Posts by Nancy Kelly31

Jason Ortiz5 said:If it were just about that, I’d say it's not even a big deal. But then you’ve got the mandatory stuff—all those school ceremonies packed with religious mumbo-jumbo, or school plays that can't seem to happen without some religious spin thrown in (even though they're supposed to be for the kids).
I actually thought it was hilarious when my daughter told me that this one teacher who teaches religion patrols the hallways during recess, threatening any kids running around or joking too much that they won't get their snack. And parents are the ones footing the bill for those snacks, by the way. I told my girl that if that teacher ever tries to corner her for any reason, she should just ignore that total penguin, because Mom will handle it.

This serves as an excellent illustration of the very point I am trying to make to you all. A believer here simply cannot win, because no matter what action they take, it is deemed incorrect...
Setting aside the THREE ugly, disgusting, and frankly unnecessary insults in the post—which likely no one will even process—I am fascinated by the idea of singling out the teacher who was actually performing her duty! That is to say, had she not been on duty, this highly qualified professional employed within the American school system would have been pelted with stones and criticism. Yet, because she is actively fulfilling her job requirements by being on duty—more stones and criticism... It is truly incredible...
Then there is perhaps the somewhat inappropriate threat she allegedly used to try and capture the children's attention. Threats that obviously weren't carried out, because if they had been, we certainly would have been reading about it extensively in the news... But the mere notion that a child is being intentionally encouraged at home to disregard the instructions of a teacher on duty... To me, that is simply unbelievable. And then, of course, the proponents of religious education will be accused of intolerance. Truly... 🙄

At that point, I find myself truly at a loss for words... 🤷 Goodnight...

I wonder if it might have been more appropriate for me to include a direct link to his personal blog, which is referenced in the article and serves as the original home for this text... 🤷

http://www.rijecanin.com/2015/11/07/...nauk-iz-skola/

That is a truly insightful perspective on this current topic. Furthermore, one must consider that the individual is a religious studies teacher... which likely means they possess a much deeper understanding of these complexities than any of us here. 🤷

I find myself reflecting on the recent observations shared by the community, particularly those sentiments expressed regarding our current direction... It seems that many of us are grappling with the same underlying complexities, though we often approach them from such vastly different vantage points. One cannot help but wonder if there is a singular truth to be found amidst all this discourse, or if we are simply destined to navigate these swirling currents of opinion indefinitely...

I have been reflecting quite deeply on the recent discussions regarding our community standards, and I find myself wondering if we might benefit from a more structured approach to how we moderate these digital spaces... It seems to me that while the intention behind most interventions is undoubtedly well-meaning, there is often a subtle lack of consistency that can leave some members feeling somewhat adrift in the sea of discourse... Perhaps, if we were to implement a more formalized set of guidelines, similar to those used by major institutions like Harvard or even large corporations such as Microsoft, we could foster an environment that feels both secure and intellectually stimulating for everyone involved... I truly believe that with just a little more deliberation and a shared commitment to clarity, we could elevate the quality of our interactions to a much higher plane... kaže: It feels as though you are making a conscious effort to burn every bridge that remains between believers and non-believers, effectively dismantling the very foundation of equality itself... It only takes a single instance to stir one's indignation to the highest degree, particularly when the subject at hand involves our children... those who have been cast into such circumstances without any means to fight back or defend themselves... They don't need to be divided, nor should they be subjected to the tyranny of the majority; they have an inherent right to be treated equally within the system, yet religious education in our schools continues to breed inequality...

It seems to me that most of the participants in this debate who are voicing such intense opposition to religious education don't actually have a single concrete case to point to... We are essentially just sitting here debating endless "what if" scenarios and hypothetical situations...
And meanwhile, the children are off to school with nothing but bright smiles on their faces, completely unbothered by the petty little dramas unfolding over on some random internet forum... 🤷

It truly never ceases to amaze me how some people can adopt such an aggressively hostile stance, fueled by nothing but pure resentment from the very start. I mean, what if religious studies just happens to be the first or last period on a student's schedule? Or what if there is simply a break in the curriculum where no "controversial situation" even occurs? Who are we supposed to drag in for an investigation then, just so certain agitators can gloat about escalating tensions in a school where, we would like to believe, most people are doing their absolute best to foster a positive environment for everyone? Honestly, the majority of parents reacting to this topic remind me of those old fables where the crowd just screams, "The wolf is coming, the wolf is coming!" except they are practically begging for the chaos to happen...
For years now, religious education has occupied its space within our schools quite decorously, without any significant incidents to speak of. Exceptions are incredibly rare and are handled on a case-by-case basis, much like any other matter involving a small minority. 🤷

Karen Richardson3 said:But which faith specifically?

