Sing A Song Of Socialism.
All classes must be flexible in their schedules. Should [special occasions] take students out of class, they are not to be molested with any form of review or make-up work later; teachers are not to stress class attendance.
Michelle Malkin has been covering an interesting situation where back in June, a primary school had a performance by students singing about Barack Obama.
This performance made it into the public eye not too long after the furore about Obama giving a talk to the schools in America, complete with a study guide and suggested activites - which were promptly amended when parents got wind of it and protested.
Some schools allowed parents to opt their students out of the speech, while others did not.
A lot of commenters on conservative blogs are also bandying about a quote of Hitler's regarding children:
When an opponent declares, "I will not come over to your side," I calmly say, "Your child belongs to us already... What are you? You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community."
Adolf Hitler
Speech November 1933, quoted in The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer link to quotes page
Then we have the old saying, give me the child and I'll show you the man, and all the decades and centuries of experience where we all know that kids need a solid foundation in their earliest years to ensure the best outcomes in adulthood.
Once upon a time that would lead one to expect two biological parents (preferably married) working together for the good of the child's future, but even if some studies do lean towards that, that's still not seen as important in large sections of Western society. Some even see that particular idea as discriminatory, but that's a rant for another day.
In the meantime, schools have been adding their own messages about Obama's role in the world.
Having a school-age child and knowing how impressionable they are, I'm all for keeping politics out of the classroom. I've already had chats with Magilla's teacher about some of the readers she brings home from school. It's remarkable that her readers are often so inclusive of other ethnicities, to the extent that I sometimes wonder where the white people are. I just let that pass, though, as it's not something to get into a stoush over.
I look at some of the opinions that she brings home from school. This year, white people are mean to black people, and there was also a session provided by a mob called Family Life Vicoria, who according to the information provided by the school sound rather innocuous.
A closer look at their website sets off alarm bells for me, however:
Family Life Victoria acknowledges the diversity of families and through sensitive, dynamic and comprehensive sexuality and human relations programs
*supports and empowers families as the prime educators of their children
*models and encourages effective communication
*promotes an attitude to sexuality that encompasses the whole person
I don't think "sexuality education" is appropriate before high school if (if at all), and especially not for the littlest school members. That sort of information is my responsibility as a member of our community, not the school's, nor a third party.
At least the school does provide the opportunity to opt your child out, and from what Magilla had to say, a lot of parents took advantage of that. She told me that around half her class stayed away.
When schools are scheduling activities against parents' wishes, or without parents knowledge, or are involving children in political activism, as the video below would suggest, then to me that smacks of indoctrination.
As I've responded to people who disagree with me taking Magilla to church or espousing the idea that it's better for a mummy and daddy to be married, it's my job to indoctrinate her, not the school's, nor the television's, nor the books she reads.
I'm the one who will be held responsible for how she turns out, not anyone else. Regardless of who likes to put the message across.
The quote at the top of this post is from Education for Death:The Making of the Nazi by Gregor Ziemer. (Oxford University Press, 1941, page 17).
This book is one I stumbled across while looking for the lyrics of Der Fuehrer's Face of all things. There was a link on that page to a Disney short based on this book, and Amazon.com came to the rescue.
What is most eerie about the book are the parallels to today's education in America where it seems that nothing bad is allowed to be spoken of Obama.
It doesn't matter that he's blown out the budget in ways that have never been seen in American history.
It doesn't matter that he breaks treaties with allies.
It just matters that you Sing for Obama.
Oh well, I guess that makes it all okay.
posted by Nilk @ 9:03 PM
5 Comments:
"it's my job to indoctrinate her"
Wouldn't it be better if no-one was indoctrinating kids - not the government, not parents, not teachers, not churches. If they simply taught them information and exposed them to all sides?
It would indeed be better, Jeremy, but unfortunately, it doesn't work that way in the real world.
Everyone has a message, and it's my job to play gatekeeper.
Look at the tv shows for kids and the messages they push - these days, for example, only bad people smoke.
At my girl's school at monday assembly they thank the traditional owners of the land.
For what? From what I can see, there haven't been any "traditional owners" in nearly 200 years.
As for the churches, we go to the particular church we do because we knew the pastor and his family before we learned that he was the pastor.
The church is remarkably free from preaching at me from other than the bible. I rather like that in a church.
No political messages, no bleating about AGW, just a nice congregation that's very welcoming and *gasp tolerant.
And sin is called sin. Something that is wrong is called wrong.
And for the record, in the years we've been going there, I have never heard anything said about gays. Promiscuity has been mentioned as not being the healthiest choice for your spiritual life, though.
If I don't teach my daughter what I believe she should learn, then someone else will fill in the spaces for her.
There are too many out there who want our children.
From advertisers, educators, the social engineers.
I never used to spend much time on things like those, but having one of my own changed everything.
Good post, Nilk. It must be tough competing against all the other forces which probably get more time with Magilla.
And your reply to dear Jeremy made a lot of sense, too.
If you didn't do what you do, and just let the kid decide, well you'd probably end up with someone who, hmm, doesn't know where to stand in regards to NAMBLA.
What lies jeremy you leftist, if you really thought that you'd rightly criticize your hero hussein o for doing this. But you won't because leftist indoctrination is perfectly fine with you.
It's when parents instill into their children the right values that made the western world superior that you get all huffy and start pretending you want some balance.
Onya Nilk. I agree wholeheatedly with what you said. I once had reason to attend school and remonstrate with a teacher who confiscated my eldests slab of chockie cake. After I had quietly and politely let her know that my childrens diet was my concern, not hers, I had a visit from the local copper warning me that abusing and threatening teachers would see me charged!
After that, I never went to a teacher - parent night without a witness.
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