And Texas becomes even scarier...

[thistlechaser]

Holy crap, Texas. Texas Republican Party Calls For Abstinence Only Sex Ed, Corporal Punishment In Schools, and an end to teaching "higher order thinking skills".

The abstinence only thing is horrible but not surprising.
That they want teachers to be able to hit kids is boggling.
But schools want to stop kids from thinking? Quote:

...they oppose the teaching of "higher order thinking skills" -- a curriculum which strives to encourage critical thinking -- arguing that it might challenge "student's fixed beliefs" and undermine "parental authority."

Yeah. The only way they'll keep their base is to prevent kids from being able to critically think about things and to make decisions for themselves.

This is really, really sad.

Comments

[veloxe.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I could form a negative opinion about this if I thought about it but I had that kind of attitude beaten out of me a long time ago.

[evilgrayson.livejournal.com]

Dear lord. That's terrifying. Even the first 12 articles on their pamphlet are... terrifying.

[bastets-place.livejournal.com]

Well, it is kind of what happens when you believe in faith, but don't believe in it much.

I mean, you believe that your way is the best way, that any other way will send you to Hell, but you don't believe that the children that you have for (at minimum) 16 out of 24 hours on a weekday and all weekend long will come to believe as you do, because you ... what, can't build a strong case against evolution? Because you believe that this teacher, who, along with math and phys ed and lunch and art and music is ALSO going to completely bend your child's mind in a way that your raising of your children all the rest of the time can't counteract?

Man, if they are that unsure of the facts and truth and reality behind their case as all that, it gives me hope that even THEY know that they are full of shit.

[peppygrowlithe.livejournal.com]

Man. Texan school systems decide so much for the entire nation.

[fealubryne.livejournal.com]

I just read that article to Alex and then had to calm his very loud ranting so it wouldn't bother the neighbors.

WTF, Texas. I think it cuts all the deeper cuz we have a kid now. That... goes against pretty much everything we want to teach her. I am so glad we don't, and don't plan on, living in Texas.

[prettyredeyes.livejournal.com]

Wow. That is like.. I don't even. What the hell?

[quistie.livejournal.com]

You know what, I am indifferent about the Abstinence Only Sex Ed. Kids learn about sex from peers/TV/internet anyway. I am conflicted about corporal punishment—it's highly likely that there is a deeper issue at work. But yeah, that putting an end to teaching "higher order thinking skills" to avoid undermining parental authority is just...

If kids undermining parental authority is really such a problem, why not just outlaw puberty altogether? I am quite sure kids don't need critical thinking skills to undermine authority figures. They just need to be kids.