James D.

Hello I'd definitely be interested in doing this as well!

You're first paragraph assumes that society looks at all the facts, when in fact it doesn't. I already stated that I would simply move on, so this doesn't pertain to me. I'm referring to people who would get offended, and possibly report the teacher on grounds of some sort of bigotry. Founded or unfounded is not the point, the belief of someone being a bigot can ruin someones career in this political climate. Hence why I said you must maintain the precedent, as I was pointing out my first paragraph. You must be "fair and impartial" as we say in the military. This of course extends to all walks of life. You're second paragraph is flat out wrong. Perhaps you misinterpreted what I said or perhaps I wrote it in a poor manner, but you lapsed in understanding what I attempted to convey. I did however directly state to dock for using ++ in an academic paper. The point of this was you cannot be biased against someone for their religious stance, them writing JMJ or PBUH is not the point of the post. Rather they use an acronym or spell it out would bring about the same level of confusion. "Peace be upon him, Muhammad went to the river." doesn't form a great looking sentence in academia, but should it be allowed. The point I'm making is either yes or no, pertaining to everything. So ban PBUH, JMJ or allow it. Ban saying these things or allow it. But if you banned peace be upon him, or PBUH, yet allowed G-d written in your classroom; I could see a media backlash. It is obvious from the OP posting here, that she cares for her student. She wants the best for him or her, lest she wouldn't be asking the question. I see that and acknowledge it. I guarantee a local media reporting on this wouldn't care if she truly cared about the student however. They would do a hit piece in a heart beat. It's the nature of modern day society. Do you believe allowing G-d yet disallowing PBUH would produce a positive outcome if reported to the media? Do you want to be the test subject for this? I certainly don't want to be. Impartial is the safety net that will save the OP. Whichever she decides.

Thank you Tigla. I'm combining a few things, I have 100% Post 9/11 G.I. Bill and Tuition Assistance. It should cover all cost. I will think about what you have said though, thank you very much!

Witty. The first sentence of your quoted post concludes what I interpreted sir. I am by no means a lunatic. I'm in fact overly being nice in an attempt that perhaps, you will assess your attitude. The entire purpose of that post was to denigrate, there was zero productive advice in it. Hey that's fine, you're a jerk. That's perfectly fine, but some advice: You're college days will be numbered, being rude in the workforce will leave you unemployed. So good luck with that attitude. Have a great night, and please-there is no need to respond. I'm not going to argue with you, it's pointless and would leave me less informed.

Hello, I'm happy you reconciled this and made a new friendly pupil it seems. I would advise you to be cautious though. You have set a precedent against expressing ones faith in their daily lives. Will this precedent extend to all faiths and their specific religious beliefs? I generally write G-d, as I'm a Messianic Jew and have come to the conclusion that saying the highest name in our universe should be kept to writings that will stand the span of time (Writing a book for example, or acting as a scribe). I can tell you, this belief is sincere because as I grow in my faith, I have come to understand G-d as being the highest, even higher than the Church and Synagogue places him. He is involved in my everyday life, and I sense his presence. That said, you could not force me to write the "o". While I would happily take the "F" knowing I still won, others would report you as being an antisemite. If you did the same for PBUH, you could be labeled a "Islamaphobe". I obviously don't know the extent this could travel but the teacher who called a bombsquad in for a legitimate scary looking device has had a bad run of luck. In my opinion, you're not teaching them how to write properly when correcting them on an acronym, you are forcing your belief on them (I don't mean religiously). Perhaps in the future it would be prudent to simply have them write it out. And without the ++... that is definitely a reason to dock points. Thank you for sharing this! G-d bless!

Why am I logging on to find you cursing at me? I surely don't deserve that for asking a question. Do you treat everyone with such disparaging remarks? I know I haven't, but have I somehow offended you? I asked a question. You answered. I value your input but I am a bit put off that you feel the need to somehow denigrate what knowledge I have or the program I'm in. Also, if you're in a PhD program, why are you talking like some street thug? Use your words friend.

@rising_star Ugh. Yea I couldn't even locate it on their website so I called. I guess the person I spoke to read the information wrong. Still a lot of money, but definitely not the $1400 he mentioned. I'll have to think on this more. Thank you again!

@rising_star Thank you for all the research you've done. I've actually called Slippery Rock and I'm just waiting on the call back. The tuition rates WKU and UMass-Boston are a bit crazy. UMass is $1428 per credit for out of state. That's a $51k education. WKU is $679 per credit. While these are great schools they far exceed anything I could afford... I do thank you though!

@Sigaba Thank you for the response. My note in regards ideological and political stances was in regards to people choosing to voice their stances here, where I'm not particularly interested to entertain a debate... I just wanted to make that point clear before someone spouted off with their personal feelings of the college. Liberty would be a change of pace compared to the current institution I'm at. I've read a textbook that seemingly refers to God, as a Sinai deity, and somehow down the road gave a pass to Muslims, holding them to some reverence (who supposedly worship the same God)... Go figure the author had a name of Arab origin. The textbook I'm reading now blames the Medieval period on Christian dogma and looks pasts the crimes of Muslim raiders who prevented Europe from access to Asia. The author of this text also blames the Papacy for poor maps, and the absence of Ptolemy's maps & research on Christian dogma... it ironically hasn't provided evidence to support this view though. Needless to say my views are withstanding several volleys of fire. My religious ramparts are holding though. @pudewen the eventual goal is to apply to a PhD program. One thing that is troubling me, I'm finding it hard to locate an Online University that offers decent rates, and has some prestige. Norwich has rates that are through the roof, ASU is the same. 9 HRS cost $10,134... where as Liberty will charge me $275 per credit... When I apply tuition assistance from the military, I'm only paying $25 per credit hour, which is awesome! I went through their dept and I do see cause for more research as well... I do frown upon someone that list an Ed.D. (Candidate), because at a quick glance it could just cause someone to think they are a doctor already... at the same time it seems the pages have not been updated in at least a year, possibly two. It shows information on one users page where they are planning a trip to Israel in 2016... That leads me to believe it's two years dated, so I'll have to call and see specifically. @cowgirlsdontcry if you speak with your pastor actively, could you (casually) ask him about his son and his experience at the school? Does he feel challenged? Overall though, the short term goal for me is to acquire a Masters and locate a teaching position in Texas (which I hope to move back to in four years time). This would achieve that without issue I imagine. But my search will continue. I'll find that gem of a school for cheap somewhere :). Thanks everyone!

