Re: Judge Jones again

Bill is right -- in many local school districts, and with many teachers,
there can be a big gap between what the law allows and what school policy
and norms disallow or discourage. Moreover, while the right of students to
express religious viewpoints exists, there are significant restrictions and
grey areas concerning what *teachers* can say and do. Some of this is good,
as we don't want public school teachers overtly or subtly coercing students
concerning specific religious beliefs. But it is hugely problematic, IMHO,
when it comes to big questions such as origins.

For example, a Christian (or Jewish or Muslim) teacher could tell her
students that evolution doesn't touch on questions about God, but she almost
certainly *cannot *express her belief in a positive sense, that is, that she
believes evolution is a marvellous expression of God's providential care for
and wisdom concerning the creation. At least, she can't do so except in
response to a direct question from a student, and even then it's not clear
what she can and can't say. And that perpetuates the faith-science
conflict. This is why I think Judge Jones (and, respectfully, Burgy) is
dead wrong about strict separationism being a good thing for science.

On 5/24/06, Bill Hamilton <williamehamiltonjr@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> --- Robert Schneider <rjschn39@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > There is nothing in the Supreme Court's 1963 school prayer decision that
> > forbids the teaching about religion in public school. In fact, the Court
> > specifically noted that this is possible. A later Court ruling affirmed
> > first amendment rights of students to express personal religious
> viewpoints
> > as long as they do not proselytize.
> >
> I'm aware of this. The problem is a good many school administrators don't
> seem
> to be.
>
> Bill Hamilton
> William E. Hamilton, Jr., Ph.D.
> 248.652.4148 (home) 248.821.8156 (mobile)
> "...If God is for us, who is against us?" Rom 8:31
>
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Received on Thu May 25 10:45:38 2006