Response to a Recent globe Article

In education, as in all types of professions no doubt, sometimes one person, or in this case teacher, will get featured as a kind of wiz bang, amazing whomever, when in fact, whatever he is doing has either A) been done before or B) is currently being done by any number of others. . I know I am biased, but educators are really generally low key and hard working and those who are NOT in the limelight are no less dedicated or competent. I work with a number of highly dedicated teachers and really, I am fortunate to do so. Whatever & Anyway. This link is to a recent Globe article and below it is my "official" response.

Test of Faith (Boston Globe: August 28, 2011)

"Readers might be interested to know that the Sharon Public Schools have had a unit in the 9^th grade Social Studies curriculum that teaches about religion for some time, and there is an elective called World Religions offered since 2008 as well. As a Social Studies teacher in the district and the instructor and creator of the curriculum in the elective course, I can report that students are very interested in the subject and opportunities for breaking down barriers and enhancing understanding abound.

Harvard University also offers an excellent and rigorous Religious Studies and Education certificate program. This professional development program emphasizes not only pedagogical techniques, but also includes a focus on the Constitutional, legal, and historical issues surrounding teaching about religion in the schools. Presentations, discussions, readings and assignments in this program continually include the consideration that religion is a delicate subject matter and its inclusion in the classroom cannot be about indoctrination in any way.

Special courses aside, in my career as a Social Studies teacher, the subject of religion appears in one shape or another in AP European History, World History and in the conversations of many of our students outside of formal educational contexts. It is always a privilege to be able to participate and facilitate in the teaching and learning of this important subject. I know that there are colleagues in my own department who are doing similar and fine work.  

I applaud the willingness of Jonathan Rabinowitz as well as that of other colleagues within and outside my district to take on the subject with the sensitivity and scholarship it deserves; I know the students do as well."

We'll see if they print this.