1. No, she is not correct! The first sentence is correct because it uses the word "was", as it refers to an event ("was born") which is in the past. 2. Both are correct, but it depends on the context. "Children are taught not to talk with a stranger" means that now, these days, children are (being) taught not to talk with a stranger. "Children were taught not to talk with a stranger" means that children were (also) taught this in the past. I'm an adult now, and I was taught not to talk with a stranger when I was a child. I hope this helps you!

1.Your teacher is incorrect...EXCEPT in certain historical contexts, such as on a timeline (for example, "1809: Abraham Lincoln in born in Kentucky..."). The word "is" is present tense. It's also a state of being. Your friend's birth in Dallas occurred in the past. Period. 2. Both are correct, depending on context, as Paul said above. Note that you are more likely to hear "taught not to talk to strangers," and not "taught not to talk with a stranger." It's okay to say you talked with someone, or spoke with someone, but it's definitely much much more common in English to say you talked "to" someone. Plus, in English, it's extremely common to reference this "childhood lesson" as "talking to strangers" (in the plural). Hopefully my addition was helpful too.