Alonzo Fyfe

Most prejudice is not conspiratorial. It is not even conscious. But it still exists.

Over 30% of Americans believe that an Atheist's contribution to society is more negative than positive. A teacher holding such a prejudice, who knows that a student in her class is an atheist, is more likely to interpret that student's behavior in a way that fits comfortably with this prejudice.


Just as a recist is likely to interpret any ambiguities in the behavior and words of a black person in a way that fits comfortably with his racist assumptions. Just as the sexist is going to assume that the blond chick isn't going to be able to grasp the details of any complex subject.

This usually does NOT happen as a result of some conscious decision of the sort, "the child is an atheist, therefore I will lower her grade."

Rather, the teacher is reading the paper, knowing in the back of her mind that the child is an atheist (or comes from an atheist family). This causes a 'bad feeling'. This 'bad feeling' then gets projected onto the student's essay, onto the student's words and actions in class, onto the teacher's assessment of the student's ability to handle some task responsibly, onto everything that allows for a little bit of subjectivity.

Though I do not believe in conspiracies, I have no doubt that there are at least some supporters of a moment of silence who are aware of how these forces work, who not only don't care but are eager to exploit those forces for their own ends.

And they are aware of how easy it is to handle a moment of silence to pressure students into some open demostration of praying (hands held in front, head bowed, lips silently moving) to apply peer pressure to others and identify and stigmatizing those who do not.

As was done to those two boys in Mississippi.

This will not happen in all schools. But it will happen in some. And, in general, the lives of atheist American children will be made a little more harsh.

[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: Alonzo Fyfe ]</p>

Sushi X

Geez, what a long winded response to a joke. <img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" />

Sushi X

Besides, those two dumbasses in Mississippi should probably be healing from their wounds right about now. The story may have explained that the freethinker was beaten, but did it explain how badly his freethinker friends must have mauled his would-be assailents? THAT is what I wanna hear.

Jack

I DO have somewhat of a problem with a "Moment of Silence" in schools if it is presented in the wrong way.

I am a lapsed Quaker, and I know from personal experience and Quaker history that silence can be as sacramental and liturgical as a High Mass.

So, if the MoS is presented with ANY reference to religion or praying, I find it to be unacceptable. If it is presented simply as a MoS with no religious reference, that is marginally OK to me. But I remain suspicious that, in implementation in the classroom, this non-religious presentation will be, somehow, subverted.

Jack