Mythology in school

magickz

Active Member
I heard some schools in the south are trying to avoid the topic of Mythology to their students to avoid having to get into conversations about religious and spiritual beliefs. I am kind of shocked at this myself, are other schools around the country doing this, or even throughout the world?
 

Isis

Member
I hadn't heard about this but it doesn't totally surprise me. It's really sad though. I think open dialogues about religion and spirituality are important for cultural reasons and to help people find their own paths.
 
I haven't heard of this but I think it's a shame. I think some are afraid to confront historical mythology because it brings up questions about modern religion that many don't want to have to answer. I think it's important for students to understand mythology as a part of our world's history.
 

Nadai

Active Member
I think people try to avoid these types of conversations because they don't want to offend anyone. Just look at people's reaction to Christmas, now everyone feels obligated to say Happy Holidays to encompass all religions, but when I was a kid everyone said said Merry Christmas and when we said "The Pledge of Allegience" God's name was still a part of it and if anyone had a problem with that they never said anything about it. I think the further away from religion we get the more we'll see these types of changes.
 

Chablis

New Member
I think it's a shame that in the name of political correctness we short change our children's education. I guess it's just another thing that parents of well rounded children will have to teach themselves.
 
This is pretty disgusting, avoiding the topic of mythology incase it offends people. Its like around here, people in the council said it was wrong to put up Christmas decorations around town, and then a Sikh man who worked for the council pointed out the madness as we'd celebrated other religious festivals. Mythology is just as important in todays society as main religions. Its barbaric...children deserve to know about all faiths, and beliefs, otherwise how can they branch out and find there own beliefs if they dont know whats already there...
 

Rhonda Tharp

Active Member
In my neck of the woods, it is not entirely true. I was given the opportunity to teach a world mythology course for 7 years, and I never had one parent raise an issue or be concerned about the curriculum. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have sat in on many state curricululm writing groups, and have been angered at the direction some politicans and state school board members want to take social studies and science curricula. If you have passionate people that want to teach a humanities or mythology course, it could probably fly, but on a grand scale, like at the state level it appears that it couldn't happen. It just depends on the district...
 

RLynn

Active Member
I think people try to avoid these types of conversations because they don't want to offend anyone. Just look at people's reaction to Christmas, now everyone feels obligated to say Happy Holidays to encompass all religions, but when I was a kid everyone said said Merry Christmas and when we said "The Pledge of Allegience" God's name was still a part of it and if anyone had a problem with that they never said anything about it. I think the further away from religion we get the more we'll see these types of changes.
When I first learned the Pledge, there was no reference to God. The phrase "under God" was added in 1954. I usually leave it out when I say the Pledge at public events. There's nothing wrong with the God concept, but it is totally irrelevant in an affirmation of loyalty to the United States. Moreover, it creates an unpleasant dilemma for those who do not believe in God but are otherwise loyal citizens. The phrase really needs to be removed.

By the way, I say "Merry Christmas" to whomever I damn well please, although if I know someone is a non-Christian, I may say something that would be more significant to their personal celebration of the season. The fact that the Puritans tended to disapprove of the observance of Christmas (which was even outlawed in some parts of New England) enormously increases my enjoyment of the Yuletide, in spite of all the commercialism and tiresome music.

People who find mythology offensive can just live with it. If it were possible for society to accommodate every oversensitive crackpot, the result would be unthinkable.
 

Myrddin

Well-Known Member
The fact that the Puritans tended to disapprove of the observance of Christmas (which was even outlawed in some parts of New England) enormously increases my enjoyment of the Yuletide, in spite of all the commercialism and tiresome music.
Christmas was outlawed?!? Disgusting! You should NOT be able to do that. Anyone should be able to celebrate whatever holiday they damn well please.
 

LegendofJoe

Active Member
So much for the Christian Nation fundies like to push.
If we had it as Christian as the Puritans did, we would be in trouble for celebrating Christmas.
Actually, for many centuries Christmas was seen as a loud, unrefined holiday. It is only quite recently that the "Peace on Earth" version has stuck.
 

RLynn

Active Member
The Puritans are an interesting example of religious extremism. Ostensibly they migrated to the New World to escape religious persecution in Europe. However, as soon as they gained power in New England, they began persecuting other sects which did not share their Calvinist theology. For example, Quakers were banished from Puritan jurisdictions. Sometimes scapegoats would be selected for a public flogging before being kicked out.

It is, however, true that in those times Christmas, especially among Anglicans, was an excuse to get roaring drunk. The Puritans' abolition of Christmas celebrations was partly a reaction to this.
 

Allie-Gator

Member
I was taught mythology in high school. We had to read Bulfinch's Mythology as part of our English curriculum. We also studied Shakespeare and other medieval texts. I enjoyed all of them.
 

magickz

Active Member
I think too many people still need to pull up their britches like big boys & girls and just get over the fact that everyone is so damn emotional right now. I can highly understand the difference between someone being racist and offending someone, or sexist but when you get to the point that you stop teaching my kids about *ALL* history that has occurred in the past, you are offending me in another way, leaving out blanks that our kids will never know about. Just because its not your cup of tea does not give you the right to not teach about it. I swear the more I think about our schooling system the more I hate it. :mad:
 

Nadai

Active Member
It's left up to parents to fill in the blanks, but I don't mind. I love reading mythology to my kids; they're a bit too young to understand fully, but they enjoy it...;) almost as much as me!
 

Myrddin

Well-Known Member
I think the teacher should be comfortable with what they teach. Plus, you have to consider the fact that while you may be all right with your children being taught "uncensored" history, other parents may not. Yes, some people are very emotional, and yes the school boards tend to like to avoid having to deal with over sensitive and overprotective parents.

I think, Magickz, that if you want your children to know everything, you should be prepared to fill in the blanks that the teachers leave out, because, like I said earlier, the school boards are just afraid of teaching something that other, over sensitive, parents don't like, and don't want having their children taught in school for whatever reason.
 

Rhonda Tharp

Active Member
Or offer it as an elective... worked for me. The state of Texas took out myths, legends and fairy tale standards from 3rd grade, however, teachers can create their own curriculum if they can get their local school boards to approve the class... The TX SBOE never had any idea that I was teaching a mythology elective class because it was decided locally.
 
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