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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 6469
[Schools/Ed]
Date Posted:
3/7/2003
6:29:27 pm EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 7,549
RSS: 0
Comments: 34
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Substitute Teacher Dismissed For Pointing Kids To Jesus
Author: WXII12.com (NC) Source: WXII12.com (NC)
Title: SUBSTITUTE TEACHER DISMISSED FOR POINTING KIDS TO JESUS
School officials in Omaha {Nebraska} say they asked a substitute music teacher to leave after she told elementary school students to give their fears and worries to Jesus.
The teacher, Geraldine Tyrance, defended what she said to the students. The Holy Spirit came over her, Tyrance said.
"The kids are worried sick about the war and nobody would talk to them," Tyrance said. Tyrance told the kids if they had a problem, "they need to give it to Jesus, they don't need to worry about it."
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Community Thoughts: There are 34 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Reminds Me Of My 3rd Grade Teacher | Mar 13th. at 12:04:53 pm EST |
by Arinna (East Coast USA) - wc_xemail
First I wouldn't rally behind a Pagan preaching in school any more than I would a Christian. The reason is because it was this very kind of proselytizing that drove me away from Christianity in the first place. I was raised by an Atheist and an Agnostic. We moved to SC and on my first day at my new school the teacher asked me what church I went to. Being taught by my parents to be honest and being naive about the reactionary hatred of some Christians to anyone who isn't part of the "club", I said I didn't go to church. From the reaction of the entire class and of the adult teacher (who should have known better) you would have thought I had admitted to killing kittens or something equally disgusting. I was totally confused and could feel the heat of embarrassment rising in my face. I had never felt bad about who I was or felt that I had anything to be ashamed of before since I was a good student, nice to both kittens and other people as well as every other living thing, but at that moment I felt like I must be horrible somehow. (keep in mind I was only 8) It took me a while to realize that the problem wasn't with me. Maybe it was the 30 kids dancing in a circle around me taunting me with glee that I was going to hell that finally opened my eyes. I actually hated Christianity for most of the rest of my youth becuase of this experience. I had no idea what I believed religiously at that time but I knew that I would never join a group that used God to hurt people the way. It took a long time and ironically finding Wicca to help me get over my bad feelings about Christians. Otherwise I most likely would have become a fundamentalist Atheist, if there is such a thing. I now think of the Christians that make their religion an excuse to hate as Faux (false) Christians because I have since met honest Christians that really do honor the good teachings of Christianity like "love thy neighbor as thyself." Hateful and pushy Faux Christians are truly a more dangerous threat to Christianity as far as driving "converts" away than Wiccans or Pagans ever could be.
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| I Agree | Mar 13th. at 11:58:28 am EST |
by Wendolene37 (Eden Prairie, MN) - wc_xemail
I agree with Ryan. I have seen comments in the past here at Wren's Nest regarding a story about a non-Christian saying something in an inappropriate setting and people have said something to the effect of that while they disagreed with the time/setting/circumstances of so-and-so's comments, the person in the story still ended up being praised. (I really wish I could think of the specific story I am remembering.) I do remember thinking it was such a double standard, though.
I also agree with Ryan's comments about Christian bashing. In my naivete early on in my path, I thought Pagans would be the most accepting of those with different beliefs. While I think most of us do feel this way, I have noticed a definite anti-Christian undertone in some of the postings here. But I really don't think it is intentional.
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| Stuffing The Ballot Box | Mar 12th. at 5:23:20 pm EST |
by Desert Broom (tucson, ariz.) - wc_xemail
I never did trust these polls. I just voted "no" four times. True, you can't just hit the vote button over and over. But, just backing out of the site and re-entering will let you re-vote. Unfortunately, at this point I'd have to vote 40 times to change the percentage, but if everyone voted four times...we'd still have an non-scientific poll.
BB
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| Mirroring The Proselytizer? No Thanks. | Mar 10th. at 4:13:40 pm EST |
by Nightjessamine (Maryland) - wc_xemail
Ryan (Ft Polk) said;
"If she were a Pagan we would be ralling behind her "
No. I, at least, certainly wouldn't. Speak for yourself.
Proselytization of ANY stripe has no place in physical spaces people can not walk away from. Captive audiences being subjected to religious indoctrination is not something I would defend in the name of any stripe of theology- something related to my own included.
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| Hhmm | Mar 9th. at 3:50:38 am EST |
by Rho (Missouri, MO) - wc_xemail
Well, I'm a substitute teacher. I don't talk about religion in the classroom unless a student asks me. I wear Buddha or a pentacle around my neck all the time, and they are curious and ask me about it. I usually tell them what it is, and that's that. Sometimes, someone will ask me what religion I am, and I'll tell them - but just that one student or small group of students. I have, on occasion, talked with students about religion after class. But I am not turning the class into a sermon. I won't ever mention religion unless someone asks first.
I do admire this woman for being honest and telling them she couldn't garantee she could not mention Jesus in class. However, she needs to learn that there is a time and a place for everything, and school is not the time for preaching.
Rho
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| To Ryan | Mar 8th. at 7:37:54 pm EST |
by Dawn (Ocheyedan) - wc_xemail
I hate to say it, but even if she was Pagan/Wiccan, I still would be against it. No teacher has a right to preach. Its fine to be what you are and believe what you do, but I would even have a problem with a Wiccan teacher talking about the Goddess just like I would a Christian or Jew. You can have your beliefs wear your religous jewlry, thats fine, and I have no objection to a teacher answering a question if a student asks one. But it shouldn't be turned into a sermon, I don't care what religon you are.
Blessed be.
