Disagreeing is not disagreeable
Re “Classroom diplomacy,†editorial, Dec. 25
As a retired high school teacher, I can assert that there is something wrong with a kid who takes his teacher to court for words spoken in the classroom. What is this sensitive generation coming to? Teachers are not robots and should not be expected to keep their opinions closeted when issues come up just because they happen to disagree with the sensitivities of a few selected spoiled brats who at home had never heard differing views.
Was the plaintiff’s grade lowered for his conflicting opinion? Was the plaintiff singled out in the classroom for disagreeing? Were students not allowed to debate the teacher’s points? If yes, then the teacher is out of line; otherwise, it is part of the educational process to be exposed to different views. Tact is nice, but sometimes it can be so subtle that the point does not get across.
What is wrong with a student, even a Christian student, hearing a different opinion in the classroom? Religion can be dangerous to a society, and citizens must be aware of faulty policies based on fanaticism, which can erode our democracy. The fact that this issue has become a court battle really scares me.
Stuart Lubin
Los Angeles
--
Where does The Times think liberals attack a person’s religion? I am a liberal, and I do not attack another person’s religion. If teacher James Corbett wishes to attack religion, he needs to get out of public school teaching. Attacking a person’s religion does not belong in high school or college. If Corbett wishes to teach religion’s role in history, he can do so. If he wishes to attack religious ideas, he needs to find another job.
Mike Schooling
San Diego
