Kansas School Board chief: Schools peddle porn!

[Berzerker]

They are required to pay taxes and to send their kids to school (private if they can afford it, public if they can't). If they don't like that arrangement, too bad.

So you get to decide what is taught to their kids instead of them?

Kansans note that they pay for their doctors visits, and should therefore have some say over the content.

If I pay a doctor to tell me what I want to hear, he better tell me what I want to hear or refund my money.

It's not their children. They don't own them, and don't have any divine right to program in the manner of their choosing.

So the children belong to the state?

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by Berzerker


So you get to decide what is taught to their kids instead of them?

About as much say as they have. And that's none as far as public school is concerned. Unless they... (read further down).

If I pay a doctor to tell me what I want to hear, he better tell me what I want to hear or refund my money.

There's a group that has that mentality. They're called Scientologists.

So the children belong to the state?

No, but if they're attending public school they will be taught whatever curriculum is decided upon by the duly-elected school board. If the parents really want to have a say in the public school curriculum then they should speak at open meetings, vote in elections, or seek elected seats themselves. Otherwise, pony up the money for private school or home-school them with an approved home-schooling curriculum (usually much laxer than a public school's).

[Berzerker]

There's a group that has that mentality. They're called Scientologists.

Scientologists reject psychology, not medicine.

About as much say as they have.

From where did you acquire the moral authority to have just as much say about what my kids are taught as me?

No, but if they're attending public school they will be taught whatever curriculum is decided upon by the duly-elected school board. If the parents really want to have a say in the public school curriculum then they should speak at open meetings, vote in elections, or seek elected seats themselves.

First you say they should shut up if they dont like it, now they should shape the curriculum to their liking. Well, thats what they've been doing.

Otherwise, pony up the money for private school or home-school them with an approved home-schooling curriculum (usually much laxer than a public school's).

Then stop taxing them to pay for schools they dont use to educate their children so they can seek other options like private or home schooling.

[Az]

So the children belong to the state?

no, of course not. The children should be grown in an open atmosphere, that would teach through debate, and explanation, and not enforcement. Current school enviroment is much closer to that than any religious approach.

[Berzerker]

no, of course not.

So children dont belong to the parents or the state, who's left?

The children should be grown in an open atmosphere, that would teach through debate, and explanation, and not enforcement.

Looks like that leaves you.

[Az]

So children dont belong to the parents or the state, who's left?

??? Who do you belong to? Nobody.

The state - as an executive arm of society is nothing but a custodian that takes care of them, since they can't take care of themselves. It doesn't make much sense, yes, but it makes more sense that leaving them at the hands of the people who happen to share their DNA. Society can however delegate some authority to the parents, because usually they're interested in their well-being due to emotional/biological reasons.

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by Berzerker
Scientologists reject psychology, not medicine.

Actually, they do attack legitimate medicine, but a lot of the focus is on psychologists. Anyhow, there are plenty of people who cite religious reasons to reject what a doctor is telling them, and that's just plain irresponsible.

From where did you acquire the moral authority to have just as much say about what my kids are taught as me?

As a US citizen, I pay taxes too, just like them. And as a US citizen, I can vote too, just like them.

First you say they should shut up if they dont like it,

Yes, my personal opinion is they're full of crap...

now they should shape the curriculum to their liking. Well, thats what they've been doing.

...but my personal opinion matters not. It's the process that matters. They need to plead their case effectively and convinces others, both elected officials AND fellow public that their way is best. We saw a good example of what happens when garbage gets introduced into a school curriculum: The Dover School Board gets its ass handed to it by voters unhappy with Christian Creationism in Intelligent Design clothing leaking its way into legitimate science classes. If the minority of parents feel that ID is best, they need to convince a majority of parents to agree. Otherwise, teach it at home or in church, not in an officially secular public school.

Then stop taxing them to pay for schools they dont use to educate their children so they can seek other options like private or home schooling.

Yeah, it'd be nice if you could personally decide exactly what amount of your paid taxes go where under normal circumstances. Not going to happen, but a nice thought. I for one DO NOT like my taxes being pissed away in corporate giveaways.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Berzerker

Because its their children and its their money paying for the school?

It's actually taxpayer money, regardless of parental status.

[Drake Tungsten]

(Here's my favorite painting of that lovely Bible story.)

I prefer this one.

[Az]

The Brick Testament > *

[Drake Tungsten]

Man, the Book of Joshua is totally awesome! I never knew what I was missing.

[Az]

Actually, having read the old testament a number of times, I found it to be some awesome reading. The Ramayana otoh ( in Russian translation, though ) wasn't nearly as much fun.

[Drake Tungsten]

I could never get past the lenghty lists of names to get to all the cool genocide.

[Kuciwalker]

-Hot Zone, by Richard Preston -- 42 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list

I've never read this, and avoided it because I'm squeamish - but I don't even want to think about it being pornographic as well :vomit:

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
They are required to pay taxes and to send their kids to school (private if they can afford it, public if they can't). If they don't like that arrangement, too bad.

So then why would parents object to kids being taught that God created man in His own image, that sodomy is an abomination, and that smiting sodomites is doing God's work?

After all, "if they don't like that arrangement, too bad."