From: murph@buscard.fidonet.org (Brian Murphy)
Newsgroups: ne.politics
Subject: Re: Sex ed in school
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 92 19:12:33 EDT
Organization: The Business Card (BBS), Lawrence, MA - Data: 508-682-5329

dbrooks@osf.org (David Brooks) writes:

> murph@buscard.fidonet.org (Brian Murphy) writes:
> >
> >Sex education is in a whole other category, of course, as it is strictly 
> >morals and mores.
> 
> Stuff and nonsense.  It's facts of life, self-protection, and self- and
> mutual-respect.  How many of your children have had sex ed in public
> school, Brian?  My three have.

Mr. Brooks would have the schools teach everything under the sun.  I 
wonder if we should trouble him with costs?  Who'll pay for teaching 
"self-protection," and "respect?"  What about the time involved?  Shall 
we trouble him with the time away from his family his kids will have to 
spend in order to learn that which is simply "imparted" to his kids from 
exposure in a loving family environment?

I wonder if Mr. Brooks would mind terribly if the schools taught 
abstinence for "self-protection?"  Does he care WHAT is taught in sex ed 
as long as _he_ doesn't have to do it?

Of course he cares!  Just as he cares which brand of religion is taught.
It is for reasons like this that there should be a separation of morals 
and state just as there is for religion and state.

> >  This is so far outside the scope of what school is 
> >about as to be painfully obvious.  Shall we teach how to tie shoe-laces 
> >in school as well?  <sigh>
> 
> Yes, if the parents (or substitutes) didn't.

WRONG!  We let the kid trip on the shoelaces until he either wises up or 
his parents teach him.  We do not live in a perfect world with 
marshmallow sidewalks so kids don't get scrapes on their knees.  We can't 
be expected to put bandaids on all those knees and we can't afford to 
teach 'em all how to tie shoelaces.  There are simply some things better 
left for the individual to do themselves - if they fail, they suffer the 
consequences, quietly, I hope.

Same with sexual screw-ups.  Catch AIDS?  You die, your family mourns.  
Oh, you're bitter because daddy didn't teach you about rubbers?  Bummah.  
Maybe he'll do better the next time because in my world, government won't 
do it for him.

> (sorry; I don't have family values because my wife has a (part-time) job,
> and we have 0.8 more than the standard number of children).

Nobody said Mr. Brooks didn't have "family values" - it's obvious he 
loves his wife because he has .8 more kids than he can support.  It's 
obvious his wife loves him and his kids because she's willing to work 
harder to provide.  I'll bet he's also proud that he doesn't need 
government assistance and is working hard at making SURE he doesn't have 
any more children than he can provide for.  It's this kind of spirit - 
individual responsibility - that will keep this country great.  When 
responsibility for such important things as educating your children in 
sexual matters is left to someone else is when we start to run into 
trouble.

                                - - - Murph

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Business Card (BBS), Lawrence, Massachusetts - Data: (508) 682-5329
SysAdmin:  murph@buscard.fidonet.org / ...!ulowell!wizvax!buscard!murph
Newsgroups: ne.politics