Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question

Jul 27, '16, 11:05 am

PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic

Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Dear Catholics, Hello, I need some advice on what to do about some public school work. I have to read a book over the summer that is biased towards Catholics in the Americas, and I see that Catholic Answers has a good rebuttal. However, we must hand a part of this assignment, and only use the book for help answering some questions. Is it considered academic dishonesty to read the Catholic response, if it may "influence" \ my answer?

#2   Jul 27, '16, 11:21 am

Della Forum Elder   Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 19,264 Religion: Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question You shouldn't have to read a book and report on it if it violates your faith. The teacher probably doesn't understand that the book is biased, since many non-Catholics simply accept such information as plainly factual--if the teacher is non-Catholic, that is. You can do a couple of things here. You can read the book and point out in your report how it is biased. Or you can tell the teacher that it would violate your conscience to read it, so you'd like another book to read and report on instead. If the teacher won't budge regarding what book you are to read, again you have some options. You can read it under protest or you can complain to the appropriate school authorities. But let's hope it doesn't come to that. As for academic dishonesty for getting replies on CAF, no, that's not academically dishonest. It's called research. If you do decide to read the book, etc., you can mention that you did independent research on those things that are biased in the book, if asked, but you do not need to volunteer your sources. Especially if the teacher is so biased s/he'd demote your grade for researching your own fellow believers' knowledge. __________________ "We must overcome our enemies by gentleness; win them over by forbearance. Let them be punished by their own conscience, not by our wrath. Let us not at once wither the fig-tree, from which a more skillful gardener may yet entice fruit." St. Gregory Nazianzen Tiber Swim Team, Class of '87 "Sanctum erit, facere bonum in caritate"

#3   Jul 27, '16, 12:14 pm

PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Thank you for the response. It's not easy to take it up with school authorities, because I'd have to do this almost all the time. This resulted in my grades tanking... Have many Catholics have gone through this? And have your grades also dropped because of the immoral schoolwork?

#4   Jul 27, '16, 12:25 pm

PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Very interesting history, and using Papal Encyclicals to prepare for september http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_pa03sd.htm Last edited by PraiseChrist; Jul 27, '16 at 12:36 pm.

#5   Jul 27, '16, 1:41 pm

adamhovey1988 Regular Member   Join Date: February 12, 2015 Posts: 3,746 Religion: Christian-Catholic (Latin), my religion IS my relationship

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Do what I did with my college history class. Write something correcting the teacher and the book, and explain what is right about it and what is not right about out. I had a history book that referred to the Catholic beliefs in the Sacraments as "technologically magic" to say I was offended is an understatement. __________________ Check out my apologetics channel, subscribe if you'd like https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9E...tsEcLVRezZT9pA My blog http://adamcharleshovey.blogspot.com

#6   Jul 27, '16, 1:45 pm

gracepoole Senior Member   Join Date: June 25, 2011 Posts: 7,043 Religion: Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist Dear Catholics, Hello, I need some advice on what to do about some public school work. I have to read a book over the summer that is biased towards Catholics in the Americas, and I see that Catholic Answers has a good rebuttal. However, we must hand a part of this assignment, and only use the book for help answering some questions. Is it considered academic dishonesty to read the Catholic response, if it may "influence" \ my answer? Do you mean biased against Catholics in the Americas? To what book are you referring?

#7   Jul 27, '16, 1:50 pm

Padres1969 Regular Member   Join Date: October 28, 2015 Posts: 5,291 Religion: Episcopalian

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist Dear Catholics, Hello, I need some advice on what to do about some public school work. I have to read a book over the summer that is biased towards Catholics in the Americas, and I see that Catholic Answers has a good rebuttal. However, we must hand a part of this assignment, and only use the book for help answering some questions. Is it considered academic dishonesty to read the Catholic response, if it may "influence" \ my answer? What's the book?

#8   Jul 27, '16, 1:55 pm

Thom18 Regular Member   Join Date: January 8, 2016 Posts: 799 Religion: Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question I would go with pointing out how biased the book is. I'd say that's the safest route to go. Saying something along the lines of, "This text fails to give the Catholic perspective" would probably suffice and wouldn't likely get you in any sort of trouble.

