Is it appropriate for a public school teacher to give a student a christian gift?

I am a middle school teacher and I have a student in my classroom that wore a religious scapular with the Virgin Mary. He wore it all year until it tore a week ago and he was very upset about it. I went to a Catholic bookstore and bought him a new one. It was only 50 cents. He was so happy about it. However, a non-Catholic teacher commented that it was inappropriate for me to do that. I am Catholic, the kid was Catholic and every single student in my classroom is Catholic. But I wonder if I perhaps sent the wrong message.Is it appropriate for a public school teacher to give a student a christian gift?
I don't see anything wrong with what you did.You made the kid happy.There was no harm done.Some people on yahoo answers are just so mean and alot of times rude.Don't let them bother you.
Not a religous message, just that you might be going to the limits of the student-teacher relationship.Is it appropriate for a public school teacher to give a student a christian gift?
I hardly believe that you are a public school teacher and "every single student in my classroom is Catholic".



And no, it was not appropriate for you to give your student any gift.
Would you do that for any other kid, or a non-catholic kid? That is what you need to consider.Is it appropriate for a public school teacher to give a student a christian gift?
Bugger political correctness. You knew he was catholic, you are catholic, and you did a nice thing for him.



I'm saying that as an atheist. I know there is this whole thing about seperation of church and state, but.. you just did a nice thing for a pupil. As long as you make sure to show that you don't favour this pupil over others just because he's catholic, then I see nothing wrong. Good on you.



Failing that, just buy a bag of sweeties as a present for your whole class and share them out at the end so it doesnt seem like favouritism :) I think the issue here is the teacher-pupil relationship, rather than the religious issues.
I think it's odd for a teacher to give a student a gift, religious or not.



I suppose how "inappropriate" it was would depend on where you gave him this gift. If you caught him as school ended and he was leaving, and gave it to him then, then I suppose I don't think it's as inappropriate as it would be to give it to him in class . . . regardless of the religious affiliation of the students attending.
If the child is a Christian yes.

If the child is Jewish, Atheist, or any religion that has no mention of Christ he or she should be fired for disrespecting the child's religion.
It was an extremely kind gesture. I just cannot see how it could be perceived as wrong.



Obviously same religion as well, so you didn't insult the beliefs. Really, how could that possibly be wrong?