Kids aren't being raised the way we were!

Hello again, blogfans!

As you know, I am a teacher of Science at the 7th grade level. Part of our curriculum includes Space, the Solar System, the Earth, and the moon. As we study these topics, the origin of the Universe inevitably arises. Part of our study includes a review of the chapter in our textbook that covers the subject, Chapter 2. I give them an assignment titled "Chapter 2 Warm-up," whihc asks a variety of questions that are covered in the chapter. The final question asks them to read a selection in the book about the theory of creation of our solar system and then state what they believe.

Up until recently, kids usually included their religious thoughts when this subject came up, stating adamantly that God created it. Mind you, I'm not allowed to bring up such things and, unless I'm asked directly by a student for my opinion, I don't offer one. In the past, I didn't HAVE to offer an opinion - the kids asked me what I believe and I'd tell them point blank that I think God created everything. That was then; this is now.

NOW, after having graded 175 or so of these assignments, I think all of about two kids stated some sort of religious idea about the topic. NO ONE has asked me what I think, and I mean absolutely nobody. It makes me think what I've suspected for the last several years is true; kids, for the most part, are not being raised in religious surroundings as they once were and, as such, a very secular and pessimistic attitude has become prevalent in our youth. We wonder why there seems to be so much violence today and there doesn't seem to be the alarm about it that there once was, but we fail to see the plain evidence under our noses. We aren't raising our children with Christian ideals or morals any more, and they, and society as a whole, is suffering.

I don't mean to paint a bleak picture for our immediate future as a society, but it seems to me that the canvas is being filled by the actions of society whether I'm holding the brush or not. When WE get outraged and insist on change at the very grass roots of our society (because THAT is where the problem is), we will see the solution. I hope its not too late. - Dan