#9   Jul 27, '16, 2:01 pm

Allegra Veteran Member   Join Date: July 11, 2011 Posts: 10,443 Religion: Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Most of the social studies and literature classes I took in high school were instructed with the understanding that much of history is up for interpretation. I can't imagine a teacher deducting from your grade for studying outside of the class materials and being able to explain your conclusion, citing your sources. Isn't this what they are supposed to be teaching you to do?

#10   Jul 27, '16, 2:29 pm

Usige Regular Member   Join Date: August 17, 2007 Posts: 4,132 Religion: Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Allegra I can't imagine a teacher deducting from your grade for studying outside of the class materials and being able to explain your conclusion, citing your sources. Isn't this what they are supposed to be teaching you to do? It's funny that you'd say that. I always thought the same thing. I had an English teacher my senior year that was suspended a few years after I graduated. He had an argument with the principal around his teaching style. During the confrontation my former teacher said he presented things to make kids learn; to encourage them to think. The principal said that wasn't his job, it was to teach kids the right anwers. This came up during his school board hearing where 100s of former students came to speak about how he taught us critical thinking skills. I guess it really depends on what the teacher thinks their job is; regurgitate the book or critical analysis of the question. I've had both types.

#11   Jul 27, '16, 2:43 pm

petra22 Regular Member Prayer Warrior   Join Date: June 22, 2010 Posts: 5,045 Religion: Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Usige He had an argument with the principal around his teaching style. During the confrontation my former teacher said he presented things to make kids learn; to encourage them to think. The principal said that wasn't his job, it was to teach kids the right anwers. Boy, education has really changed..................! It may be all the teaching to the tests that teachers have to do now... Isn't it called "Dumb-ing down America? __________________ God would not vouchsafe you the desire to be the Victim of His Merciful Love,were this not a favor in store...God never inspires a longing which He cannot fulfill. --St. Therese of Lisieux (Autobiography) Last edited by petra22; Jul 27, '16 at 2:46 pm. Reason: forgot part

#12   Jul 27, '16, 2:45 pm

PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Do you mean biased against Catholics in the Americas? To what book are you referring? Quote: What's the book? I apologize, I meant that it's biased against catholics. If it were biased for Catholics, I wouldn't be in public school It's name is Colonial America A Very Short Introduction by Alan Taylor.

#13   Jul 27, '16, 2:53 pm

gracepoole Senior Member   Join Date: June 25, 2011 Posts: 7,043 Religion: Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist I apologize, I meant that it's biased against catholics. If it were biased for Catholics, I wouldn't be in public school It's name is Colonial America A Very Short Introduction by Alan Taylor. Why, specifically, do you believe it to be anti-Catholic?

#14   Jul 27, '16, 3:01 pm

PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question It criticizes Catholic missionaries, to be general

#15   Jul 27, '16, 3:06 pm

Padres1969 Regular Member   Join Date: October 28, 2015 Posts: 5,291 Religion: Episcopalian

Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist It criticizes Catholic missionaries, to be general Catholic missionaries in general worldwide or more specific missionaries? I mean I'm quite familiar with works critical of the Catholic missionaries in California. As taught in California schools the missions' legacy is very mixed. And rightly so, it was a mixed legacy at best. Pointing it out isn't anti-Catholic.      Jul 27, '16, 3:09 pm Bonnie Regular Member   Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 4,773 Religion: Catholic since 1976! Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Both Protestant & Catholic missionaries who worked with the Indians here in Washington had problems. Pointing out their failings is not being anti anything. However, the author may be one-sided (only pointing out Catholic errors), or making conclusions about the religion being good or bad based on the behavior of a few missionaries. You'd have to read to the book to find out. __________________ God bless, Bonnie, OFS Opportunity Farm Northeast Washington "While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all." Galatians 6:10 Catholic since '76!   #17   Jul 27, '16, 3:29 pm PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Thanks for the responses so far. I do understand that pointing out wrongdoing with some people within the Church isn't immoral. Tim Staples does a great short talk about corruption in past times of the Church here: http://www.catholic.com/video/what-about-the-bad-popes But for the topic I am reading about in school, Catholic Answers defends the Church from these things here: http://www.catholic.com/magazine/art...tive-americans And that Papal Encyclical I posted earlier also helped a lot   #18   Jul 27, '16, 3:39 pm Padres1969 Regular Member   Join Date: October 28, 2015 Posts: 5,291 Religion: Episcopalian Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist Thanks for the responses so far. I do understand that pointing out wrongdoing with some people within the Church isn't immoral. Tim Staples does a great short talk about corruption in past times of the Church here: http://www.catholic.com/video/what-about-the-bad-popes But for the topic I am reading about in school, Catholic Answers defends the Church from these things here: http://www.catholic.com/magazine/art...tive-americans And that Papal Encyclical I posted earlier also helped a lot Ok so you're reading something which is somewhat critical of Christian missionaries to the Native Americans I take it. Academically there is nothing wrong with being taught that. Catholic Answers may try and defend what was done but that's not the only valid opinion on the matter. Fact is while it was a good thing from a Catholic perspective, it was not always so from the Native American's POV, no from an objective POV. There were many abuses by the missionaries and their compatriots of the Native populations. And pointing those out is not "anti-Catholic", it's simply the darker side of the missionary activity in the Americas. It was not always a good or helpful endeavor for those being converted. Sometimes it was downright evil and barbaric.   #19   Jul 27, '16, 3:52 pm esieffe Regular Member   Join Date: July 26, 2013 Posts: 3,724 Religion: Roman Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question I think you can you the CA rebuttal information you found. Just cite it in your opinion. I think you will earn a few divine points for standing up for your faith. __________________ “The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.” – Saint Francis de Sales http://www.angelicwarfareconfraternity.org/ Major help with your fight for purity. "Ecumenism is the enemy of the Immaculata" Saint Maximilium Kolbe   #20   Jul 27, '16, 4:38 pm Dwyer Regular Member   Join Date: February 26, 2007 Posts: 1,361 Religion: Byzantine Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: lics, Hello, I need some advice on what to do about some public school work. I have to read a book over the summer that is biased towards Catholics in the Americas, and I see that Catholic Answers has a good rebuttal. However, we must hand a part of this assignment, and only use the book for help answering some questions. Is it considered academic dishonesty to read the Catholic response, if it may "influence" \ my answer? I think you better just do as teacher says and "ONLY" use the work of Anti-Catholic propaganda the teacher gave you to read. At least you realize at an early age what's the purpose of the class is trying to do: make the Catholics look bad and present a one-sided Liberal view of history. I appreciate your desire to defend the Catholic Faith but public schools are all about conformity; public school is a system and I think it's best to understand that. No matter what you say, you won't be able to persuade the history teacher that the missionaries were trying to help and protect the Native Americans on several levels (e.g., spiritually, practically, politically). You might want to mention a few facts taking the Catholic point of view in class but when it comes to writing a paper or whatever the assignment is, I would write the biggest bunch of Liberal garbage you can think of. I did that during a history final exam; the subject wasn't about the Catholic Church but 19th Century American politics and