Protelyzing? (beliefs, pagan, catholic, God, Christian)

[Nanda]

Originally Posted by Victor

The fact that you aren't making a fuss out of it can either mean it's really not a big deal or that your bias can't seem to see that what this professor is doing is trolling and protelyzing. All under the guise of "critical thinking".

Well yes, that's what I was agreeing to in Jay's post:

People too often hear what they wish to hear and see what they wish to see. I can construct a number of narratives where the comment would have been perfectly appropriate. Similarly, I can imagine scenarios in which it would have been entirely inappropriate. All we're doing here is judging value-laden impressions.

Like I said, I'd be cool if the guy was challenging Christianity to provoke thought, but I can't see how his method is doing anything more then being a troll and protelyzing.

Perhaps. All I'm saying is that we weren't there, so we can't say for sure.

I mean, what are the students supposed to do? Challenge him back? A guy with a PHD against teenagers? Give me a break! Just teach the damn class.

I don't know about your HS experience, but we challenged our HS teachers all the time where I'm from. Who's more arguementative than a 16 year-old?

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Nanda

I don't know about your HS experience, but we challenged our HS teachers all the time where I'm from. Who's more arguementative than a 16 year-old?

For sure...

But you know as well as I do that teenagers argue for the sake of arguing, most of them can't come back with a well thought out response. Not even most people in AP classes. And even they can, many kids won't challenge it.

BTW, I teach HS students.

[Nanda]

Originally Posted by Victor

For sure...

But you know as well as I do that teenagers argue for the sake of arguing, most of them can't come back with a well thought out response. Not even most people in AP classes. And even they can, many kids won't challenge it.

See, for me at 16, that would have just been more of a challenge to try to prove my point. Don't forget that we have 16 year-olds here on RF who can hold their own in a debate.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Nanda

See, for me at 16, that would have just been more of a challenge to try to prove my point. Don't forget that we have 16 year-olds here on RF who can hold their own in a debate.

And you think this is how most HS students are? Cause I don't. I have about one, maybe two students who are like this every year. This is a class of about 45. I enjoy talking to these two students very much and I wish others would be like this as well, but it's very time consuming. I find myself telling them that we can discuss it further after class. It's just not feasible to open up a debate everytime I make a point.

[Nanda]

Originally Posted by Victor

And you think this is how most HS students are?

I can only speak from my own experience, Victor, but I wouldn't sell kids so short. I'm also willing to bet that your other 43 students, while choosing to remain silent, aren't necessarily soaking up your every opinion like a sponge and adopting it as their own.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Nanda

I can only speak from my own experience, Victor, but I wouldn't sell kids so short. I'm also willing to bet that your other 43 students, while choosing to remain silent, aren't necessarily soaking up your every opinion like a sponge and adopting it as their own.

The last thing I want is to sell them short. I truly believe in the student outgrowing the teacher. But remember that the teacher is there to teach a topic related to the class. If you want to challenge everything the teacher is saying it should atleast be related to the topic at hand. Not some anti-conservative and anti-Christian garbage.

[Nanda]

Originally Posted by Victor

The last thing I want is to sell them short. I truly believe in the student outgrowing the teacher. But remember that the teacher is there to teach a topic related to the class. If you want to challenge everything the teacher is saying it should atleast be related to the topic at hand. Not some anti-conservative and anti-Christian garbage.

I certainly understand your perspective. I even mostly agree with you. I just don't think it's something to get overly upset about. These things happen all the time, and I don't think the students are any worse for it. I remember distictly arguing about abortion several times with my HS theatre teacher, whom I respected and admired a great deal.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Nanda

I certainly understand your perspective. I even mostly agree with you. I just don't think it's something to get overly upset about. These things happen all the time, and I don't think the students are any worse for it. I remember distictly arguing about abortion several times with my HS theatre teacher, whom I respected and admired a great deal.

Would you get upset if teachers began to be trollish and protelyze against atheism in the class? I know you'd challenge them, but is that really for the class?

[Nanda]

Originally Posted by Victor

Would you get upset if teachers began to be trollish and protelyze against atheism in the class? I know you'd challenge them, but is that really for the class?

As a parent or a student?

As a parent, I might; it would depend on what was being said. But I'd certainly want to know more before I started howling for blood (not to imply that that's what you're doing).

As a student, I would be annoyed, but not the least bit surprised. I actually encountered some of that sentiment in HS.

Is it inappropriate? Sure. Is it worth firing someone over? That I'm not so sure about.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Nanda

As a parent or a student?

As a parent, I might; it would depend on what