We all know that religion in schools is all very "hush-hush," and Jesus is not really talked about by the teachers. Well, one teacher decided to incorporate the Christian God in a very unusual way. In Todd Starnes' article, on Foxnews.com, entitled "Professor Makes Students 'Stomp on Jesus,'" he exposes this educational scandal by voicing the opinions of the Professor's students.
In his article, Starnes explains that the students of the Professor's Intercultural Communications class "told the students to write the name 'Jesus' on a sheet of paper. Then, they were told to put the paper on the floor." Later in the article, Starnes reveals that they were told to "stomp on it." Of course there would be obvious dissension with this lesson. Jesus is the symbol of Christianity, and being told to stomp on that name would outrage many people, including myself.
Ryan Rotela, a devout Mormon and student of Florida Atlantic University, obviously had the same views. In the text, Rotela "picked up the paper from the floor and put it right back on the table." Rotela later stated to Deandre Poole, the instructor of that class, that "the assignment was insulting and offensive." I am sure that Professor Poole expected this kind of debate but did not expect that it would be taken to heart. The overall theme of the lesson was to "discuss the importance of symbols in culture;" however, I do not think that the Professor was ever allowed to explain that important detail. Poole was suspended.
Rotela explained his views in the article and stated to the television station, "Any time you stomp on something it shows you believe that it has no value. If you stomp on the word Jesus -- it says the word has no value." If someone stomps on a bug, no one really gives a second thought to it. The bug is not significant. Apparently, Jesus was not significant to whoever stomped on that piece of paper.
Everyday Jesus is getting smaller and smaller in schools. Our pledge that we say every morning at school states that we are "one nation under God," but we're not really under God anymore, are we? This article just proves that religion is becoming a topic of insignificance.
What will they think of next? Burning the American flag? Perhaps, they will stomp on the name Mohammed next. I would not be surprised.
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