Topic: Is having a Bible in the classroom a Mount Vernon Teacher's right?

[Steve.Deserved.Better]

it was Middle school my bad ,, but still its a book ... nothing more nothing less ,
unless this teacher is forcing the students to read , and maybe some of them should ..
let it alone ,, no big thing !! Pick a bigger, better  battle

I guess Dixie, because it is the Bible or reference for the Bible in this case, it is the bigger battle to some. 

In this day and age, when kids can watch TV, sign up on myspace and say, do anything they want, why would this student feel threatened with a closed book on the desk that was not even referred to during class?  What prompted him/her to make an issue of this?  That would be a question I would like to ask.

[Atlantis]

When I was in high school there was an organization called "Fellowship of Christian Athletes" or something like that.  Is that organization still allowed in the school?

Yep.

How can the school ask him to remove the bible from class but still allow an organization like "Fellowship of CHRISTAIN Athletes" to exist?  It is my understanding that the schools don't encourage or discourage taking part in this group and don't even consider it to be an "official" school sponsored group, but they DO allow the group to hold it's meetings on schoold grounds, announce their meetings on the school announcements broadcast over the intercom each day and post their fliers on school property.  What's the freakin' difference???

[helly5647]

My daughters had him in middle school, he did not try to push religion on anyone.  My grandaughter now has him, and says he is a very nice person.  So what if there is a Bible on his desk!

[salucin]

I had a friend when I was in HS that was shot down several times trying to start a Gay/Lesbian Alliance.  They told her it was "immoral".  The school officials did.

Seriously.

I am surprised entirely that if this is the precedent in Mount Vernon Schools, this guy is getting it for having a Bible on his desk.  Granted, no, he probably shouldn't... but why do they care?  If Christian athletes can form a membership (which, might I add, in my day was only a clique for rich bitches), why can't he have a Bible?

Addendum: I am led to think that everyone would be in an uproar if this were a copy of the Qu'ran.  Just saying.

[Muffin]

There is a difference in student led religious activies and those led by teachers.  I'm not saying that Mr. Freshwater did this...just saying there is a difference in activities led by students and those by teachers...in response to the question posed by Atlantis.

My concern...on the radio, I believe it was stated that it was a student or a parent that overheard a discussion between two teachers and that is when this began.  My concern is that either way, there is a student that still has to finish school.  Can you imagine what the other students and teachers will put this kid through?  Whether it was him/her or their parent?  High school is hard enough!  Once again, this is a small town...a small school system...this kid will be ridiculed mercilessly!

My prayers are with him/her that this does not get blown out of proportion any further!   

[Muffin]

Employees don't have unfettered rights of free speech in the workplace. If my boss wants to tell me not to have a Bible on my desk at work, that's certainly his right. If I would want a Bible on my desk but was not allowed, I would not exactly have any recourse.

Note that I'm not saying whether it SHOULD be prohibited. But, the original post asked whether having the Bible in the classroom was the teacher's right. Certainly, it is not.

RailroadFan, sir...You are correct!  As an employee, I cannot decorate my office with religious items.  However, during my breaks and on lunch, during unpaid time, I may take my Bible out of my purse or briefcase and read it.  I just cannot display it and give the impression of a religious preference.

 

[SeaBreeze]

My daughter had Mr. Freshwater also.  She said he is an excellent teacher and never even mentioned the Bible.  She said she really didn't even pay attention to what was on his desk.  She did say that he would occasionally mention some activity they were having at his church though, but it didn't bother her.

They also teach the history of religion in history at the Middle School (not by the teacher in question though), and it did bother my daughter.  My daughter is pretty much a liberal, more so than myself...lol....so I did complain to the superintendent and his response was that it is OK to teach about religion as long as they were not teaching about ONE specific religion or pushing the kids to follow one specific religion. 
So my thought is, maybe he should also display other religious books in his classroom as well as a Bible. 

[phred]

   


             I just listened to Freshwater this morning on
             Ch 10.  He sure seems to have an agenda.

             Apparently, there's a history here, and the
             people of Mount Vernon have been tolerant
             of his antics.

             He is getting paid to teach a subject to Middle
             School children..... children who are a captive
             audience. 

             I don't see how he has a "right" to bring his
             religion into the classroom, no matter how
             "tame" the bait was set.

             It was clear that the parent has no problem
             with his bringing his Bible to class for _him_.

             Freshwater is to put this book away or any other
             book he is reading when the bell rings and it's
             time to teach.

               

[Dewey Cox]

...

[My Dixie Wrecked]

  standing up and applauding  getmeout ,

[Atlantis]

The school system does not currently have in place any rule or law forbidding a teacher from having a bible on his/her desk.  Mr. Freshwater has not broken any rule or law. 

If the school system doesn't want Mr. Freshwater or any other employee to display a bible or any other religious book in their classrooms, they need to enact an official rule or push for legislation to ban this activity.  Until that happens, Mr. Freshwater has done nothing wrong, at least not from a legal standpoint. 

And by the way, I'm not a Christian.  I was raised in a kosher Jewish home but don't activiely participate in going to synagogue anymore and have forgotten how to read Hebrew for the most part.  So I'm not really what most people would call "religious". 

[sloppyjo]

Mr.Freshwater is an asset this school system can not afford to lose.In a day when we hear that teachers are hard to find and good teachers are even harder to find we cannot let this good man go.Mr Freshwater taught me many things in school that have helped me in life.I'm not talking about the 3 R's(not that those are overlooked),I'm talking about being a man,taking responsibility for my actions,looking inside myself to go farther when you think you cant.Mr.Freshwater is not only a good teacher but a great community minded person.If a bible on his desk is a problem then I believe the problem is with the school system.

You must be close to my age or younger...lol.  I think I had him his first year of teaching.  He was a good teacher even in his first year.

[Dewey Cox]

Mr.Freshwater is an asset this school system can not afford to lose.In a day when we hear that teachers are hard to find and good teachers are even harder to find we cannot let this good man go.Mr Freshwater taught me many things in school that have helped me in life.I'm not talking about the 3 R's(not that those are overlooked),I'm talking about being a man,taking responsibility for my actions,looking inside myself to go farther when you think you cant.Mr.Freshwater is not only a good teacher but a great community minded person.If a bible on his desk is a problem then I believe the problem is with the school system.

You must be close to my age or younger...lol.  I think I had him his first year of teaching.  He was a good teacher even in his first year.

   Yes we are the same age.

[sloppyjo]

Nice, you know who I am...you aren't that boy I had a major crush on, are you? lol

[Dewey Cox]

Nice, you know who I am...you aren't that boy I had a major crush on, are you? lol

   Now lets just stick to the topic