Are we talking about science and Catholicism? Science and Islam? Science and Buddhism? Science and Hinduism? Science and the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses? Or maybe science and Mormonism?

Since every single one of those religions offers completely different answers to the exact same questions, I think it would be helpful if you could elaborate on how they "complement" each other when one group believes humans just die and become meat and bone, another believes in judgment day and an eternal soul, another thinks you’ll be reincarnated as a horse or a letter, and yet another insists the world is ending soon and God will snatch up his chosen Jehovah's Witnesses while everyone else just ceases to exist?

It honestly breaks my heart to read some of the mothers in here who seem so full of nothing but hate and intolerance... I really feel like that's why we can never find any common ground.

Look, you religious folks—who claim to be so devoted to God and love—haven't been able to find common ground with other believers since religion was even a thing.
You basically just generate division, diversity, and intolerance all over the globe.

And then you have the nerve to call us—people who truly don't care whether someone is Catholic, Orthodox, Muslim, or Mormon—as "intolerant," simply because we're fed up with the lying, hypocrisy, and deception used to infiltrate government buildings, where you get to hang your religious symbols while our kids are left hanging out in the hallways? 🙏

Religious education belongs in schools and stays in schools. All this "what if" speculation is totally pointless. It would be much better if we all channeled our energy into making sure no child ever has to worry about a religious instructor if they aren't enrolled in class, or being left to fend for themselves somewhere in the building if they don't need it...

Well, it stays in school until there isn't a school anymore. That's just the way things change; contracts are meant to be updated.
We truly have every right to put our energy into ensuring public schools focus on academic subjects, while faith is taught in buildings specifically designed for that purpose—which, by the way, are usually much nicer looking.

And since you didn't actually answer me, I'll just quote myself:

Churches exist, and people keep building new ones.
Wouldn't it be nicer for believers to be there?
Why don't believers send their children to the buildings built to glorify God?
Why is it such a struggle for religious kids to make it to church twice a week?
What kind of believers are they if they actually require taxpayer-funded infrastructure just to learn about their own faith?

Which faith? Every faith... Each one belongs to the cultural circle in which a person was born, as that is naturally the most logical and acceptable path for them.

The difficulty with this topic is that the opposing viewpoints are both entirely logical. Finding any sort of consensus becomes quite difficult under those circumstances. ☕

Take this situation with the churches, for example. What kind of lesson would we actually be providing to small children in these massive buildings designed to hold hundreds of people, when twenty of them might get swallowed up by those enormous pews, feeling completely lost in the sheer scale of it all? Without whiteboards or chalk, without televisions or videos, without projectors or laptops, and without even the simple opportunity to cut, color, glue, or sit on the floor... Churches aren't designed as classrooms; they are places for prayer, meant for large congregations gathered at once. You can barely count the number of churches that possess adequate halls for religious education, and even then, they are mostly found in major cities. But life happens everywhere else too.

However, you all know this already. You are merely pretending that you don't. And that isn't the point. Personally, I would find it much more interesting to discuss how we might solve the issue of children not being enrolled in religious studies. But I see there is little appetite for that here. It is a shame... because many minds working together are inevitably wiser. Provided, of course, that those minds are willing to cooperate. As it stands... 🤷

I am not entirely certain if I am expressing myself clearly enough, but I truly believe that faith and science can exist in perfect harmony. There are certain questions where science provides the answers, while others are best addressed through faith. Because of this balance, both can be taught within our school systems without any inherent conflict... It honestly breaks my heart to read posts from certain mothers here who seem so consumed by hatred and intolerance... I fear that if we continue down this path, we will never find a common language. Religious education belongs in the classroom, and it should stay there. All this speculative "what if" arguing is quite pointless, really. It would be far more productive if we all directed our collective energy toward ensuring that no child is ever forced upon a religious instructor if they aren't enrolled, nor left to fend for themselves in the hallways if they have no need for it...

rowdypanther12 said:It wasn't meant as a joke; it was just written with a bit of humor.
it seems pretty strange to me when the same person says two completely different things

I am honestly still a bit bewildered as to which vastly different topics we are even discussing here in practice? It seems to me more a matter of perspective—what one chooses to emphasize—rather than an attempt to be contrarian. Faith and science aren't inherently at odds with one another. Rather, faith simply steps in where science reaches its limits. For instance, we know the universe began with the Big Bang, but why did that happen? Who or what "triggered" the expansion? Science doesn't provide an answer there, yet faith does...
As for Catholic schools, they are undoubtedly the future. Here in the States, the situation is already such that children are being placed on waiting lists years before they even reach kindergarten, simply because the demand far outweighs the available spots. Yet, these Catholic schools follow the exact same state curriculum as any other public institution. There are no fundamental differences in the education provided, and certainly no issues to be found...

