How would you respond-- "are you an atheist?" from a student

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the poster who originally asked whether you work in a public school, and that was more about whether your job would be in jeopardy, as it might be were you a teacher in a religious school.

I don't agree that you should blanket everything with "We can't talk about religion in a public school." But I do think you can blanket everything with, "That is a very personal question, why do you ask?"

Agreed.

I think kids have no business asking teachers personal questions, especially in middle school. What's next, what kind of birth control you're using?

Birth control is a little different, though. Religion IS a topic that's discussed in general conversation - albeit carefully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those who ask why I can't just answer- I can, my concern is that students are not very familiar with atheism and their own religions may make them have a negative opinion of me due to it.

making this a good opportunity for cousciousness raising. They already know you're a nice person, right? so by acknowledging your atheism, you're showing them that atheists can be good people - something they might not otherwise have considered.

If you act like it should be a big secret, then they might think it's something to be ashamed of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an atheist but I do not think it was appropriate for another teacher to say that about your nor do I think your religious views (or lack there of) should be shared.

Agree. And if I were you, I'd consult with the principal. There are a lot of parents out there who will get whacko on the topic of religion and you want to do what it takes to keep the administration on your side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- I'm a little surprised that everyone is saying just blanket no religion in public school.

I am an atheist, and I generally agree, but this was their ELA class talking about culture and traditions, Muslim students sharing, talking about Day of the Dead, etc. So in this case, could only students share and not teachers?

Teachers are authority figures; other students are not. Some parents, as I said above, may be whackos. You need to protect yourself and your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an atheist but I do not think it was appropriate for another teacher to say that about your nor do I think your religious views (or lack there of) should be shared.

Agree. And if I were you, I'd consult with the principal. There are a lot of parents out there who will get whacko on the topic of religion and you want to do what it takes to keep the administration on your side.

This is the best idea on this thread. Ask your principal how he/she would like you to answer that question, while still being honest.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I do appreciate all the responses. I am not sure i even want to talk to my admin about it. I have a very good relationship with them but I don't know if they are religious or how much. I am not yet tenured and worry whether their opinion of me may be impacted.

[Anonymous]

I am a parent and I'd love it if you shared your views with the class (as long as it didn't become part of any graded assignments). However, I know that a lot of other parents would disagree. If a well respected teacher was the first atheist my son met, that would be fine with me. I want my son to grow up respecting and tolerating all other religions and those who don't believe in them as well. FWIW, my son goes to a religious school and loves it -- even though we do not practice that religion. The school has been very accepting of him and have honored the fact that his beliefs may not coincide with theirs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an atheist but I do not think it was appropriate for another teacher to say that about your nor do I think your religious views (or lack there of) should be shared.

I totally agree! WTF was that teacher thinking? Please talk to that teacher!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I do appreciate all the responses. I am not sure i even want to talk to my admin about it. I have a very good relationship with them but I don't know if they are religious or how much. I am not yet tenured and worry whether their opinion of me may be impacted.

I understand, but I hate that people still have reason to feel that their jobs may be at stake because of their lack of religious beliefs. I assume you wouldn't want to be in the position of suing the public schools, but you certainly could if your job were on the line because you were an atheist.

I recently heard of a case where a recently married gay teacher was asked to resign from a Catholic school - the students protested, and the chool gave the teacher the option of staying on if he would divorce his same-sex spouse.

But you're in the public schools and haven't broken any public laws. It's your life and perhaps you're not the one to take up this fight, but until someone does, there are going to be perfectly competent atheist teachers cowering in the shadows, fearful of being "outed" and losing their jobs.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

I talked to the 2 students who had been asking me after school. I said I was an atheist, which meant I didn't practice any religion, and that I believe everyone should do what they believe when it comes to religion. I asked if they knew any other atheists, and they both said no. But they didn't seem super shocked or surprised or moved by it in the end.

Now hopefully that is the end of it and nothing bad comes from it. I don't think I crossed any lines with that..

[Anonymous]

You don't have to discuss your views of religion (or your politics for that matter) in a lesson discussing these things. And you should not. I teach the same grade level and I have to dodge all types of questions, and really it isn't hard. It isn't your perogative to discuss your personal views in a classroom- it is your job to present the information, the issues, the questions...but clearly you already knew this and the question from the student really surprised you because of the source.

Isn't it interesting that this is really a staff issue? There clearly was an ulterior motive on the part of that teacher who decided to use you as an example in a lesson. I have to say, I have been pretty surprised over the years with the provincial nature of how religion seeps it's way into my educational work environment, so your situation was not a surprise for me. I am only surprised that apparently this isn't only my situation. You would think educators would have it more together. I'm sorry that this happened to you- it is a form of harrassment.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update. I think what you did was fine, but what happens next depends on the kids -- and their parents, and other teachers.

Considering it's "out" with the kids, you might as well tell the admin, so they hear it from you instead of some convoluted story that may be evolving among the students -- even if they have no malicious intent. you're now an object of interest -- an exotic creature of sorts. I think you can count on the kids talking -- unless kids have changed since I was a kid.

As to what you tell admin-- that some students asked if you were an atheist and you told them ouside of class that you were- and that you wanted admin to hear it from you instead of from the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to discuss your views of religion (or your politics for that matter) in a lesson discussing these things. And you should not. I teach the same grade level and I have to dodge all types of questions, and really it isn't hard. It isn't your perogative to discuss your personal views in a classroom- it is your job to present the information, the issues, the questions...but clearly you already knew this and the question from the student really surprised you because of the source.

Isn't it interesting that this is really a staff issue? There clearly was an ulterior motive on the part of that teacher who decided to use you as an example in a lesson. I have to say, I have been pretty surprised over the years with the provincial nature of how religion seeps it's way into my educational work environment, so your situation was not a surprise for me. I am only surprised that apparently this isn't only my situation. You would think educators would have it more together. I'm sorry that this happened to you- it is a form of harrassment.

Guess I missed the part where another teacher used this teacher's atheism in a lesson. I thought it was just that the source had to be that teacher, because she was the only one who knew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the update. I think what you did was fine, but what happens next depends on the kids -- and their parents, and other teachers.

Considering it's "out" with the kids, you might as well tell the admin, so they hear it from you instead of some convoluted story that may be evolving among the students -- even if they have no malicious intent. you're now an object of interest -- an exotic creature of sorts. I think you can count on the kids talking -- unless kids have changed since I was a kid.

As to what you tell admin-- that some students asked if you were an atheist and you told them ouside of class that you were- and that you wanted admin to hear it from you instead of from the students.

I was not planning on going to admin at all. Is this really necessary? I will speak with my union rep.

The teacher who did this was out of line, but she is a good friend of mine and I do not believe she meant anything harmful by it. I am not looking to pursue anything.

[Anonymous]

I'm not suggesting blaming the teacher for anything, just telling your admin about your talk with the kids, after they asked you in class if you were an atheist.

Frankly, I don't think it's a matter for the union rep, unless you're actually threatened with something by admin. and keep in mind -- you haven't done anything wrong -- not by being an atheist and not by saying that you're an atheist.