Teacher in Trouble for Making Pupils Watch 'The Passion of the Christ' and Testing Them on the Movie
Controversy Surrounds Arkansas History Teacher's Decision to Show Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" in Class
A history teacher at Wilbur D. Mills High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, Greg Hendrix, is facing criticism for making students watch Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ in class. The film, known for its graphic depiction of violence and controversial due to its religious content, has sparked a debate about the separation of church and state, educational standards, and religious liberty in public schools.
One student, Kristina Coffman, described the incident as "weird" and felt it was inappropriate due to the diverse religious backgrounds of the students. Coffman also stated that she and five other students walked out of the classroom. Sklar, another student, noted that Hendrix expressed political views during the class, criticizing Democrats and lamenting "political correctness."
The decision to show the film has raised questions about Hendrix's credentials, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Miriam, a significant historical figure in the film, is believed to have lived before 1890. The incident was reported by THV11, and the Arkansas ACLU is considering filing an ethics complaint with the state.
Public schools in Arkansas, like all U.S. public schools, must comply with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits government endorsement of religion. Showing a religious film such as The Passion of the Christ, which explicitly depicts Christian religious beliefs, risks being interpreted as promoting a particular religion.
Any use of religious content must be presented in a secular, educational context, such as a history or film studies class discussing religious influence on culture, history, or cinema—not as religious instruction or endorsement. Controversies arise if the film is used in a way that favors Christian doctrine or makes students feel coerced into religious beliefs, which could lead to legal complaints or challenges.
Religious content may be included in history classes strictly for educational purposes—namely, to understand the historical, cultural, and social impact of religions without promoting religious beliefs. Curriculum and materials, including films, should be approved by the relevant educational authorities to ensure they meet academic standards and constitutional requirements. Teachers should provide balanced perspectives and be sensitive to the diverse religious backgrounds of students, avoiding any appearance of proselytizing.
Sklar mentioned that some students in Hendrix's class were bullied by other students after watching the film. The district has suspended Hendrix with pay pending an investigation. The Arkansas ACLU agreed that showing The Passion of the Christ in class was religious proselytization, with Rita Sklar, executive director of ACLU of Arkansas, stating that the film had nothing to do with the "History since 1890" class.
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[1] Legal Implications: - Public schools must comply with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. - Religious content must be presented in a secular, educational context. - Controversies arise if the film is used in a way that favors Christian doctrine or makes students feel coerced into religious beliefs.
[2] Educational Standards for Religious Content in History Classes: - Religious content may be included for educational purposes. - Curriculum and materials should be approved by educational authorities. - Teachers should provide balanced perspectives and be sensitive to diverse religious backgrounds. - Teaching about religion should be factual, neutral, and focus on its role in history or culture rather than faith claims.
- The controversy surrounding the Arkansas history teacher's decision to show Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" in class highlights the importance of education-and-self-development in maintaining associated educational standards, as the film's inclusion could potentially conflict with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and lead to a General-news debate about church-and-state separation.
- As the Arkansas ACLU accused Greg Hendrix of religious proselytization through the showing of "The Passion of the Christ," it underscores the necessity for educators to adhere to educational standards in handling religious content, ensuring fair representation, balance, sensitivity, and a focus on historical and cultural impact rather than promoting personal faith claims.
