Writer's Block: Tolerance 101?

[author_by_night]

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1. Fitness. Gone with the old days of either being able to play baseball or hiding in the nurse's office. If kids want to play baseball, they can go to the park  or join the school team. Or, if they simply can't part with their game controllers, they can get Wii Sports.

Fitness would teach kids the fundamentals of exercising for physical and mental health. Pilates! Carido walking! Strength training! 

This would encourage kids to maintain a healthy lifestyle without popularity contests, but at the same time being taught to do their best and recognize their strengths and weaknesses.

2. Family Living. We actually had this class in school, and I think it should have been a requirement. (Only certain "tracks" required you to take it - I think mine was the Social Studies track or something.)  I took it my senior year, and I learned more about life than I had in the entire four years I attended high school.

3. American Law. This was another class I took because of my track, and it was such a great class. So many people don't understand the legal system and how it works. It made me willing to go to Court when I got summoned for Jury Duty. (Well, the second time. The first time I was about to go away, so I wasn't so willing then. I had a Harry Potter movie to see, after all - oh, and right, my friends.)

4. World Religion. Sure, someone would probably get offended and the class would be canceled after the second week, but it'd be worth a try if it got more people aware and promoted tolerance.

Comments

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I wish you were in charge, those are all genuinely brilliant answers!

[ashavah]

#4 actually is a class in some schools in Australia. It's called Studies of Religion and teaches the basics of the world's major religions. I always thought it sounded like a great idea.

And as someone who did Legal Studies at school, I definitely agree that a little bit of law at high school can be a good thing. :)

[13oct.livejournal.com]

Great answers. World religion gets my vote for sure. It's appalling how some people are genuinely ignorant about other faiths. They are not bigoted; it's just a lack of knowledge.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Sadly, I am not, but perhaps if I ever join the Board of Ed, I'll keep this post in mind. ;)

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I think if religion is taught in a way that's impartial, it can be beneficial. I mean, we learn about world conflicts, many of which have different sides anyway - why not learn about other religions?

Knowledge about the legal system, flawed as it may be, is important.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I actually had to explain to someone once that not all Muslims are terrorists, and that at its core Islam is no more evil than any other religion. It was sad because she was actually surprised. I mean, obviously terrorists are bad, but you don't have to be Muslim to be a terrorist, and you don't have to be a terrorist to be Muslim. It's just sad that there's actually people who think that.

[r-a-black.livejournal.com]

The Family Living one is a great idea, I haven't taken one yet but I'm looking forward to doing so next semester in college. It's odd to consider that people need classes on such a subject, but there you are.

[13oct.livejournal.com]

*winces* Unfortunately, I have had the same experience.

[maureen.livejournal.com]

I'm so with you on the world religions thing. Nothing breeds intolerance faster than ignorance.

[blue-sky-day.livejournal.com]

It is true that not all Muslims are terrorists; but to say "Islam is no more evil than any other religion" is really inaccurate. Islam was founded by an ambitious (and violent) military leader (if the Quran is historically accurate), and Muslims both preach and practice terrorism to an extent that few other modern religious groups do. Islamic-majority countries all, to some extent or another, discriminate against minority religions, and limit women's rights. Lots of Islamic communities in the West (primarily Europe) are extremely crime-ridden. The Paris riots of a few years ago, for example, were mostly due to Muslims.