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| I'm Uncomfy . . . . . | Mar 8th. at 5:55:09 pm EST |
by Jools Grenhopper (Toronto, Ontario) - wc_xemail
Grrrrrrrrrrrr
Ok, it' ok to want to express your religon, but you shouldn't press it on others. A woman like this came up to me and my sister in a book store after buying some Wiccan books. She started saying how the only good spirit was Jesus and God, and that we would be "delivered".
Huh? I didn't get it, but she suggested we returned the books. HOW ABOUT NO?!?!?!?
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| Divided | Mar 8th. at 2:26:27 pm EST |
by Ryan (Ft Polk) - wc_xemail
I am divided on this subject. On the one hand I truly respect the religious convictions of the substitute teacher. Think about this. If she were a Pagan we would be ralling behind her (while still saying she should have shown better forsite, doing this in a school) . On the other hand, some typing habits of my fellow Wiccans/Witches/Pagans has upset me. Why is it that most of us can never seem to type the word "Christian"? We type christian and xtian and Xtaian, but we can never seem to work up the maturity to refer to that particular faith correctly? As a former Chaplain of mine would say, "If you truely believe that your faith can compete in the market place of ideas, you should have nothing to fear or lose by treating all others with respect." It seems like a tiny thing, but it irks me. Now that I'm in a ranting mood...
There is an underlying current of hostility in the Pagan community towards all things Christian. Part of this has to do with the fact that, while most of us started off that way, we have never come to understand what it means to be a true Christian. I can read the bible and point out contradictions just like the next guy, that doesn't make it wrong. But if a Christian points out that the rede is an impossable standard or that the law of three is not possable to quantitate, well we get in a huff and start a letter writing campaighn. Where is the fairness in holding others to a different standard than we hold ourselves and where is the rightness in the hypocracy that stems by talking tolerance from one side of your mouth and Christian bashing from the other. Stepping off my rant and getting back to the article...
Like what has been said she was wrong. The school district was correct to dismiss her. I only hope that this does not turn into a crusade (Christian or otherwise.
In Their Service
Ryan A.
SPC, USA
Chaplain Assistant
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| Poll Results | Mar 8th. at 1:32:07 pm EST |
by DragonGrrrl (California) - wc_xemail
Okay, as of the latest count, the poll states that 800 out of 2213 voted yes to teachers talking about religion. This makes up 36%. 803 voted no, making up 36% as well. 595 (27%) said it depended, and 15 (1%) voted the didn't know.
Just to update you all on the latest.
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| Poll Results | Mar 8th. at 1:31:37 pm EST |
by DragonGrrrl (California) - wc_xemail
Okay, as of the latest count, the poll states that 800 out of 2213 voted yes to teachers talking about religion. This makes up 36%. 803 voted no, making up 36% as well. 595 (27%) said it depended, and 15 (1%) voted the didn't know.
Just to update you all on the latest.
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| Re: The Polls | Mar 8th. at 8:03:02 am EST |
by Wolf (Alabama, USA) - wc_xemail
Actually the poll results as of my posting were counting a total of 1, 864 respondents.
Religion should actually be taught in schools. That is, ALL religions. They should be electives so that as children grow and their curiosity about who they are, what they want blossoms, they can learn about differing faiths and see that each is created to fit the needs of the worshippers.
The sad question is how many children in that classroom will believe that Aunt Sally or Uncle Joe will be alright in a war because they believe in Jesus Christ and gave him their worries. Then Aunt Sally or Uncle Joe come home in a flag draped casket. That would scar.
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| I Wonder.... | Mar 8th. at 6:13:27 am EST |
by chip (tn) - wc_xemail
how can most christians be so pro-life, and yet so pro-war? where does that fit together? even tho i do embrace a variety of gods and goddessess in my personal spiritual path, i still recognize christ as someone who walked the earth....but, wasn't he like the original hippie? i mean, come on...long hair, sandals, out spreading love and peace....what's wrong with worshipping these wonderful aspects of this guy?
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| Signs | Mar 8th. at 4:00:34 am EST |
by John (Wrens Nest Georgia) - wc_xemail
I have heard that in that part of the country they have very, very, powerful Witches who control every aspect of the school system. If there is one mention of the word Jesus they put their force on it and the problem stops. Children Of Corn may give you some idea of what is going on here. There has never been a actual sighting by people but only by bees that Wren Walker has been in contact with these Witches. A Crowley here a Crowley to bee taken away there. Lines that stay are lines that are known. In the numbers tell the tale and those numbers say change! Awomen a mist a veil to bee broken. Hide from the army the house still burns.
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| The Poll | Mar 8th. at 2:19:38 am EST |
by KarEEna (Perth, Australia) - wc_xemail
Those polls are never worth anyone's time. Think about it . .. how many people are they counting? How much do you want to bet that only like 20 people responded to that poll? You'll never know, will you? 20 people is hardly representative of the population.
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| What I Find Truly Frightening..... | Mar 8th. at 2:13:15 am EST |
by Cerridwen Moondaisy (Pittsburgh, PA) - wc_xemail
is that 37% of the poll respondents think it's all right for a teacher to discuss his/her religion in the classroom, and 35% say the classroom is *not* the place for religious discourse.
Yikes. Remind me never to move to Nebraska.
On a side note, I think Dawn hit the Jesus nail on the head. I only hope there really is a second coming, because I'm going to be waiting in the front row with my popcorn and portable lawn chair... I can just imagine J stepping down from his cloud and saying "Hey, cool, the Pagan party's here! I just want to say 'thanks' for not believing that load of bullsh** about witches and 'eye for an eye' and all the other hate-imbued rhetoric that somehow made it into the bible...wish I could say the same for George Bush and John Ashcroft. Where are they, by the way? Satan asked if I would send them his regards." ;-)
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