High School Teacher Bans Students From saying "Bless You"

reply to post by neo96

nope you didnt

Then why did you even say that then? I respect the Constitution and freedom of speech as much as the next American and maybe more, but just because I think something people say is stupid doesn't mean I think we should completely throw the First Amendment out of the window and tell people what they can and can't say like this is North Korea.

so lets switch up the words what if the student said to another one

wa alaikum assalaam ? or "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh"

nothing would have been done and the student would not have been punished

You don't know that, and does this really matter? I'm not trying to turn this into a culture war, somebody said something and got illogically punished by some D-bag teacher....the world around me is crumbling :shk:

If you feel that the students' rights have been so incredibly violated by this sinister action of a 25 point deduction (which I agree is out of line), then why don't you try to sue him or something? It seems that you think there's some sort of ethnic bias here, so if this has disturbed you so greatly, why not take it up with this guy in court and try to slap him with a hate crime? Or maybe call the superindendent and demand to have him fired immediately?

If you're so outraged about violations of our rights, don't focus on little, insignificant events like some nobody high school health class teacher taking 25 points away from somebody's grade for saying "bless you", focus on our own government trampling on our rights. But this....this is weak sauce IMO.

Police officers violating rights-- absolutely not.
Our own government violating our rights-- no freaking way.
William C. Wood High School health teacher violating a Constitutional right in the form of a 25 point deduction-- I'm not going to exactly make some picket signs and head to Vacaville over that, sorry.

People should be able to say whatever they want wherever they want, and this teacher was clearly wrong in his irrational punishment, but at the end of the day this is really not a big deal.

Just my opinion...

Bless you jesus christ!

I really don't agree with some of the replies on this thread. What is going on here?

To bless someone, means to bestow goodness of any kind upon them. Now the fact that a bodily function can remind us to brighten the mood, is a remarkable. Who cares if you think that it is outdated. Some people still like a bit of colour in their lives, and don't mind spending 0.4 seconds showing someone they care .

Apart from that, deducting a child's grade for saying 'bless you', leads me to think the teacher has some sort of religious stigma; and maybe can't see the forest for the tress.

Whats next, "I hope you have a great day, sir."
-200 points?

Originally posted by gabby2011
....ok..I ask you this..imagine yourself trying to teach children a subject that they really need to focus one.. some kid sneezes..and one kid chirps up.."bless you"..very loudly..so his buddy does it to. then 3 girls do it..and every one is giggling..and more chime in.

Fair enough, but what you describe seems to be simple disciplinary matter; the children simply just aren't behaving in class. Why solve it by tearing a page out of the dictionary?

As a teacher, shouldn't his passion lie in educating children. Why can't he rather take a step forward and teach the kids simple respect, and maybe open their eyes to the true meaning of what it means to actually bless someone?

doesn't sound like the whole class was horsing around. He is the only one who was punished.
I've been saying "Bless you" for well over 50 years.
For that drastic bit of discipline perhaps he should have said "F*** you"! instead and earned the punishment.

Originally posted by grumpydaysleeper
doesn't sound like the whole class was horsing around. He is the only one who was punished.
I've been saying "Bless you" for well over 50 years.
For that drastic bit of discipline perhaps he should have said "F*** you"! instead and earned the punishment.

You're right he obviously had issues... and it was too severe.

It would be interesting to find out more details about it... if the student was purposely goading him.. it sounds like there had been some other incidences surrounding it..

Honestly I just read the title of the news article..and it reminded me so much of something I had witnessed , and it sort of made me laugh...and I made too many assumptions.

But I''m not entirely sure the news article gives us the full picture either.

God damn the sneezers.

Originally posted by akiros
God damn the sneezers.

that was funny..

Sometimes serious personality clashes can develop between teachers and students...and things turn petty..but its always up to the teacher to take the high road.

There has to be more to this story.... I'm assuming.

reply to post by dyllels

As a teacher, shouldn't his passion lie in educating children. Why can't he rather take a step forward and teach the kids simple respect, and maybe open their eyes to the true meaning of what it means to actually bless someone?

I definitely see your point.. and maybe he did discuss it with the class.. and doesn't view it as a proper time to truly bless someone, if he indeed does believe in "blessings".. but most likely there was another issue with this kid....and it progressed until it got ridiculous.

It happens.. there are all sorts of teachers out there, and sometimes they deal with things inappropriately..and making them accountable is a good thing.

One thing for sure..they don't always have an easy job....very stressful..and I think society expects them to work miracles in discipline, and be shining examples to their students, when often the parents can't accomplish that themselves at home.

reply to post by Destinyone


What is even worse...california's insanity is spreading
like a virus and will contaminate other states.Everything
negative that involves schools' their origins can be traced
back to some school in california!
My opinion of past problems with education and california.
I do not have facts you can read to verify my OPINION!

This idiocy is a reflection of our broken education system. Idiots running the classroom with the responsibility of teaching our children, is a strategy which is going nowhere.

Originally posted by MysticPearl
This idiocy is a reflection of our broken education system. Idiots running the classroom with the responsibility of teaching our children, is a strategy which is going nowhere.

maybe you should consider teaching?

they could always use someone who is non judgmental, and respectful to show them how its done.

So I was able to find out how to email Mr. Cuckovich, if anyone is interested in letting this teacher know that while we may not be of a religious faith, we do still have a constitution which allows religious freedom and freedom of speech. I sent this Socialist minded person an email about what I think, now I urge you to do the same.

I still have hope for this country. Ron Paul 2012!

Steven Cuckovich's Email

I am not religious, but this teacher is ridiculous. People say bless you to sneezes nowadays as almost an afterthought. Taking points off a grade for this? I would fire this teacher.

reply to post by neo96


BOY ! Don,t You just want give in! and let all these petty people just take over the world, Rule our lives ! Tell us what to do ! Bless You ! has been about for a long time ! and BLESS YOU ! has never been a threat ! as long as I remember ,This saying has been said by people all over the world ! as a kind saying ( TO PROTECT THEM FROM EVIL OR HARM) ! Nothing Evil here ! There are many issues in the this world that need to be put to right ! THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM ! Regards Nick.

reply to post by neo96
In the middle ages, in Europe @ the time of the bubonic plague, one of the signs and symptoms, of the plague that killed off 40% of the population, was sneezing.
People would say "God bless you" because it was a good chance that you would be dead bfore the week was out.

So this tradition lasted 600+ years. Through world wars, societal upheavals, purges.

And some PC dork is going to eliminate it?





Loser. (and by loser, I mean the weenie teacher and all who support this suppresion of a kind gesture)

Originally posted by neo96

and of all places the peoples republic of california i have said this time and time agian on this website schools have always been about freeing a students mind not keeping them repressed and indoctrinated into whatever "teacher" deems to be a "disruption".

Religion is the thing keeping students repressed and indoctrinated.

If you want children to free their minds they must first be freed of the crutch of religion.

They should only allow atheists in public schools and whoever wants their children to have a special, religion based school experience should put them through private school.

That way the smart can continue to gain knowledge not hindered by religious bias and the stupid can continue denying reality.

I dont understand how schools can tell the students what to wear and what to say when we have a constitution. Can any one explain to me why they have to power to take away that freedom? Seriously their has to be some kind of loop hole are something. Any one?

I had a funny feeling this happened in California. I really hate this state, with a burning passion. It is not at all what it used to be.