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From: msi@rayssd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Education and kids (Re:Parents' "rights" and responsibilites, etc)
Message-ID: <507@rayssd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-Aug-84 13:46:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: rayssd.507
Posted: Wed Aug 29 13:46:31 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Aug-84 06:35:57 EDT
Organization: Raytheon Co., Portsmouth RI
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( I'm reposting this, because I don't think it worked the first time.
  If it did, please accept my apologies for the duplication.)


NOTE: My comments are what my schools teach, not what I believe, as was the 
original article.

	>>  Take a look at some of the tenets installed in our kids by, among 
        >>  others, the state "education" system:

	>>  1. "Democracy" is the US political system.

Of course.

	>>  2. "Democracy" is the prime value.

I'm not sure what prime value means, but "best political system" also fits.

	>>  3. Democratic government is good; All labor unions are good.

Little d -yes. Emphatic yes to unions.

	>>  4. Republican government is evil; All employers are evil.

Little r - yes, often big-r also yes. Emphatic yes to employer comment.

	>>  5. Any problem is caused by a lack of government, and can only be 
        >>    cured by more government.

Definitely-especially when studying history of FDR's time.

	>>  6. Parents are always evil; kids' bad behaviours are the result of 
        >>     parents.

This is whispered behind closed faculty doors - not in front of the kids.

	>>  7. The "education" system is the repository of all wisdom.

And academia generally.

	>>  8. The "education" system has no problems, except that the 
        >>     government won't provide enough money.

Bad teachers say this. Good teachers think that bad teachers are the cause
of all ills. I think they are right.

	>>  9. The opinions taught by the "education" system are the only 
        >>     valid ones; any disagreement shows you to be evil and worthy 
        >>     of destruction.

Actually "evil and worthy of destruction" is a bit strong -
I'd say "stupid and worthy of laughter and scorn, and not to ever be
taken seriously". (forgive my split infinitive)

	>> --Bill Price

>Where did you go to school?  And what kind of school are your kids
>in?  Several of my friends and family are teachers, and I know of
>none of them that would agree (or teach) anything but #1 (which they
>would freely admit as being an oversimplification of our system of
>government).
>-Ed Hall
>decvax!randvax!edhall

I hate to tell you this, Ed, but all of my appraisals above come directly
from my experience in a public high school in a typical medium-size town 
in Mass. And it wasn't so long ago for me, either.

Also, 1,2,3,4,5,7, and 9 also reflect what I observed to be the prevailing
attitude at Harvard University (where I am currently a student).
(By HU, I mean the classroom slant in courses like Ec 10 (Intro Econ), and
the general attitude of students and faculty alike. Any HU students or
alum out there please don't take offense. I just call 'em as I see 'em.)

This may not be the USSR, but the US is just as guilty of "inculcating
propaganda" as our modern antagonist. By the way, the Supreme Court says
that inculcating moral and societal values is a proper use of state
police power, which means that states have every right, and are expected
to teach such statements as the above. In fact, that's one of the primary
reasons that education is a power reserved for the states.

Melissa Silvestre
...allegra!rayssd!msi
...decvax!brunix!rayssd!msi

"Few things are as frustrating as being a Republican in Massachusetts."