Views on this please..My son was asked

[bouncer]

to write an essay for his home work on 'Ways in which I was selfish" by his religous teacher. He tried his best to find ways in which he was selfish and honestly could'nt find one. He's the gentlest and most in offensive kid you'd meet, unlike my daughter !!.
After much thought I told him he's not to do the essay and I'll give him a note for his teacher in the morning as to way I excused him this assignment.

1. first off he's not making up a story about being selfish when he's not selfish.

2. This is something he should confess only to either his mam, me or the prest during confession (we're good 'ol Irish catholics !).

I don't hold any strong religious views, but I know some here do and I'd appriate your input please.

My son is only 10 years old !.

Regards

Bouncer

 

[AAP]

what a dork the teacher is.

 

[theoak01]

i agree with your views im irish catholic myself and why admit to being wrong when you havent done anything,schools today are outrageous

now pat yourself on the back for doing a good job with your kids

 

[danielson]

religious teacher?

thats like religious education right? that teacher has no place asking that.....he's only there to teach them about different religions, not to make them analyse themselves

 

[Stryc-9]

Gee - that's a pretty harsh assignment for a 10 year old!!

I am wondering what the purpose of writing such an essay is intended to be?? What are they hoping to teach the children about selfishness by making them identify it in themselves at such an early age??

Doesn't seem like a very well-planned assignment...

 

[Warik]

I have a better idea.

Have his essay be about the fact that he doesn't want to write it. I did a paper like that in 11th grade English, and got a nice "A" for it.

Basically have him write something along the lines of: "One of the ways in which I was selfish was in the writing of this essay. Though writing this essay will allegedly further my education and make me a better person, I choose to participate in things that brought me immediate pleasure, such as playing video games with my dad. How selfish I was."

a) He wrote the paper.
b) He wrote about a time he was selfish.

Teacher can't justify giving him a poor grade.

Just be glad you don't live in the states - 10 year old boys are faced with more wasteful assignments daily - and in greater numbers.

-Warik

 

[KEL]

sounds like the topic was guilt

I agree bad assignment

 

[tripleV]

Hey Bouncer, i dont have kids and i agree that it is a very stupid topic, but i think he should still write something. Along with your note, have him look up and learn exactly what being 'selfish" is all about and maybe write about someone other than him commiting the act of selfishness, or why people are selfish or something like that...

Selfish: Caring supremely or unduly for one's self; regarding one's own comfort, advantage, etc., in disregard, or at the expense, of those of others.

 

[velvett]

Basically have him write something along the lines of: "One of the ways in which I was selfish was in the writing of this essay. Though writing this essay will allegedly further my education and make me a better person, I choose to participate in things that brought me immediate pleasure, such as playing video games with my dad. How selfish I was."

Ouuuuuuuuu

Good answer.

 

[Citruscide]

I've got no problems with people who are preachy... but I don't like those who try to force their views on other people, especially 10 year olds... After getting that assignment I'd go talk with the teacher and take a more active role in my son's homework (like you are doing now)

To those religeous folkes who think otherwise... check out my avatar...

C

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Religion thrives on getting people to admit all their flaws and be guilty about it.

 

[daised]

maybe he could write about ways in which everyday things you can do to help others. i went to a Catholic school for 12 years, so i know what kind of assignments they give out.

 

[john937]

what a dork the teacher is.

Are we talking public school or private? Catholic school ?

"Ways in which I am selfish:
"So many people hate their families. I love mine. Nope I'm not sharing or giving them up. I'm keeping them."

"God's given me so many blessings in the form of lucky breaks, creativity, I.Q., friends, memories... Yup, I'm going to keep them all."

"My country is the best fed, best dressed, great access to health care, schooling, transit.
Other countries have hunger, poverty and disease."
.........ahh phooey, Anal's right the assignment is dorkey.

 

[Bikini Mod]

This reminds of a CCD (religious education - I'm protestant but I did agree to raise the children catholic like their father) test that I had to sign for my 3rd grader. The question was, "Your dog is sick. Right a prayer about it" (or something to that effect). My Nini (She is a hoot!) refused to accept the notion that any pet that belonged to her could be ill (we have a cat). So she wrote instead "My doggie is well. I played with him outside in the back yard. The sun was shining and we had fun. Amen"

BWAAHAHAHAAAHAHAHHAHA!!!

I couldn't help but bust a gut laughing! (Even though she didn't do too well on the test.) I really didn't care that she got the answer wrong because this isn't part of her SCHOOL curriculum and I thought is was ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL that she wouldn't want any animal to suffer with illness. My daughter is only 8 and she has the kindest, most gentle heart... I hope that it will stay that way (or at least to a large degree) forever.

Bouncer, you are doing the right thing. If your son is NOT selfish then you and your wife are a good parents and you should both be pleased and happy.

I kind of like Warik's idea... I can just see the look on the uptight biddy of a teacher's face now!

HHHHAHahhaahahhehehhahehahehahahaaaaaa

 

[Warik]

bikinimom,

I never thought that any piece of text could possibly be longer than any of your posts... you never cease to amaze me, as I've discovered a piece of text that is longer than any of your posts - YOUR SIGNATURE!

Your whole post is like 2 1/2 pages even on 1600x1200 resolution! Ahhh!!!

-Warik

 

[Bigsatan13]

IMO, I would have a chat with the teacher who was trying to instill some kind of guilt complex on my child. BTW, OL' Satan here does not enroll his kid in ccd for reasons such as this. She told me herself at an early age that it was all bullshit. That's my girl!

 

[mattcanning99]

bouncer, i agree with you completely, you are 100% right in my opinion, unless there is something you aren't telling us.

To those religeous folkes who think otherwise... check out my avatar...

this goes for me too


peace


matt

 

[bouncer]

Nope citrus there's nothing I'm not telling. I had contemplated the idea of getting him to do another essay, but instead have told the teacher I'd gladly have him write some more pleasent over the weekend.
Some good idea's there guys, but it's 07:45am next day that I'm repling here, damn time difference.
Matt you hit the nail on the head about the catholic religion.
Regards
Bouncer

 

[Y_lifter]

Sounds like you are raising your kids the right way in a very difficult atmosphere, bounce...

I truly find it amazing and wonderfull that you are raising 2 gentle, unselfish kids being surrounded by much strife in your land.

My daughter has also been asked to do reports, and when she answer questions like "What did you like least about the book or subject"? we tell her to be honest.

When she answered honestly one time that the Teachers instructions for the report were not clear, and we agree that they were not, we signed the paper to show her that being respectfully honest is OK and the teacher can't give her any grief...

Several of the kids were also confused by the instructions and it came to be that the teacher had changed the instructions for the report and not told everyone.

 

[MommaKin]

If that was my son, his teacher would be hearing from me....

 

[Zebo]

No Flame to anyone.....but this is why I jerked my kids out of CCD at the church. (My wife's Catholic).

Too much focus on guilt and death, in my opinion. At least at this particular church. We now go to a church where the children's religious instruction is fun. No pressure, God loves you, be happy, be good to others,etc. Much more positive and applicable to our daily lives.

Sorry you child got faced with that. Tell them to stick the essay....


Again, no flame to Catholics, just my opinion.....

 

[SoCAmuscle]

Selfish: Caring supremely or unduly for one's self; regarding one's own comfort, advantage, etc., in disregard, or at the expense, of those of others.

[/B]

Thanks Webster!