Amnesiac
October 1st, 2011, 01:17 AM
(VACAVILLE, Calif.) -- A health teacher in Vacaville, California has landed in hot water for his policy of punishing students who say "bless you" in his classroom.
Steve Cuckovich calls the common courtesy "disrespectful and disruptive," and he took 25 points off of a student's test score when the boy said it after a female student sneezed, according to local ABC News affiliate KFSN-TV in Fresno.
When the word got out about the teacher’s tough penalty, there was an uproar from parents, with some accusing Cuckovich of being anti-religious.
The William C. Wood High School teacher fired back, saying it had nothing to do with God or Christianity and explaining that the blessing is nonsensical in contemporary society.
"When you sneezed in the old days, they thought you were dispelling evil spirits out of your body," Cuckovich said. "So they were saying, 'God bless you' for getting rid of evil spirits. But today [it]...doesn't really make any sense any more."
The school district has spoken to Cuckovich, who will no longer knock points off kids' grades for saying "bless you" but maintained he will still run a tight ship in class. Superintendent John Niederkorn said the incident is still under investigation.
As much as I'd usually not care about a story like this, it pains me that teachers find it appropriate to exploit their disgusting egos to the point where they're adversely affecting students for absolutely fucking nothing.
Students have the right to express social customs when they see fit. Really, the definition of a "disruptive event" is so vague these days that it could be applied to anything at all.
Steve Cuckovich calls the common courtesy "disrespectful and disruptive," and he took 25 points off of a student's test score when the boy said it after a female student sneezed, according to local ABC News affiliate KFSN-TV in Fresno.
When the word got out about the teacher’s tough penalty, there was an uproar from parents, with some accusing Cuckovich of being anti-religious.
The William C. Wood High School teacher fired back, saying it had nothing to do with God or Christianity and explaining that the blessing is nonsensical in contemporary society.
"When you sneezed in the old days, they thought you were dispelling evil spirits out of your body," Cuckovich said. "So they were saying, 'God bless you' for getting rid of evil spirits. But today [it]...doesn't really make any sense any more."
The school district has spoken to Cuckovich, who will no longer knock points off kids' grades for saying "bless you" but maintained he will still run a tight ship in class. Superintendent John Niederkorn said the incident is still under investigation.
As much as I'd usually not care about a story like this, it pains me that teachers find it appropriate to exploit their disgusting egos to the point where they're adversely affecting students for absolutely fucking nothing.
Students have the right to express social customs when they see fit. Really, the definition of a "disruptive event" is so vague these days that it could be applied to anything at all.