Shoe: Meet Other Foot
It seems the tables have turned a little bit in the latest case of a teacher making inappropriate classroom statements. This time, though I agree with the teacher's sentiments on the subject, it would be hypocritical for me to praise him after condemning the actions of another teacher last year for doing the same damn thing. The current issue is again dealing with a history teacher, but rather than spouting creationist nonsense and getting caught on tape, the teacher in this situation has been busted being rather offensive toward the religious kids in class:A federal lawsuit has been filed against a California teacher for alleged anti-Christian remarks made during classroom lectures.
It doesn't matter whether I agree with the teacher or not... I'm of the opinion that beliefs (or lack thereof) don't belong in a history class. It's fair game to air all of the dirty laundry historically belonging to religions in such a class, but that's about as far as it should go. I'll probably find plenty of my fellow atheists who disagree for one reason or another, and that's fine. I just don't see how we could praise one student for standing up to a teacher for inappropriate remarks and at the same time condemn another for the same damn thing. I also don't think it matters that the teacher has historically been quite popular and many former students have come out in support... it was the same thing with the Christian teacher in the older story.
Sixteen-year-old Chad Farnan is accusing Capistrano Valley High school history teacher James Corbett of making numerous anti-Christian remarks. Farnan claims that while recording class lectures for note-taking purposes, he recorded Corbett stating that "Jesus glasses" obscure the truth and that Christians are more likely to commit rape and murder.
I hate to say it, but the equal treatment door really does swing both ways. Truly the shoe is on the other foot this time. Of course, in the spirit of true equality, perhaps the district should let the teacher off with a wrist slap and an apology... and then ban recording devices in classrooms forthwith.
On another note, I wish Christians would quit playing the "Persecution!" card. It gets damn old when you use it because a Christian teacher gets caught red-handed by a student, and then you use it again when an atheist teacher gets busted by a Christian student. Not everything is "anti-Christian" or persecution... sometimes people are just assholes.
4 Package(s) of Returned Poo:
That sounds about right. A teacher (as a representative of the state) shouldn't be trying to convert his students to one religion or the other. It follows that a teacher should also not be able to use his classroom to bash religions, either.
So is there any reporting of this story by a more reliable source than OneNewsNow?
Looks like the OC Register covered this.
Reading closer, it looks like there may be a few obfuscating factors:
1.) The teacher claims he's being quoted out of context. Possible...
2.) Other students have pointed out that the teacher uses sarcasm and often makes arguments specifically to challenge critical thinking. Sarcasm and "devil's advocate" positions often lose some of their meaning when written in text versus being part of a spoken lecture.
As with the previous case, we'll have to hear the whole story. Now, if the student who recorded the teacher cannot provide the entire tape, and only has offensive-sounding snippets...
Definitely could be an out-of-context issue. As for the comment about rape and murder, if he had statistical data to back it up, it could have been intended as a branch-off point for discussion. It could also be exactly what the complaint alleges. I'd have to agree with rodeobob: we need to hear the full tape to determine which it is.
I agree. The teacher was out of line, pending more information about what actually happened.
I'm cynical enough to suspect some persecution-complex-driven spin, though.
Everyone has the right state their beliefs/opinions - on their own time. (I'm looking at you Ms. Davis)
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