[asa] Why the Iowa teacher was fired

Folks,

This evening there is another lead story in the Des Moines register that makes it clear that the professor that was fired from an Iowa Community College was fired for his style and not his beleifs. He had a heated debate with students over their literal belief in the Bible and picked on one of them enough that she left in tears after being told in a heated debate to pop a Prozac. By his own admission he was trying to challenge some of the student's beliefs.

He was also an adjunct and not a full time staff member. When Pim brought this up I suggested that there was likely more to the story. We as professors have a responsibility to respect the students beliefs. Even though I believe in an old earth, I try hard to not undermine the core YEC beliefs of students, while still showing them what are some of the weaknesses of their positions.

James Mahaffy (mahaffy@dordt.edu) Phone: 712 722-6279
498 4th Ave NE
Biology Department FAX : 712 722-1198
Dordt College, Sioux Center IA 51250-1697

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Received on Tue Sep 25 20:40:50 2007