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Look, I'm an atheist who considers the whole thing superstitious nonsense as much as the next guy. But the thing is, a public school teacher is acting on behalf of the state, meaning that his speech constitutes state action. A state actor doesn't exactly have a right to free speech when he's acting on behalf of the state. So, while it is ironic, it makes sense on more than just paper.

It might be helpful if you actually learned something about first amendment law before you post.  The rule (drastically oversimplified) is that no one in an official position with a school can make comments regarding personal religious beliefs (or regarding anybody else's) in any setting that could be viewed as being an official position.  It is the exact same rule the prohibits school prayer, and that should have prevented my daughter's middle school teacher from asking her why it is that Jews don't accept Jesus as savior.

The teacher's comments are a statement of religious belief by a school official in a school setting.  Of course it's a violation of the first amendment clause regarding the establishment of a religion, however much I may agree with what the teacher said.

Ok, but if it was a public school teacher who said that evolution was "superstitious nonsense," you would be pissed as hell and calling all Christians idiots (oh wait, you did that).

As a Christian myself (who believes in the theory of Evolution) I continually take offense to your blatant disregard for the right of someone with a different (religious) point of view to express that view. Just because someone thinks something different than you, something that you don't agree with, does not mean that they are wrong. Isn't that one of the principles our country was founded on? For that matter, isn't that the basis of this First Amendment that you're so riled up about?

You have a problem with religious people pushing their beliefs on you and others, but you seem to have no problem pushing your own beliefs onto your readers.

Being a Christian doesn't make me stupid. Does being an Atheist make you an ass?

Count me in as one agnostic who's getting pretty sick of Hooksexup's increasing left-wing hate & vitriol.

While I agree that the teacher was probably in the wrong in this case, I can't help but wonder where all this other hate is coming from. Brian certainly isn't 'pushing [his] own beliefs onto [his] readers.' If you feel like he is, then by all means stop being one of his readers.

If I hear one more person insinuate that Fairbanks is violating the First Amendment by having a goddamn opinion I'm going to shit. He's a blogger. He's supposed to have opinions. If someone disagrees with him he has every right to use Scanner to voice his opinion and you have every right to stop fucking reading it. Get off your high horses, folks.

I find it amusing when one person claims that someone's expression is quashing his own expression. "You have NO RIGHT to say that I can't say WHATEVER I WANT WHENEVER I WANT!" Double facepalm indeed.

Ro, I think you will find Athiests do not disregard anybody’s right to a believe system. They are however passionate about the education children receive and question creationism's relevance in a class room. Already it is 150 years since the Evolutionary process was coined down by Darwin and it truly is the best system we have at present. Why then are children taught that Creationism is equally relevant? Indoctrinating children with bad logic and false data must be amongst the cruelest of actions conceivable. I understand many people feel a deep connection with religion but I beg them to think twice before telling children it is the truth.