students are not being failed for relgious beliefs. Indeed,

students aren't being failed even for not performing in

class.

Answer 2

Taught for 30 years, never failed/flunked a student for his/her religious beliefs. I never saw it happen in my school district (hundreds of teachers). So obviously your statement is false if you can't back it up with facts instead of opinion.

I had a 2nd grade student tell me he wasn't allowed (it was against his religion) to draw pictures with snow in them. I asked his mom about that, she said he had it wrong, he wasn't allowed to draw Christmas pictures. I told her this was a public school, I don't assign religious themes for artwork.

Answer 3

Please cite which professors are failing students because of their beliefs?

Answer 4

What was your final? Was it an essay where you answered, "What Do You Believe In?" And since you disagree he failed you?

Or do you not believe in the same things as your professor and he failed you on a test that you rightfully did poorly on?

I was always the odd one out in school being an atheist. I graduated with high honors.

Answer 5

I can believe that some teachers would fail a kid who shared a different religion.  That is one reason why the school is not a place to discuss beliefs like this.  Personally, I think that the time spent on these discussions could be better used on other subjects.

Answer 6

I feel the same way.  I think that things have gotten WAY out of hand in this arena.

My son is 10 and homeschooled, so he doesn't deal with this (yet), but a good friend's college-age son has been failed on opinion-based and persuasive essays that didn't meet with the prof's worldview.  (He was told that his work was of good quality, but he "obviously" wasn't understanding the point of the class if he held such a "limited" view of things.)  He chose to take the lower grade rather than write something he didn't believe in.  

IMO, it takes a pretty darn insecure prof to fail a kid for not towing the propaganda line.

Answer 7

I have been teaching math and history for eleven years and have never failed a student for their beliefs, unless is was a belief in not doing their work.

Answer 8

Because it walks a fine line between educating and pushing. The separation of church and state is a big deal and many public institutions take the "better safe than sorry" approach.

Answer 9

if they are failing them on that, the students need to do something. I dare say it would be a very hard case to prove.

And the US CONSTITUTION, its called the ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE!!..

Answer 10

Teachers and professors are NOT doing this!!!  While I'm sure their are a few biggotted teachers out there, the vast majority are perfectly willing to teach students from any religious background, and they don't care at all if students discuss their religious beliefs.  

Most parents, however, would object to teachers discussing their own religious beliefs with students, particularly if they were different from their students.