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From: jdo@ttrdc.UUCP (James D. O'Grady)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re:  Secular Humanism in Schools
Message-ID: <440@ttrdc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Sep-85 17:43:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: ttrdc.440
Posted: Wed Sep 18 17:43:43 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Sep-85 03:49:06 EDT
Organization: AT&T, Computer Systems Division, Skokie, IL
Lines: 50

Dave Bottom writes:

> Anyone who proposes that "christians" have more influence on what is 
> taught in our schools should remember that the Catholics (until the mid 
> 70's) used to beat left handed children and force them to write right 
> handed.

and I reply--
Dear Mr. Bottom:  

What!  My father went to Catholic elementary and secondary schools, and
the University of Notre Dame, and believe it or not, writes left-handed,  
was NOT beaten for it,
AND, he has not been excommunicated.  (Gee, I hope the pope isn't reading
this article).  

Maybe what you meant to say was that in some Catholic schools, left handed 
children were beaten to make them write right handed.   In that case, 
of course, in some PUBLIC schools, children were (and probably are) 
punished for writing left handed.  This is certainly not part of 
Catholic doctrine, just as the fact that public schools did it does not
make it part of the Constitution or whatever.  

Lets be a little more gross.  Clearly, Catholic schools make mistakes.

But:  In a chicago public school a few years ago, a second grader was 
locked in a closet as punishment.  He fell asleep, and the teacher forgot
about him.  At 5:00, his parents called up the boys friends who remembered
the boy had been punished.  They parents called up the school, where a 
janitor let the kid out.

And:  A child who is going to be killed is most likely to be killed by 
his parents.  Child abuse is of course a major problem in this country

> These are two very good examples of how "rational" and caring our 
> "christian" brothers are. They are also two good examples of why these 
> people should be prevented from exercising their influence on the 
> educational process to the exclusion of other more level headed 
> approaches.

And I have just added a couple of good examples of how rational and caring
the government and parents are (can be).  Consequently, any education is
fine, as long is does not involve churches, the state or parents.

Wanna buy a computer.
> Dave Bottom

				James O'Grady
				AT&T
				Skokie, IL


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