From: murph@buscard.fidonet.org (Brian Murphy)
Newsgroups: ne.politics
Subject: Re: Sex ed in school
Date: 13 Aug 92 18:57:01 GMT
Organization: The Business Card (BBS), Lawrence, MA - Data: 508-682-5329

cmr@world.std.com (Charles M Richmond) writes:

> I will not respond , item by item to what I feel is a heartless and selfish
> post, that demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of the principles
> of society and civilization. I will offer to you:
> 
> W. E. Gladstone 1878 - "National injustice is the surest road to national
> 			downfall"
> 
> Spencer - "Society exists for the benefit of its members; not the members
>            for the benefit of society"
> 
> 
> John Donne - "No man is an island , entire of itself; every man is a piece
>              of the continent, a piece of the main; ... any man's death
>  	     diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore
> 	     never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Beyond the overstated cruelty you ascribe to me, did you take a look at 
some of those quotes?  They all say "society" which, to me at least, 
sounds a lot like government.  "No man is an island.."  Does it occur to 
you that perhaps your own family can assist with any problem you might 
have so you don't have to run to government to ameliorate your suffering?

You go on and on about how I would advocate limiting the scope of 
education - yes, Yes, YES!  A thousand times, YES!  The topic is sex 
education in school and I think we both agree that we're talking high 
school.  Shall we spend so much money that everyone learns rocket science 
as well?

Of course not - we simply cannot afford it!  Not if we're also going to 
show "compassion" for your precious "homeless."

Schools MUST be set up to provide basic education for the widest number 
of students.  We cannot teach morals, manners, or niceties in school and 
provide for a sound, basic education.

> How can you possibly speak against "shop" and "music" and "sex education"?

I just did and it was very easy!  How does knowing anything about music 
help you factor any better?  Isn't knowing how to count your change at 
the grocery store more important than knowing the _first_ thing about 
music?  Isn't knowing how to read the ingredients on the food labels more 
important than knowing how to bend sheet metal?

CAN'T WE EXPECT *SOME* THINGS TO BE OUTSIDE THE REALM OF EDUCATION IN OUR 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS?  

Sex education is in a whole other category, of course, as it is strictly 
morals and mores.  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>

> How can you possibly speak against the offering of knowlege to OUR children.

I only question how much should we spend on it?  Offer all the knowledge 
you want to your children but PLEASE don't ask me to foot the bill beyond 
the cost of the basics - commonly known as the Three Rs.  I stop paying 
when the music starts playing.

> 
> 
> The most intelligent man that I ever met was a genius of incredible 
> potential. I taught this man for 2 weeks in an engineering course. He
> had been wasted by just the kind of blind injustice that you propose. He
> should have been one of the great minds of the world, but he had faced a
> society that restricted his access to knowlege. Still by the light of candles
> he had taught himself to be a competent engineer. What greatness was wasted
> by forcing this man to educate himself? A task that he did so well that the
> rulers of his country even let him travel, even let him supervise others
> of their own. How many young women or young men have been cheated by systems
> that only allow the genius to become ordinary and force the ordinary into
> a lower class.  What a lesson can be learned from one young man teaching
> himself in a house with no running water and no electricity using the
> light of precious candles ..... in Soweta.
> 
> 
> Charlie
> 
> P.S. Read YOUR Bible for insight on justice , injustice , compassion , and
>      mercy.


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