Should Teachers at Religious Schools Be of That Religion?

September 7, 2008

The International Academy, an Islamic school in Cincinnati, hired a Christian kindergarten teacher who had never met a Muslim person prior to her employment. Would you send your child to a religious school if his or her class was taught by someone of another faith?

20 Comments

Renees3 4 years 36 weeks

I think it depends on what they're teaching. I mean really does religion factor into math a lot? I think knowledge and integrity are more important in teachers than faith. You don't only send kids to religious schools only to learn about faith, it's SCHOOL firstly.

californiagirlx7 4 years 36 weeks

I was sent to Protestant/Christian schools from preschool to high school (I'm a Catholic, but it isn't THAT much different from Protestantism in my opinion) and all of the teachers had to have some Christian affiliation. The students didn't have to be Christians, in fact most of my school was Asian and a lot of the kids were raised as Buddhists, but the Christian schools offered a great education so their parents sent them there. I think it is important that the teachers are all Christians because it permeates into every class. For isntance, we always prayed at the end of each class and all of our studies had a Christian perspective. We DID learn about other religions and cultures, though, so its not as if I wasn't aware that there are people out there who don't believe what I believe.I just don't understand why a teacher would want to teach at a school that practices a different faith from their own. You certainly aren't getting paid more by teaching at a private school, and I would think I would feel a little disingenuous by encouraging a faith that isn't my own. I'm not saying you shouldn't associate with people of different religions, but I wouldn't think it was my place to teach them about the Koran if I am of a different faith.

californiagirlx7 4 years 36 weeks

I was sent to Protestant/Christian schools from preschool to high school (I'm a Catholic, but it isn't THAT much different from Protestantism in my opinion) and all of the teachers had to have some Christian affiliation. The students didn't have to be Christians, in fact most of my school was Asian and a lot of the kids were raised as Buddhists, but the Christian schools offered a great education so their parents sent them there. I think it is important that the teachers are all Christians because it permeates into every class. For isntance, we always prayed at the end of each class and all of our studies had a Christian perspective. We DID learn about other religions and cultures, though, so its not as if I wasn't aware that there are people out there who don't believe what I believe. I just don't understand why a teacher would want to teach at a school that practices a different faith from their own. You certainly aren't getting paid more by teaching at a private school, and I would think I would feel a little disingenuous by encouraging a faith that isn't my own. I'm not saying you shouldn't associate with people of different religions, but I wouldn't think it was my place to teach them about the Koran if I am of a different faith.

lickety split 4 years 36 weeks

i don't know. religion comes up in just about every class, it's a way of life, "what would jesus do". my girls go to catholic school and all of the teachers are not only catholic, they all went to catholic school, most of them through college. i think it's probably best to learn from someone who has the same beliefs as those held by the institution.i don't get why would someone want to teach another religionthan their own to children. if you don't think what you are teaching to children is the real deal how could you do that?

lickety split 4 years 36 weeks

i don't know. religion comes up in just about every class, it's a way of life, "what would jesus do". my girls go to catholic school and all of the teachers are not only catholic, they all went to catholic school, most of them through college. i think it's probably best to learn from someone who has the same beliefs as those held by the institution. i don't get why would someone want to teach another religion than their own to children. if you don't think what you are teaching to children is the real deal how could you do that?

facin8me 4 years 36 weeks

I agree with greggie and glowing moon- there should be the most qualified teachers for the subject. Religion doesn't have a lot to do with let's say, math or spelling. I went to a Catholic school for K-8 and all of the teachers were Catholic. I really wish this wasn't the case because as I moved on into high school, I didn't feel like I had been exposed to different types of people or religions (especially at the culturally diverse high school I attended).

facin8me 4 years 36 weeks

GlowingMoon 4 years 36 weeks

It depends on the subject of the class. For instance, if it's a mathematics class, I want the teacher to be the most qualified math teacher available, his or her religion notwithstanding. The point of that class is to teach the principles of mathematics, not our religion. Similarly, if it's a religion (faith-based) class, then I want the teacher to be someone of our faith. Again, it really depends on the subject of the class.

GlowingMoon 4 years 36 weeks

Pallas Athena 4 years 36 weeks

A lot of teachers at my Catholic school aren't Catholic. I have had teachers who aren't Catholic teach me religion though. It doesn't matter because they are usually teaching from the book and if they can't answer certain questions they can asked to be switched to a different subject.

RosaDilia 4 years 36 weeks

I don't have a problem with this. My son attends catholic school and there are teachers who teach that are not of catholic faith. His school accepts catholic and non-catholic students in which only those registered as catholics attend religious classes and are prepared for the sacraments. Also, the non-catholic students pay a higher tuition.

Greggie 4 years 36 weeks

The point, at least in my experience, is not to have EVERY class taught from a Catholic perspective, merely to be a Catholic atmosphere. That is accomplished even if not all teachers are Catholic.

pinkprincess1101 4 years 36 weeks

heidi the school my daughter went to had the religious class in which they preach the catholic faith then they have mass where the priest preaches as well so they do get their religion but i don't want the teachers to preach religion that is not their job

HeidiMD 4 years 36 weeks

Personally, I wouldn't ever send my child to a religious school, but that's just me. However, isn't the point of sending your children to a faith-based school so that they can learn within that religion?

Greggie 4 years 36 weeks

Not for regular classes, no. I went to Catholic school and a good number of our teachers weren't Catholic. The ones who taught catechism were, and I firmly believe should be. But I don't see why the teacher of, say, social studies, should need to be that religion. I also wouldn't want them to learn every single subject with only a Catholic base, I don't think that's fair. Our private religious schools around here don't require you to be that faith in order to teach basic subjects, only to teach the class on that faith.

Greggie 4 years 36 weeks

Not for regular classes, no. I went to Catholic school and a good number of our teachers weren't Catholic. The ones who taught catechism were, and I firmly believe should be. But I don't see why the teacher of, say, social studies, should need to be that religion. I also wouldn't want them to learn every single subject with only a Catholic base, I don't think that's fair.Our private religious schools around here don't require you to be that faith in order to teach basic subjects, only to teach the class on that faith.

pinkprincess1101 4 years 36 weeks

my daughter was in catholic school there were teachers from different religions, the priest is the one that preached the catholic faith not the teachers, i wouldn't want my hard earned money going on a teacher to preach to my child about religion that is not their job

Brendelwoman 4 years 36 weeks

To me this is a very strange idea. I would want my child to be taught by people having life experience with the religion. I assume that someone with different beliefs would have a certain amount of cynicism about the religion as they were teaching it and that would translate to the children.

justanerd1975 4 years 36 weeks

Well if it's an islamic school, it would appear that the parents want their children to learn about the islamic faith there. You could say that I would not want a chicken farmer to teach my child about art if I wrote a check for an artist to teach him, but with one's faith it is more important. A chicken farmer may well be a talented artist,but your faith comes through in all that you do, regardless of what it is. I like knowing that my children are being raised in the Christian faith by a Christian.

justanerd1975 4 years 36 weeks

Link Love

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