the school brings in a priest to talk about creationism :| :|
The school is a private christian affiliated school with about 800 students from K-12. I teach Chem, AP Chem and AP Bio to 10-12th graders. So this morning i find out about an assembly during 4th period. The assembly is broken up to 2 classes at a time. So it's a small group. I think to myself, "great, 1 hour break!" How wrong I was.
I walk in the auditorium to find out that it's a priest. He steps up and says he's only gonna talk for 5 minutes and the rest will be a debate. Ok, now I've got this a nervous optimism. Maybe things will be ok. I mean he did mention the golden word: debate. He starts off talking about the importance of us talking to each other, and that he's here to help people open up their minds, or something like that. I can never remember cliche openings like that.
Ok, so now is a good time to start up the 'Blind Date' countdown timer. You know, the one that goes something like this: "this date goes downhill in 3(beep)...2(beep)...1(beep)....
"Ok kids, now remember, God created you, and everything around you. People did not come from monkeys"
Oh ... no .... he ... didn't!
All I can remember at this point is some of my bio students turning to look at me, and me shaking my head. (I should insert the disclaimer that I DO introduce all possible theories to my students, including alien 'impregnation' of the planet)
So the rest of the lecture is a blur to me, because really it took everything in me not to get up and leave. I vaguely remember students asking questions and the priest shutting them down.
Student: But if Adam and Eve had only two sons, how did they reproduce
Priest: They had many, many children, but the Bible only writes about two because they were relevant to the story. The story has been simplified so even children can understand it.
Student: What do you think of Homosexuality?
Priest: Homosexuality is wrong. When God created us, he told us to have children. Gay people can't have children. But it has always been around, and nowadays people are parading it as if it is a good thing. If people keep this up, I suppose one day it will also be acceptable to marry your dog.
I think i'll go have a talk with the teacher who organized this, on monday.
CLIFFS:
- Small School (800 ppl k-12)
- I teach bio
- Guest lecturer is a priest
- He says we DID NOT come from monkeys in the first 2 minutes of his speech.
- The rest of the lecture is a joke
Disclaimer: I have considerable respect for religions. My issue was specifically with this man. I would ask that people who post here to keep it respectable.
EDIT:
After reading all the responses I've gotten, I realize that I have not come across the way i intended.
First, and foremost, my issue is not with teaching creationism, as I do that in my own class anyway. My issue is teaching anything as an absolute truth, when you can't know for sure wether it is or not.
Secondly, Just because a school is a private christian school, that doesn't exclude them from being progressive, and teaching their students all possible theories and modes of thought. I feel that is a fight i can comfortably take up. To those of you telling me to drop it, that it's not worth the fight, my response is, "Hey, it's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it"
And finally, to all the people taking the time to attack me personally as a teacher, I have to say that in my short time working in this profession, I have seen enough teachers that just sit back and do anything they are told, that I cry a little bit inside when i think how little their students really learn anything about thinking freely, outside the box. Hey, i'm not perfect, and neither are your kids, but I'll be damned if i don't try my hardest to make sure these kids learn something that they can apply to their lives in a positive way.
The school is a private christian affiliated school with about 800 students from K-12. I teach Chem, AP Chem and AP Bio to 10-12th graders. So this morning i find out about an assembly during 4th period. The assembly is broken up to 2 classes at a time. So it's a small group. I think to myself, "great, 1 hour break!" How wrong I was.
I walk in the auditorium to find out that it's a priest. He steps up and says he's only gonna talk for 5 minutes and the rest will be a debate. Ok, now I've got this a nervous optimism. Maybe things will be ok. I mean he did mention the golden word: debate. He starts off talking about the importance of us talking to each other, and that he's here to help people open up their minds, or something like that. I can never remember cliche openings like that.
Ok, so now is a good time to start up the 'Blind Date' countdown timer. You know, the one that goes something like this: "this date goes downhill in 3(beep)...2(beep)...1(beep)....
"Ok kids, now remember, God created you, and everything around you. People did not come from monkeys"
Oh ... no .... he ... didn't!
All I can remember at this point is some of my bio students turning to look at me, and me shaking my head. (I should insert the disclaimer that I DO introduce all possible theories to my students, including alien 'impregnation' of the planet)
So the rest of the lecture is a blur to me, because really it took everything in me not to get up and leave. I vaguely remember students asking questions and the priest shutting them down.
Student: But if Adam and Eve had only two sons, how did they reproduce
Priest: They had many, many children, but the Bible only writes about two because they were relevant to the story. The story has been simplified so even children can understand it.
Student: What do you think of Homosexuality?
Priest: Homosexuality is wrong. When God created us, he told us to have children. Gay people can't have children. But it has always been around, and nowadays people are parading it as if it is a good thing. If people keep this up, I suppose one day it will also be acceptable to marry your dog.
I think i'll go have a talk with the teacher who organized this, on monday.
CLIFFS:
- Small School (800 ppl k-12)
- I teach bio
- Guest lecturer is a priest
- He says we DID NOT come from monkeys in the first 2 minutes of his speech.
- The rest of the lecture is a joke
Disclaimer: I have considerable respect for religions. My issue was specifically with this man. I would ask that people who post here to keep it respectable.
EDIT:
After reading all the responses I've gotten, I realize that I have not come across the way i intended.
First, and foremost, my issue is not with teaching creationism, as I do that in my own class anyway. My issue is teaching anything as an absolute truth, when you can't know for sure wether it is or not.
Secondly, Just because a school is a private christian school, that doesn't exclude them from being progressive, and teaching their students all possible theories and modes of thought. I feel that is a fight i can comfortably take up. To those of you telling me to drop it, that it's not worth the fight, my response is, "Hey, it's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it"
And finally, to all the people taking the time to attack me personally as a teacher, I have to say that in my short time working in this profession, I have seen enough teachers that just sit back and do anything they are told, that I cry a little bit inside when i think how little their students really learn anything about thinking freely, outside the box. Hey, i'm not perfect, and neither are your kids, but I'll be damned if i don't try my hardest to make sure these kids learn something that they can apply to their lives in a positive way.
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