institutions; I hadn't read a lot of the material (I read just about half of all the books and articles handed out), so I just wrote a bunch of Liberal hogwash and I ended up doing fairly decently with a B+ on the Final Exam. Your grade will suffer otherwise; the history teacher is going to say: "Well, Johnny, you didn't follow my instructions; I said ONLY use the assigned book. What's this Catholic Answers stuff? You didn't do as you were told." And that C+ or D+ isn't going to look good when the paper is handed back to you. Public School is all about doing as you are told; it's part of the system; there's no free speech or freedom of conscience except for the established favored social subgroups of secular society. I don't think there's any moral imperative or command from the Catholic Church that orders you to defend the Faith as a grade student in a secular public school. It would be morally courageous to do so, but hopefully you want to pursue your education after high school at a top college or university, so I'd just go with the flow and don't rock the boat until the day you graduate from Medical School. You might want to mention a few facts taking the Catholic point of view in class in a very low key manner. Also point out that the English were conducting brutal violent wars of Conquest in Ireland about this time under Oliver Cromwell and outlawed the public practice of Catholicism and confiscated property in a manner similar to what the Spanish were doing to the Native Americans in the New World. Have you talked to your parents? They can at least commiserate with you and perhaps see if you can be possibly home schooled. __________________ "It's a free country; you can say whatever you want." --Old American Saying (U.S. Postal Service stamp-- from 1977 Americana series which extols freedom of speech and features a Speaker's Stand decorated with an American Flag shield.) Last edited by Dwyer; Jul 27, '16 at 4:51 pm.   #21   Jul 27, '16, 4:49 pm gracepoole Senior Member   Join Date: June 25, 2011 Posts: 7,043 Religion: Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Dwyer At least you realize at an early age what's the purpose of the class is trying to do: make the Catholics look bad and present a one-sided Liberal view of history. Holy cow. How can you possibly know that this is the purpose of this class?   #22   Jul 27, '16, 4:52 pm mikekle Veteran Member   Join Date: August 3, 2012 Posts: 10,461 Religion: raised catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Dwyer I don't think there's any moral imperative or command from the Catholic Church that orders you to defend the Faith in a secular school. It would be morally courageous to do so, but hopefully you want to pursue your education after high school at a top college or university, so I'd just go with the flow and don't rock the boat until the day you graduate from Medical School. You are joking...right? If we are not to defend our faith in the secular world, where should we do it? That part in red is also why the world is in such bad shape now, too many christians wanting to 'go along to get along', rocking the boat is what we are supposed to do imo.   #23   Jul 27, '16, 4:53 pm Dwyer Regular Member   Join Date: February 26, 2007 Posts: 1,361 Religion: Byzantine Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by gracepoole Holy cow. How can you possibly know that this is the purpose of this class? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Here class, read one: just one book; "ONLY" use this book; don't think for yourself. Public school; been there; done that. __________________ "It's a free country; you can say whatever you want." --Old American Saying (U.S. Postal Service stamp-- from 1977 Americana series which extols freedom of speech and features a Speaker's Stand decorated with an American Flag shield.)   #24   Jul 27, '16, 4:54 pm gracepoole Senior Member   Join Date: June 25, 2011 Posts: 7,043 Religion: Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Dwyer It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Here class, read one book; "ONLY" use this book; don't think for yourself. Public school; been there; done that. Oh, well, in that case...   #25   Jul 27, '16, 4:57 pm PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Dwyer I think you better just do as teacher says and "ONLY" use the work of Anti-Catholic propaganda the teacher gave you to read. At least you realize at an early age what's the purpose of the class is trying to do: make the Catholics look bad and present a one-sided Liberal view of history. I appreciate your desire to defend the Catholic Faith but public schools are all about conformity; public school is a system and I think it's best to understand that. No matter what you say, you won't be able to persuade the history teacher that the missionaries were trying to help and protect the Native Americans on several levels (e.g., spiritually, practically, politically). You might want to mention a few facts taking the Catholic point of view in class but when it come to writing a paper or whatever the assignment is, I would write the biggest bunch of Liberal garbage you can think of. I did that during a history final exam; the subject wasn't about the Catholic Church but 19th Century American politics and institutions; I hadn't read a lot of the material (I read just about half of all the books and articles handed out), so I just wrote a bunch of Liberal hogwash and I ended up doing fairly decently with a B+ on the Final Exam. Your grade will suffer otherwise; the history teacher is going to say: "Well, Johnny, you didn't follow my instructions; I said ONLY use the assigned book. What's this Catholic Answers stuff? You didn't do as you were told." And that C+ or D+ isn't going to look good when the paper is handed back to you. Public School is all about doing as you are told; it's part of the system; there's no free speech or freedom of conscience except for the established favored social subgroups of secular society. I don't think there's any moral imperative or command from the Catholic Church that orders you to defend the Faith in a secular school. It would be morally courageous to do so, but hopefully you want to pursue your education after high school at a top college or university, so I'd just go with the flow and don't rock the boat until the day you graduate from Medical School. You might want to mention a few facts taking the Catholic point of view in class in a very low key manner. Also point out that the English were conducting brutal violent wars of Conquest in Ireland about this time under Oliver Cromwell and outlawed the public practice of Catholicism and confiscated property in a manner similar to what the Spanish were doing to the Native Americans in the New World. Have you talked to your parents? They can at least commiserate with you and perhaps see if you can be possibly home schooled. Thanks for your response. I think that we should defend the faith when it's explicitly slandered though. It doesn't look like the assignment is going to go too much into religion, until maybe the test we'll have in September. But to prepare for that stuff, I would have to read-up, as I was pretty unprepared last school year on this stuff. Scrupulosity and public school work don't mix, that's for sure They can't have me be homeschooled, thanks though.   #26   Jul 27, '16, 5:03 pm PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Padres1969 Ok so you're reading something which is somewhat critical of Christian missionaries to the Native Americans I take it. Academically there is nothing wrong with being taught that. Catholic Answers may try and defend what was done but that's not the only valid opinion on the matter. Fact is while it was a good thing from a Catholic perspective, it was not always so from the Native American's POV, no from an objective POV. There were many abuses by the missionaries and their compatriots of the Native populations. And pointing those out is not "anti-Catholic", it's simply the darker side of the missionary activity in the Americas. It was not always a good or helpful endeavor for those being converted. Sometimes it was downright evil and barbaric. The Catholic Answers article admits and talks a bit about these abuses as well. From the Catholic Answers article: Quote: There is no question that European colonialism wrought vast troubles for the tribes and cultures of the New World. But it is unfair to blame the Church for the actions of the European powers—who regularly punished the Jesuits, Franciscans, Augustinians, and countless priests, nuns, and laypeople for speaking out in defense of the suffering natives [...] Quote: No informed person would endeavor to maintain that the churchmen were always in the right, but by the same token no one can deny that they were generally on the side of the angels in their treatment of the Indians.[...] Pope Paul III in 1537 to issue the bull Sublimis Deus in which he declared: "The said Indians and all other people who may later be discovered by Christians, are by no means to be deprived of their liberty or the possession of their property, even though they be outside the faith of Jesus Christ." (American Catholicism, 5) The problem is that this book treats as if the goal of all these Christian missionaries was to treat the Natives as human trash.   #27   Jul 27, '16, 5:06 pm gracepoole Senior Member   Join Date: June 25, 2011 Posts: 7,043 Religion: Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist The problem is that this book treats as if the goal of all these Christian missionaries was to treat the Natives as human trash. Can you provide an example?   #28   Jul 27, '16, 5:09 pm PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question "Converts who defied the friars suffered severe whippings, while rebellions reaped brutal and destructive reprisals by soldiers" (Taylor 29) is just one example   #29   Jul 27, '16, 5:17 pm gracepoole Senior Member   Join Date: June 25, 2011 Posts: 7,043 Religion: Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist "Converts who defied the friars suffered severe whippings, while rebellions reaped brutal and destructive reprisals by soldiers" (Taylor 29) is just one example This statement is focused on individuals, not the Church. We know individual Catholics have acted immorally from time to time. It's legitimately possible, then, that there's nothing inaccurate described here. Are sources provided?   #30   Jul 27, '16, 5:22 pm PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by gracepoole This statement is focused on individuals, not the Church. We know individual Catholics have acted immorally from time to time. It's legitimately possible, then, that there's nothing inaccurate described here. Are sources provided? For every chapter, there further readings, not sure if they are sources. But for some reason, this book really enjoys doing this. Jul 27, '16, 5:50 pm Gertabelle Forum Master Prayer Warrior   Join Date: September 14, 2006 Posts: 13,329 Religion: Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist "Converts who defied the friars suffered severe whippings, while rebellions reaped brutal and destructive reprisals by soldiers" (Taylor 29) is just one example Hello. I grew up in California and studied the missions as part of state history. I think it's important to distinguish between the actions of soldiers who represented the government, and the actions of friars and others who represented the Church. Yes, I know the European governments (kings, lords, prime ministers) each aligned themselves with the Catholic Church or some protestant sect during the time of colonization. But a government that aligned itself with Roman Catholicism was still not part of the magisterium and had no more authority in the Church than I do sitting at the organ. Just saying... __________________ Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us. ALL for Jesus! ALL that He wants! ALL for Jesus!   #32   Jul 27, '16, 6:28 pm Gertabelle Forum Master Prayer Warrior   Join Date: September 14, 2006 Posts: 13,329 Religion: Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Dwyer It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Here class, read one: just one book; "ONLY" use this book; don't think for yourself. Public school; been there; done that. Oh yes, of course, and all of us public school teachers are just out to get you -- BOO! Sheesh. It is possible the teacher might actually be telling her students that they need only use this book, not that they cannot use other sources. It's a summer homework assignment. Perhaps she was letting the students know they didn't need to find ten other sources of their own. Just read the book and use it for your answers. Keep it simple. Or perhaps she is actually in league with the dark forces and Kylo Ren is her teaching partner. Sorry you had a difficult time in the public schools. Some students do. So do some teachers. My experience of the past 19 years is that most teachers (99%) love it when students actually think for themselves and notice and question the biases in their texts. Teachers do not love it, however, when students are rude, disrespectful, or completely unwilling to consider any opposing views to their ideas. I had a student recently, for example, who just interrupted and kept interrupting after he made his point, because I told him that I didn't agree with his opinion. He was free to express his opinion. And I gave him opportunity to do so. I also asked him questions. But when he didn't convince me, he told me I was disrespectful and didn't care about my students or their beliefs. This was a fifth grade boy -- fifth grade! Now imagine him in middle or high school. Yikes! He's more concerned about dominating the class than critical thinking. But he'll never admit that. As far as he is concerned, he is the victim of teachers being bullies if they don't agree with him. He is no longer my student, but I will keep him in my prayers for years to come, I have no doubt... Assume the best, rather than going on the attack. Respect the honest intellectual differences that others have. Ask questions respectfully, and present your differences of opinion intellectually. AND be willing to discover in your research, that sometimes you are wrong. God bless you all! __________________ Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us. ALL for Jesus! ALL that He wants! ALL for Jesus!   #33   Jul 29, '16, 11:51 pm Peaceful One New Member   Join Date: January 24, 2015 Posts: 12 Religion: Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Gertabelle Oh yes, of course, and all of us public school teachers are just out to get you -- BOO! Sheesh. It is possible the teacher might actually be telling her students that they need only use this book, not that they cannot use other sources. It's a summer homework assignment. Perhaps she was letting the students know they didn't need to find ten other sources of their own. Just read the book and use it for your answers. Keep it simple. Or perhaps she is actually in league with the dark forces and Kylo Ren is her teaching partner. Sorry you had a difficult time in the public schools. Some students do. So do some teachers. My experience of the past 19 years is that most teachers (99%) love it when students actually think for themselves and notice and question the biases in their texts. Teachers do not love it, however, when students are rude, disrespectful, or completely unwilling to consider any opposing views to their ideas. I had a student recently, for example, who just interrupted and kept interrupting after he made his point, because I told him that I didn't agree with his opinion. He was free to express his opinion. And I gave him opportunity to do so. I also asked him questions. But when he didn't convince me, he told me I was disrespectful and didn't care about my students or their beliefs. This was a fifth grade boy -- fifth grade! Now imagine him in middle or high school. Yikes! He's