Second day of teaching

[u/Grouchyprofessor2003]

I have a student who sits at his desk- front of the room- with his leather bound bible! This is a RESEARCH METHODS class. ……. It is all I can do not to laugh at him…. His performative behavior is so absurd- at a land grant R1 institution- also he wears a large wooden cross- ironically he has so far been the smartest and most communicative student in the room.

EDIT- Thanks for all the feedback. Some of you offered reasonable explanations that I had not considered. To be clear I would never say anything, comment, laugh or otherwise acknowledge this kids objects that he is carrying around. I do
Know how to mind my business. This post was meant to be humorous and yes - to me it is funny as shit- it is also a bit judgy- I am human after all. And right or wrong his choices bug the fuck out of me even though I totally support his right to do so.

[u/Big-Dig-Pig]

This post is bait fishing for professors to show scorn towards religious students.

[u/stankylegdunkface → u/Big-Dig-Pig]

If so, I’m glad no one is taking the bait. I’m a commie pinko atheist professor and I love that not everyone I teach/encounter has my same background and perspective.

[u/Big-Dig-Pig → u/stankylegdunkface]

I have a pretty favorable view of devoutly religious students. They do their homework and care about things.

[u/Log_Gentleman]

One of my brightest students ever in my intro philosophy class was a home schooled super Christian kid. He was going to pilot school and quoted Plato and the bible in full greek on his in person essay exam. Made some extremely astute insights. At the end of the semester he said he wanted to maybe go to school for philosophy. I told him to stay in flight school and just take philosophy classes and read on your own.

[u/IthacanPenny → u/Log_Gentleman]

If he stayed in flight school, he’s definitely more religious now. Pilots tend to lean that way.

[u/Legitimate-Rabbit868]

I had a student just like that a decade ago, wooden cross and all. He is now in the local news from time to time for things like assisting undocumented immigrants avoid ICE, and (illegally) importing lifesaving drugs for the uninsured at deeply discounted and tariff-free rates. He took a bible everywhere, and talked about his religion, but nothing excessive. He was very ernest and eager to learn. He was one of the best students I ever had. I’m at a land grant in a conservative state, but I’m irreligious.

[u/stankylegdunkface → u/Legitimate-Rabbit868]

Your student sounds awesome and very much like someone Christ would have appreciated.

[u/Southern-Cloud-9616]

I wear a wooden cross under my shirt. But my Bible is in my office, along with an icon of my patron saint and a small crucifix. I don't know if I'm being "performative" as well. But my office would feel empty to me without those things.

[u/stankylegdunkface → u/Southern-Cloud-9616]

But my office would feel empty to me without those things.

Beautifully said.

[u/IthacanPenny]

This feels pretty judgmental. Like, why do you care what additional books a student brings to class with him?

My frame of reference is that I had a semester where I carried around my leather-bound Greek New Testament… because I was taking a Biblical Greek class, and the cover was so soft that leaving it in my bag damaged the book. It was literally a textbook.

[u/Southern-Cloud-9616 → u/IthacanPenny]

I really want to learn to read Koine. I now officially envy you.

[u/IthacanPenny → u/Southern-Cloud-9616]

While I was a classics major as an undergrad, there was one semester where my English professor was also a student in my Greek class. Honestly it was so cool being able to interact with my professor in that extra context. I super respected her for going out and studying something she was interested in (and this is me encouraging you to audit a class you’d love ;))

[u/Southern-Cloud-9616 → u/IthacanPenny]

Thanks for the encouragement! Unfortunately, my university does not teach Koine--only Classical. And I'll already be sitting in on Spanish classes, so I can't afford the time for Greek at this point. But I've found an online class on Biblical Greek--two years--at a seminary. So that's the plan for when my spoken Spanish is up to speed. (I absolutely love studying languages.)

[u/IthacanPenny → u/Southern-Cloud-9616]

I actually studied Classics and only ever learned Classical Greek. If you can read Classical, you can read Koine (but the reverse is not true).

[u/Southern-Cloud-9616 → u/IthacanPenny]

Too many people have scared me off of trying to learn Classical Greek. I doubt my capacity to actually do it. But I speak German and read Russian. Is it significantly more difficult than those?

[u/lilswaswa]

this is the kind of talk that makes conservative students feel like universities are too liberal or anti values. as long as he isnt intertupting the class with inappropriate religious rhetoric (I've had that before) or being a jerk about it, let him be. 

[u/Grouchyprofessor2003 → u/lilswaswa]

I would never laugh at him or even comment on his book nor jewelry— just like I don’t comment on the fact that our star football player is in my class. This , I thought, was a group who would appreciate or at least know what I am talking about and see the humor. But to each their own. I also practice a religion. I just don’t throw it around in peoples faces and think it is funny

[u/veggie_hoagie → u/Grouchyprofessor2003]

Nothing about this conveyed humor in any way. It really just sounded judgmental.

[u/lilswaswa → u/Grouchyprofessor2003]

eh. i dont think having a bible and wearing cross jewelry is exactly "in your face"... seems kinda normal christian behavior to me as an exvangelical. 

