someproteinguy wrote:
Well in theory one is inclusive and one is exclusive. The idea of presenting both options and their pros and cons goes out the window if you aren't allowed to discuss certain options.
So you support teaching creationism alongside evolution in science class then? After all, if we teach both then that's inclusive, but teaching only evolution, we're being exclusive, right?
Do you see how that's not a good argument all by itself?
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gbaji wrote:
Again, I don't see why this is a problem. If we're going to fund sexual education at all, shouldn't we allow funding that matches what people want their children to learn?
And I agree here. Chances are if your in a conservative area you're going to get abstinence-heavy education, if you're in a more liberal area you're going to get more discussion about contraceptives; regardless of any legislation. Cultural differences and such...
Correct. My point is just that if we're going to provide grant money to teaching one set of curriculum, but not the other, then it's unfair to those who live in areas where they'd prefer the other be taught.
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Really it's not that hard for parents to just present whatever isn't getting taught by the schools. It's not exactly subject matter that they have no knowledge of.
Parents can't "unteach" what their kids are taught though. A parent who really really cares that his kids be taught about contraception may do so in addition to the abstinence that kid is taught in school. But if he doesn't want his kid learning about contraception and the school teaches about contraceptive use he's got that parental choice taken away from him, doesn't he?
It just seems a bit strange to me to argue for a given set of instruction on the assumption that it's really important, but since many parents aren't going to be involved enough to ensure their kids learn it, we must teach it in the schools, but this decision is made over the objections of parents who are actively involved in what their children learn and actively do not want them to be taught these things. Why is it ok to demand that those parents homeschool as their option, but we give those other parents a pass on their inability to teach their own kids about contraception? If it's really that important, they can teach it, right?
Seems like a hell of a double standard to me.