more concerned about dominating the class than critical thinking. But he'll never admit that. As far as he is concerned, he is the victim of teachers being bullies if they don't agree with him. He is no longer my student, but I will keep him in my prayers for years to come, I have no doubt... Assume the best, rather than going on the attack. Respect the honest intellectual differences that others have. Ask questions respectfully, and present your differences of opinion intellectually. AND be willing to discover in your research, that sometimes you are wrong. God bless you all! Yes, teaching is hard. Students sometime forget that the teacher has a plan. This is a short book given as a summer assignment. The title: "Colonial America: A Very Short History" tells us that. The author is not going into detail or attempting to provide an exhaustive study. Perhaps the teacher intends to get into more details later and assigned this books simply as an introduction. The reviews I found are all good, though I have not read the book. I do, however, have a Bachelor's degree in history and know that sometimes short, concise works are used as an introduction to a topic. And as I am only 3 credit hours away from a Master's in secondary ed, I can see using this tactic when beginning a section on a new topic.   #34   Jul 30, '16, 12:40 pm Alex H Regular Member   Join Date: October 5, 2015 Posts: 623 Religion: Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Dwyer I did that during a history final exam; the subject wasn't about the Catholic Church but 19th Century American politics and institutions; I hadn't read a lot of the material (I read just about half of all the books and articles handed out), so I just wrote a bunch of Liberal hogwash and I ended up doing fairly decently with a B+ on the Final Exam. . Haha I know how you feel. I once took a college culture class and the subject we had to write on was Martin Luther and the effects of his reformation. At first, I was trying to defend the church. But I could tell from the way the questions were worded, the Catholic church was definitely the bad guy for this exam. So I just wrote a glowing review of Martin Luther and left it at that.   #35   Aug 1, '16, 4:56 pm PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by Alex H Haha I know how you feel. I once took a college culture class and the subject we had to write on was Martin Luther and the effects of his reformation. At first, I was trying to defend the church. But I could tell from the way the questions were worded, the Catholic church was definitely the bad guy for this exam. So I just wrote a glowing review of Martin Luther and left it at that. I know what you're talking about, and it's difficult to get through these things. Criticizing the Church seems like a detailed instruction of an assignment at times, but I think we should always defend the Church when necessary, and not praise the bad actions of others. We had a history assignment where we had to argue whether or not Henry VIII was justified in breaking off from the Catholic Church. I just mentioned apostolic succession, that Henry VIII's intents weren't really to reform the Church, but for his marriage problems, ect. I think every Catholic student must know the history behind these things, whether it's Early Church, Arianism, Reformation, "Enlightenment Era", ect.   #36   Aug 4, '16, 7:42 am steve b Veteran Member   Join Date: June 27, 2004 Posts: 10,771 Religion: Cradle Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist Dear Catholics, Hello, I need some advice on what to do about some public school work. I have to read a book over the summer that is biased towards Catholics in the Americas, and I see that Catholic Answers has a good rebuttal. However, we must hand a part of this assignment, and only use the book for help answering some questions. Is it considered academic dishonesty to read the Catholic response, if it may "influence" \ my answer? Your school teacher (if this is the case) is entitled to his/her own opinions all day long. But NOT entitled to his/her own truths / facts unchallenged, when they can clearly be challenged ..... and challenged successfully. When rebutting what appears to be error, always provide qualified and recognized evidence (properly referenced of course) that rebut successfully, the premises being taught or offered. As an aside, Just because something is in a book, does it automatically mean it is solid and true. Or that it can be defended. Ever read the "disclaimer" in Wikipedia? It is there at the bottom of every article Disclaimers . __________________ To doubt is the greatest insult to the Divinity.[St Padre Pio] Last edited by steve b; Aug 4, '16 at 7:52 am.   #37   Aug 4, '16, 12:56 pm PraiseChrist Regular Member   Join Date: November 25, 2014 Posts: 824 Religion: Roman Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Are Catholics bound to do something about this, if it may diminish their Faith?   #38   Aug 8, '16, 9:08 am steve b Veteran Member   Join Date: June 27, 2004 Posts: 10,771 Religion: Cradle Catholic Re: Anti-Catholic Schoolwork question Quote: Originally Posted by PraiseChrist Are Catholics bound to do something about this, if it may diminish their Faith? I would say yes __________________ To doubt is the greatest insult to the Divinity.[St Padre Pio]