I had my third classroom observation today. I observed Olga’s class. The teaching was somewhat uneventful as a student was giving a PP presentation. The topic of his presentation was something discussed in class the weeks before: “Can you use religious texts in academic papers?”
In my opinion, the class strayed a little off topic but there were a lot of nodding heads during the presentation.
I was mindful of the lecture we had been given in class just that week reminding us that as observers we were to behave as an invisible fly on the wall. I gritted my teeth and was silent.
The discussion after the PP did not conclude the question. This (Religion) is surely the most culturally sensitive subject you can debate. But I wondered, as I did when I observed the gender segregation during my last Classroom observation. Is there some middle ground to take? I can see that there are some compromises that can be made in some cases. If students insist on the division of the men and women in class, I can honor that viewpoint by putting the women students in a place where they can more easily participate. I think that would work for everyone.
But the question of religious texts in academic papers is a bit more problematic. It seems easy and proper to use an item from a religious text and to cite it in the proper academic way. But can that text be used as evidence to prove a scientific point? Deep waters here.
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