How Do We Weed Out The Wackos?
California Justice H. Walter Croskey recently said that “parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children” - now I’m not American but there’s one part of me that says he’s full of shite and parents should have the right to educate their own children if they so wish, then I think about the Jesus Camp freaks (and other assorted wackos) and wonder if I’m wrong and Croskey is right.
This, and a few other issues, represent real sticking points for me.
I would like to believe that if a parent believes that the state sanctioned education program, offered in state sanctioned over crowded schools, and taught by state sanctioned underpaid teachers, is failing their children I think they should have the right to pull their kid(s) out of school and do it themselves; provided that when it’s all over with those kids can pass a test that can determine if they have, or have not, met the minimum requirements for moving from one grade level to the next.
…… then people the Jesus Camp freaks come to mind and I think that taking the poor kids out of those homes completely would be a mercy to them, and that at the very least they should have 8 hours a day away from such stupidity.
What (other than the fact that they haven’t killed anybody yet) is the difference between them and other religious extremists, and should they have the right to pass that sort of ignorance on to another generation?
Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, The Pink Flamingo, Big Dog’s Weblog, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Dumb Ox Daily News, and Chuck’s Place, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
“… and I think that taking the poor kids out of those homes completely would be a mercy to them …”
I see where you’re going with this. Break the cycle. Bring them into line with broader liberal values. It would be for their own good.
We could call them residential schools.
I see where you are going with this. Get them out into the larger community for at least a short period of time so that they have a chance, even if they don’t take it, to report any abuse and to see a different philosophy of life.
No Kevin, I mean taking the poor kids out of those homes completely and permanently before they become the dangers to society at large that religious extremists represent.
And therein is the dilemma
If we say that people have the right to educate their children as they see fit (if they have the desire, skill, and ability to do so), then how do we fairly determine which of those people is probably cranking out hazards to society, and how do we deal with that if there is in fact “the right” to educate your own children?
SL-
There is no dilemma. I don’t think you should try and determine “which of those people is probably cranking out hazards to society” at all. Determining the values that parents teach their children is the last place that the State aught to be.
Let’s be clear about what you’re suggesting: based on your own value judgement you want the state to remove kids from their parents’ homes so they can better fit your view of what is an appropriate way to practice faith.
Are you sure you live in the LLQ because this thread is sounding a little ULQ to me.
I agree with you, now offer your thoughts on what happens with the nutbars?
No, not my views, my concerns about a bunch of kids being indoctrinated into the next Christian Crusades. In your opinion does society leave them until they become a danger that they will? 10 & 11 years old willing to die in the [perceived] service of god…. does that remind you of any other nutbar indoctrinations?
These questions, as I say, are causing conflict. There is what I would want verses reality - got any suggestions?