Good morning all, I'm looking at Liberty University to continue on the road to a Masters in History. The program (if I attend) will be online, but it is primarily a residential campus department. I'm also looking at the fact that they offer internships at quite a few places (including D.C.), which is something I would like to exploit. I should be able to complete the Masters in roughly two years (give or take), which would be great because I'll be discharged from the military shortly after that. My question to all of you, do you feel this program would stand up to scrutiny when compared to SNHU's or ASU's online Master's programs? NOTE: I realize there is a conservative Christian component to this school, but that doesn't bother me as I'm pretty religious (not an creationists). If you have a problem with their policies regarding freedom of religion, or toward LGBTQ, or whatever... I respect that, but please don't respond. My question is in regards to their History program, and not their ideological and political stance. Thank you all!

@rising_star Thank you for the support! In Texas you need either the standard track or something called "Alternative Certification". For anyone who has served in the military there is a program called Troops to Teachers, managed by the Dept. of the Navy who actually pays for this, and will try to situate you into a teaching job. I was actually discussing with my wife the other day, about volunteering at the local museum to gain some more experience in the field, and strengthen the application. I've also been looking into volunteering at the local high school to attempt to get a little bit of experience in that field. There is a Army job in the historical field but it's impossible to get... I think the Army was great at first and has definitely shaped me, but it really is a drag once your interest go above the big guns and trucks haha...

@ExponentialDecay Good morning, The problem with having not taught yet is you don't know if that will be your end state. I need to obtain a Master's to make me more competitive in the Job Market. Having a Master's degree will ensure I can get a teaching position as long as one is opened, as compared to 30 people applying with a Bachelor's. Plus the Master's is free atm, if I wait until after the military I will be paying for it. @ltr317 I don't expect it will be a walk in the park. But I will tell you, after 13 years in the military... I've had days that are walks in hell... you learn to take it all in stride. I believe I'm ready for the stress factor, and I enjoy the research factor. As I said vanity is only part, a small part. I had an aunt and grandmother that attended Rice University, a woman attending a University and holding a Bachelors in the 50's is pretty astounding I might add. No one in my family held anything higher though, so I would like to be the first PhD in my family. As far as flaunting it, that really isn't me.

@telkanuru The earnings are a factor I will have to consider, but I will not have paid anything for the BA and MA. That is all funded by the military as a trade off for past service. Regarding research, it has been one of the fun things about pursuing all of this. In fact it was the reason I started all this. I started figuring out my own ancestry, learning their lives (which is pretty insane, as two of them were legislatures before and during the Civil War). This has only broadened as I begin to search out other individuals history. I have the urge to research, I definitely don't get bored of it.

@telkanuru You are definitely right. Many make a career out of High School, particularly in Texas (where I want to teach), they offer outstanding benefits in most counties. I've never taught High School however, History was my favorite class and the teacher (a retired Major from the Army) is my driving purpose for my desire to teach, as I would like to impact any adolescents the way he impacted me. I may enjoy instructing but dislike the atmosphere however, which is why I leave the door open for Colleges/Universities. They also offer PhD's in Education if I'm not mistaken, which would be the terminal. A PhD, albeit wasted in HS does afford you higher pay in some states. The highest paid teacher in Wisconsin is the sister of one of my prior military instructors, she doesn't have anymore duties or responsibilities than the next person, but she makes well over $100k because of how the pay tables are written; they are based on your formal education. But no I didn't mean to deem it as some intermediate step.

Hello all, A lot of responses, and much appreciated I might add. @telkanuru . I realize a PhD isn't required for High School. But I have a simple philosophy, which is if I've started and gone this far, why not attempt to go all the way. Also teaching High School will hopefully not be the end of my career, I would hopefully obtain a position at a university teaching History there. @ExponentialDecay the reason I cannot attend a Masters in person is because of my location, which is dictated by the military (as I'm on Active Duty). They will move me around whenever they want, and wherever they want. It's known as "The needs of the Army". Obtaining a Masters in person doesn't void my contract at all, but there is the how and when factor. The closest program is four hours away from my duty station, and given you only get 30 days of leave (vacation time) per year, it would potentially take me a life time to do it in person utilizing leave. While I can wait until my discharge and apply from Undergrad to a PhD Program, why? Why would I waste 4.5 more years twiddling my thumbs and making zero progress toward my educational goals. I don't say this in a rude way, but just stating my point of view :)... @ltr317 there are plenty of factors that are driving me toward a PhD program. I won't lie, vanity is one of them. The overall reasons vary however, there are pay incentives to holding a PhD. For example a PhD, in the government gains you access to a lot of opportunities I would like to explore (I was already a civil servant a while back). It's one of those things I want to strive for. As it pertains to myself, I feel like stopping at a Masters is settling, and why settle for less right?