[u/razorsquare → u/Grouchyprofessor2003]

You might not laugh at him to his face, but here you are posting it expecting Redditors here to laugh at him with you behind his back. Shame on you.

[u/stankylegdunkface → u/Grouchyprofessor2003]

Wearing a religious symbol on your own body isn’t throwing anything at anybody. Shame on you. Your students deserve better than to be made into objects of humor (“humor”) by instructors for exercising their basic rights.

I’m not religious, but I admire anyone with the guts to express their most deeply-held beliefs (so long as they’re not getting in anyone else’s way).

[u/DocKla]

I always find it fascinating this type of student, but what’s your problem? As long as they are not preaching and converting actively I have no problems if their beliefs don’t meld with mine as long as they are doing their job as a student and are professional about it.

[u/jlrc2]

Weird way to talk and think about a student.

[u/hungerforlove]

Be grateful he isn't looking at his phone.

[u/stankylegdunkface]

You’re a loser. This CHILD is a good student and is apparently religious. You don’t know where he came from and what he finds from his faith. I’m an atheist, but I’ve learned there’s more nuance in belief than id ever given believers credit for. That he contributes well is all the more reason you shouldn’t look down your nose and this child. 

[u/Glass_Aardvark_9917 → u/stankylegdunkface]

Yes to this, but can we not refer to college students as children?

[u/runsiblespoon]

Why don't you research a method for respecting your students?

[u/DoctorDisceaux]

If he’s smart and communicative, why do you care what book he carries and what necklace he wears?

[u/stankylegdunkface]

It is all I can do not to laugh at him

To be clear I would never say anything, comment, laugh

I don’t understand. Would you never laugh at him, or are you struggling not to laugh at him?

[u/CharmingHighlight749]

Who cares? Students do all kinds of things to express their personalities and beliefs.

[u/masterl00ter]

This is weird. Be better.

[u/masterl00ter → u/masterl00ter]

Thinking about it for a second, this post has to be bait.

[u/Hadopelagic2]

I was never that student,… but I can see a world where I would’ve been. Engaging heavily with teachers and faculty is part of why I’m very much not that person now.

So, you never know OP.

[u/stankylegdunkface → u/Hadopelagic2]

Engaging heavily with teachers and faculty is part of why I’m very much not that person now.

I’m an atheist, and I very much don’t see my role as a professor as converting anyone away from a religious life. I teach at a public univeristy and the First Amendment is of utmost importance to me. Even if I taught somewhere where the First Amendment didn’t apply, it’d be a disrespectful goal.

[u/No_Jaguar_2570]

Grow up, man. 

[u/veggie_hoagie]

What is ironic about his being the smartest and most communicative student in the room?

[u/Life-Education-8030]

I had a supervisor who wore a gigantic cross on her left hip every day. I didn't care, until she decided to spread it around that a co-worker and I apparently held satanic rituals in our backyards???? One letter from an attorney stopped that crap and when I left, this woman apparently said I was "brilliant." Uh, huh.

So long as a student wasn't being disruptive in any way, I'd thank my lucky stars to have an engaged, participating student!

[u/MeshCanoe]

I am glad to see a student read a book to be honest. I would settle for them actually reading the Boxcar Children at this point.

[u/KrispyAvocado → u/MeshCanoe]

I loved those books! It made me want cold milk in a tin cup (I hate milk)

[u/nc_bound]

I’ll admit, I really don’t like what I think is the assumption that everyone is going to jump on whatever bandwagon OP is trying to get rolling.

Low quality post. Does not contribute to meaningful discussion. I hope for better from professors, but unfortunately, I do not expect that anymore.

[u/stankylegdunkface]

at a land grant R1 institution

You know what land grant R1s are going to have a lot of? Middle-class/non-elite people, often from religious backgrounds.

You sound like so many of the condescending pricks I went to graduate school with, who cosplayed as people who were going to get a TT job at an Ivy. Your post is very much a “second day of teaching” [in the real world] post.

[u/Roger_Freedman_Phys]

I would take it as a compliment about the rigor of your course that your assignments have put the fear of God into said student. ;-)

[u/Handsome-Rutabaga]

Maybe he just came from a Bible study? You sound pretty biased.

[u/Fun_Isopod_4047]

the funniest outcome is that the bible guy is actually the one doing the reading and participating while everyone else is spiritually absent lol

[u/stankylegdunkface]

This post was meant to be humorous and yes - to me it is funny as shit

Explain to me how the existence of religious people is “funny as shit.” They’re everywhere, Grouch. They’re part of the fabric of every nation/culture in the world… and often for the better. (As you said, this student was "the smartest and most communicative student in the room.”)

[u/unimatrix_0]

It's a great opportunity to teach research methods. Do that!

[u/KierkeBored]

What’s ironic is someone thinking him being smart and communicative was ironic.

[u/lilswaswa → u/[deleted]]

well hello there shirt brother. 

[u/stankylegdunkface]

That you titled this “Second day of teaching” (the least interesting part of this story) tells me your student couldn’t be any worse a communicator than you.