Hmmmm...

[kengr]

Reading on censorship, my mind wandered thru some related topics. And I eventually came up with this little gem. It'd terrify the conservatives and certain religious types worse than they already are.

Postulated:

Parents have a right to teach their religions and values to their children.

They do not have the right to deny them knowledge of other values and religions.

If parents believe that their faith and values are better, then they can show this by convincing their children of this, rather than coercing them into acting as if they agree.

Likewise, schools and teachers should be teaching children how to think. How to evaluate ideas, not to blindly follow accepted values just because they are accepted. Logic and critical thinking are crucial. Without them, teaching facts is a waste of time and resoueces.

Discuss.

Comments

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

While I haven't considered the question well enough to provide a thoughtful answer, one fact leaped out at me immediately.

*Happy Birthday!*

[kengr]

Thanks for the wishes.

[kengr]

Well, if I was Supreme Dictator and could actually *enforce* this sort of thing...

I'm not trying to "break" the passing on of religious faith. I'm just trying to break certain methods. And remove the ability of certain parents and others to try to "protect" their kids from stuff by getting it banned or copmplaining to school boards.

[kengr]

No, you *read* it as a convince/coerce dichotomy. "Or" is not XOR (though I didn't say or either)

Your example of your parents fails either of two ways.

First off, they made statements, you believed they were true.If asked you would responded in a manner that showed conviction regarding said ideas.

Second, they *were* teaching you, just not in the more typical, "active" manner, rather more of a "passive" one. It's called "teaching by example"

And finally, you are spending *way* too much time on the wrong end of the argument. My arguments was about stopping coercive behaviors, not about what the non-coercive behaviors were.

Re: Ah, now I see!

[kengr]

I don't generally see people who try and convince people by setting a good example. But I admit it's a good way to do it, probably the best way.

Sadly, that's the way Christ *told* his followers to do it... :-(

Re: Ah, now I see!

[kengr]

Oh yeah, I was not merely thinking of the situation where the kid may have rejected the parents beliefs (and I'd be more inclined to speak of him *questioning* said beliefs).

I was also thinking of the situation where the parents are trying to prevent the kid from being exposed to stuff that *might* cause him to question things.