TEACHSOC: Advice on how to deal with religious student(s)

[Tina Deshotels]

I’m hoping the list will help me deal with a problem I having with a student.  I have a student who is very bright and caring but has been trying to convert me to Christianity.  This has been going on (subtly) for about a year but has recently escalated.  In hindsight I see I should have set boundaries much earlier. However, this was my first year here and I didn’t want to get a ‘bad’ reputation.  When she would discuss religion with me (in class, in office hours) I would tell her how sociologists study religion and keep it academic.  This is not working.   She will start a discussion academically and somehow it ends up about my beliefs.  Yesterday I responded to one of her emails by saying that this was not a topic for discussion, it was beyond the student teacher relationship etc.  I specifically told her to respect the boundaries I was setting.  Within 15 minutes she emailed me back asking more questions about my beliefs.  It seems to me that this student believes that it is her ‘calling’ to convert me.  Has anyone ever had to deal with this?  Do you have any suggestions?    How could I avoid future issues like this? (remember I’m in NE Alabama).    I appreciate any advice!    Tina Deshotels, PhD Assistant Professor of Sociology Department of Sociology 326 Brewer Hall Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Alabama Office Phone:  256-782-5350 Email:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]   --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group. To post to this group, send email to teachsoc@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---