Time Magazine: Neutral Teaching of Bible Literacy should be implemented in schools?

[Detroitdad]

Originally Posted by myboynoah

What? No "Frère Jacques?"

I remember my favorite phrase in 7th grade French was, "Comme-ci, comme ça." I used it for everything.

How are you doing today? - Comme-ci, comme ça
How was the dinner? - Comme-ci, comme ça
How is the weather? Comme-ci, comme ça
How is the search for the new Ute basketball coach going? - Comme-ci, comme ça

Some traditions live on to this day with beginning French speakers everywhere.

[Solon]

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

My 8th grade french class sang christmas songs... in fact Il lest ney le divine enfant (yeah I know I screwed up the spelling) is the only thing I remember from French class... BTW i didnt take ap english either... Solon the wise did and I remember his reading it....

Yeah, we read [rather, were supposed to read] Genesis, Job and Psalms.

I routinely use the Hebrew Bible for teaching about Hebrew history in Western Civ. and the book of Acts for teaching about early Christianity.

When I taught in Utah (at the U of U), a fairly routine essay question was "What made Christianity so successful in the Roman Empire?" Invariably, at least one student would reply, "The Holy Ghost" or some variation of the theme.

I think it's important students learn (before college, hopefully) that one person's "scriptures" are just "writings" to another person. Valuable and historical, perhaps, but not everyone believes in inspired writing.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Solon

When I taught in Utah (at the U of U), a fairly routine essay question was "What made Christianity so successful in the Roman Empire?" Invariably, at least one student would reply, "The Holy Ghost" or some variation of the theme.

That's funny!

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

Have you ever been to Alabama? Lets just say I would not feel comfortable with my kids being taught that version of the bible. And I can assure you that the fine Christian people of Alabama would not want their kids anywhere near our interpretation of the bible.

This is of course the argument against school prayer as well. Some places prayer means shouting to "Father god" in a hand holding circle, with people saying amen, and raising their arms in supplication. In those places our tradition would get completely washed out.

That's because they would be preaching the Bible, not reading it as a piece of literature.

If it's preached, I don't want my kids having any part of it. If they read it, then that's another matter. BTW, I recommend fully that you buy your youth a New Revised Standard Version for your children, as they will find it so much more readable than the KJV.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by Archaea

That's because they would be preaching the Bible, not reading it as a piece of literature.

If it's preached, I don't want my kids having any part of it. If they read it, then that's another matter. BTW, I recommend fully that you buy your youth a New Revised Standard Version for your children, as they will find it so much more readable than the KJV.

My thoughts exactly. I wouldn't want my kids to be preached to from the Bible, but reading it as literature is fine by me.

[il Padrino Ute]

The only French I know are phrases that one shouldn't say at all - and I only learned them because they're close enough to Italian that I understand them.

French has a certain, "I don't know what" that doesn't much appeal to me.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

Who would think it was controversial, other than those who wouldn't want the Bible studied as a subject?

(Yes, that's my little dig at the left. )

Actually, it's religioius lefties who are pushing for this. Prothero's book is having an impact.