From: johniac@austin.ibm.com (John Iacoletti)
Subject: Re: Football Failures at Bowie Force end of Season
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 00:59:33 GMT
Distribution: tx
Organization: IBM Advanced Workstations and Systems, Austin, TX
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David L. Cathey (davidc@montagar.com) wrote:
: 	Again, Football is an elitist sport, participated in only by those
: chosen by the coach.  Math is a required curricular course by ALL who are
: attending school.

But SHOULD it be?  That's my whole point really.

: 	Liberty is a given, but you don't understand that it is a two-way
: street.  You have to right to work, but I also have the right to not hire
: you if I think your an asshole.

Sure, but don't try to stop me from going to work at that other place down
the street.

: 	Again, you want to emphasis the free ride, whereas others want to
: instill some concepts of interdependency.

I don't really give a damn what "others" want to instill in somebody.  What
career "somebody" wants to pursue is up to "somebody".  And how he pursues it
is his business.

: > If nobody else cares about the dead body of a burglar in your house, I see
: > nothing wrong with recouping the expense of removing it.  It's not like you
: > invited him in.
: 	Or did you?  How do we know for sure without checking?  But of course
: we should take your word for it.  Why don't you come on over some time and
: we can discuss it in more detail?

That's really beside the point.  I don't see any sense in spending public 
money to plant somebody in the ground.  That's all I'm saying.

: 	But the child *IS* taking the responsibility!  If he blows off classes,
: there are penalties.  It is *THEIR* choice, their risk, and their
: responsibility.

Yeah, and if the "penalty" was fifty lashes with a cat-o-nine-tails, I would
complain about that too.  The penalty is artificially imposed, rather than
a natural consequence.

: 	Letsee how that relates to the topic.  You don't approve of what I eat,
: but you want to control it.  However, you also don't provide me meals, food
: stamps, or other sources of nutrition, so what business is it of yours?

I might have to when you get heart disease.  That's the argument lots of people
are making about education.

: 	The school is not only prescribing what "meals" are approved, they
: are providing them and are directing the "diet" to provide a "well-balanced
: meal".  If you don't want to eat at the school (even though this means you
: don't get "football" for dessert), you are welcome to dine elsewhere.

What if the school only served potato chips in the cafeteria?  I would
complain about that too.  I'm paying for the crap.  What if they serve a 
"well-balanced" meal, but won't let you have anything to drink unless you
eat your brussel sprouts?  I would complain about that too.

: We are not talking about failing optional classes, but required core
: curriculum.

The "required core curriculum" is too narrow and biased, IMHO.

:                                                               Sometimes
: long term gains hurt for a little while...  But you are the one that wants
: to take the easy way, without appearent regard for the long-term.

I don't have any problem with considering the long-term.  I have a problem 
with other people doing your considering for you.

: 	But until you do <X> for a living, it doesn't matter how well you
: do <X>, does it?  You should hedge your bets by learning <Y> in case <X> isn't
: an option.

I don't disagree.  IT'S A GOOD IDEA.  But that doesn't mean it should be forced
upon people who don't agree.

: 	Again, if you really had any concern, you would want them to be
: better prepared for a variety of outcomes.

I want them not to have their choices interfered with.

--
John Iacoletti       IBM AWS Austin       Internet: johniac@austin.ibm.com
        My opinions do not reflect the views of the IBM Corporation
    "Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age" -- TMBG   "I Palindrome I"