An odd and controversial book that our daughter has to read for 11th grade English...

[Nevernose]

20. I usually teach excerpts from Matthew and Genesis or Exodus

A little bit in regular English classes and quite a few in Honors (I'm AP approved, but for one reason or another never teach it). I teach mostly eleventh and twelfth grades. I teach it when it becomes foundationally necessary for reading the main text, e.g. Exodus when reading Grapes of Wrath.

I suspect that it can be done right, because the kids never know what religion I am, and I have many students come to me after school and either want to discuss their atheism or think that I would fit in well with their church.

I also think that classroom discussion of controversial topics is one of the best things about teaching seniors. However, if the students were able to clearly tell the teacher's own views, the teacher was probably making a big mistake. Many teachers, when the subject is something they're passionate about, forget that the teacher's role is to spark debate and guide debate, not to actually debate.