Karen Richardson3 said:So, religion class basically teaches "it's harder to stay celibate when you're in your fertile window," is that it? 🤣

Can you actually explain how sex ed in a religious setting is any different from what they teach in a standard health class?

Take a high-libido guy, for example. One group tells him, "Hey, if you're feeling pent up, just take matters into your own hands, but once you find a partner, use a condom."
The other group says, "Don't touch yourself; if you find a girl, give it to her, but if you're into guys, you're sick and an affront to God." So basically, just walk around with a massive amount of tension and pretend it's totally fine and won't cause any issues. Heck, maybe you'll even turn into some new Catholic prophet—I mean, history shows people have practically hallucinated from lack of action, so this is totally a legitimate way to live. 😁 )

I get the impression you're just trolling here. I honestly can't decide whether it's worth responding to this or not. 🤔
If this is just another attempt to mock believers and the Church, then thank you very much, but I have no desire to participate in this anymore.
And if we are looking for a practical way to handle children who aren't enrolled in religious studies, that is a reality we face. This isn't the way to go about it.
It seems to me that children who aren't enrolled should be grouped together in the same classes rather than being scattered everywhere. That way, everything could be scheduled at the beginning or end of the school day, and everyone would be satisfied. Principals generally manage this new situation quite well now that these individual non-enrolled students are popping up, but it isn't easy. A principal is managing a massive system, and individuals often get lost within it...

rowdypanther12 said:So, they’d teach one thing in religion class and then something completely different during health class? 🤔
It just seems really confusing for the kids.

I suppose you could look at it as two sides of the same coin. After all, isn't it true that in religious studies, we cover certain topics, such as... let's say, abstinence or understanding biological cycles from a moral perspective? Then, in health class, those concepts are supplemented with information regarding various forms of contraception. 🤷 Besides, these lessons are typically delivered by medical professionals rather than classroom teachers.
As for the other subjects... what else could possibly be different? 🤔 Tolerance, acceptance, non-violence... aren't those all just universal values?

Susan James said:Personally, I think it’s a total non-starter if they serve as homeroom teachers.
It’s especially tricky because there’s always this constant push to have them handle parts of the civics curriculum too.

On top of that, if they are the ones in charge of the homeroom, then all the students should technically be placed in that specific class.
But that leads to more questions—once a student transfers in, based on their language background or just the size of the class, they might only fit into one group, yet the homeroom teacher ends up being a religion instructor.

Personally, I find it quite troubling to hold such prejudices against highly educated professionals—to assume they wouldn't be able to perform their paid duties professionally simply because of their personal beliefs, whether that involves civic education or any other subject. But fine, it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. I also fail to see how preventing religious instructors from being homeroom teachers would somehow fix the scheduling issues or the logistical headache of where to place religious studies on the timetable. I am certainly in favor of those changes, absolutely, but I doubt that changing the homeroom status is the magic solution to everything...🤷

It seems to me that a religious instructor cannot effectively serve as a homeroom teacher if not all students are attending those classes. Perhaps I am mistaken, of course. And even if I am, it ultimately comes down to the school's organizational structure and what exactly the expectations are for these instructors...

You were absolutely right—those 60 images... they don't stand out at all. As for the movie itself... well, let's just say it's nothing to write home about. It passes the time, I suppose. There are a few clever moments here and there, and everyone is just strikingly beautiful—especially the women and that tall, dark actor following her around... They are so impossibly attractive that it almost feels comical. Perfectly groomed and polished right in the middle of an apocalypse. Truly...
There are quite a lot of women in this film. They’ve essentially flipped the power dynamics on their head. In most movies, you see the ratio leaning heavily toward men, but here, the influence shifts through the female characters, and many of the men feel like they are merely filling out the background... That is perhaps the only truly engaging element of the entire narrative, this experimentation with gender roles...

Well, I suppose it’s time for me to go take a look... It seems quite obvious that there are many frames per second to process. I shall have to see for myself what kind of game this truly is...

Me? Does that really matter in the grand scheme of things?

What on earth is this supposed to mean—60 images per second? That’s what pops up whenever I try to book tickets online... Just how many images are they running through there, honestly? Images per second? Is that considered more or less than the average? Does it even matter at all?