My son was ranted at by right wing teachers in school

[adigal]

every single day in the Christian junior high school I sent him to. Every single day his Bible teacher would tell him that the earth was 6000 years old. Every day the Math teacher would tell him that only born-agains were real Christians. Every day the English teacher would tell him that the Harry Potter books were immoral and full of "Satan," because they had magic in them. Every day, the Bible teacher would tell him that man and dinosaurs roamed the earth at the same time, and man bones had been found inside dinosaurs. Every day some students would tell my son that since he was Catholic, he was going to hell.

I liked the people who ran the school, I liked some of the kids (the ones my son was friends with) and I really liked the safety of the school - so rather than take my son out of the school or tell my son to tape his wingnut teachers and send the tape to Air America, I taught him that he had to learn to debate, and debate with facts. Do his research, formulate his argument, and clearly and politely present his view.

He debated his Bible teacher every day for 3 years. The beauty of it was that he won the Bible award every year - the only Catholic winning the Bible award, with a 100% average. You know why? He was interested in the stories, and was always thinking about whether they were literal or not.

And now, in public school, his Academic Quiz Team just qualified for the National Championships. So I guess telling my son to learn to research, think and debate was actually a better approach than telling him to tape his teachers and call a talk show host.

Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, wingnuts, you missed the boat with your son.

[RagingInMiami]

1. If you put your son in a Christian School

What else did you expect?

[adigal]

3. I expected him to receive a good education

I had never heard about the level of wingnuttery in the school from the many people I knew who sent their kids there. And to be fair, many of the people there were just good people - not fundies, not wacky, just wanted a good education for their kids.

So it was a mixed bag - just like in public schools, where some fundamentalist parents wanted to ban Paradise Lost because Satan was the protagonist.

[RagingInMiami]

7. I was sent to a Christian School when I was 14 because I got kicked out

of public school. I spent the next year disrupting class, getting paddled for it, and then bowing my head, closing my eyes and praying about it. They didn't let me back in for a second year because I was "incorrigible". I later found out I was ADHD.

[Warpy]

9. My parents tried that with me and Catholic school

I announced I was an atheist at the ripe old age of ten, just to get out of there. I also learned to research and debate, but debating a nun got you thrust onto your knees on a marble floor for 8 hours at a crack.

I guess the teachers at your son's school were more humane, at least.

[adigal]

10. I love you rebels!!

Hang tough, because it looks like we might need your rebelliousness again!!

[NMMNG]

2. Bravo

Although you should have taught him to debate and had him tape the wingnuttery for Air America. :evilgrin:

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. You put him in the belly of the beast and taught him how to handle it

Another 15 years and your kid should run for office.

[adigal]

11. Funny you should say that

I am really pushing my son towards international policy or public policy since he loves history and politics, but he also loves science and design. I figure there are a lot of designers, some scientists, but very few liberal Democrats who can argue, stand their ground, be tough, be honest and kind, and win office. I hope my son will go into politics, as he is all those things.

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. Good for you and hats off to your kid

I know a couple in JOklahoma who are practicing Muslims and they send their kids to a very fundie Christian school. They can tell a similiar tale.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Ah come on give him a tape recorder

and maybe he can be on Hannity and Colmes!!

[Mountainman]

8. I grew up going to Catholic school and had a father who taught me to think

for myself. I would come home and tell him some of the things they tried to teach us and we would sit at the kitchen table and talk about them. He'd say, "by rights things should be this way" which many time was contrary to what the nuns said. It made me think and understand that what the nuns were teaching us was their point of view and not necessarily the truth. I decided as as senior in a Catholic high school (the same one Martin Sheen went to) that I no longer good believe in that faith. (Martin Sheen went the other way).

[seabeyond]

12. my son was right there with your son. and as my son learned the hypocrisy

he learned to be accepting and allow the other view, not take it personally and know the person wasn't speaking from heart but what they were being conditioned to say. my son also had 100% in bible because he loved it so. and my son also discussed different views in respect and confidence and love. he was appreciated and valued at that school.

we left the end of nov in 2004 when it became just too much for him. he could no longer open his bible to read because of what he witnessed from fellow students of a christian environment. and the school was sorry and sad to see us leave, in our oddity and uniqueness, not conformist and always in kindness.

we love our public school

no.... never where my kids taught to be dishonest, deceptive, disrespectful. that just wouldn't be allowed. that just wouldn't be christian

[adigal]

13. Hey - we should get our sons together

for Pres and VP in 2036!!! Either one as Pres is fine with me!