MichelleBFT

I suppose its the idea that if your kid hears it they'll believe it or be shaped by it in some way that I disagreed with, primarily. I think that's crap. Sorry. It also seems like a fairly lazy way to parent. You'll never have to be challanged by your childs way of thinking if you simply indoctrinate them into thinking like you. Of course people want their kids to have their same values, but they are individuals and deserve the opportunity to dissent without being made to think that dissent is wrong or bad in any way. Of course this is also my iossue with any parent raising their kid into a specific religion-- which my parents did not do with me, not into atheism nor any other religion, and I thank them for it. I was given not only the tools but the opportunity to investigate religion, as well as my political beliefs, on my own when I was curious enough to do so, which was much earlier in life than most would expect a child to be able to consider such issues. And I don't think I was special in doing so, rather, I think I was quite ordinary. But someone who's been raised to think they have the answers is going to take longer to start asking the questions.

I also have to disagree with your assertion that parents wouldn't put their kids in a school that doesn't adhere to their own beliefs, mostly because its just not true. There are millions of Christian students in public, supposedly secular, schools, which is part of why we have such a problem with religion (or, more specifically, Christianity) trying to infiltrate the public school cirriculum (I'm pretty sure I butchered the spelling of that word, but my Blackberry doesn't spellcheck for me, sorry). And I'm certain that if the best education around is in a Chrisian school, the vast majority of non-Christian parents would send their kid there, too, and would simply discuss with their kid what their differences of opinion were with the school.

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"And politically correct is the worst term, not just because it’s dismissive, but because it narrows down the whole social justice spectrum to this idea that it’s about being polite instead of about dismantling the oppressive social structure of power.
Fun Fact: When you actively avoid being “PC,” you’re not being forward-thinking or unique. You’re buying into systems of oppression that have existed since before you were even born, and you’re keeping those systems in place."
Stolen.

Myradella3

Wow, I thought from your comments that she much younger.

As a 6 year old, I helped organize a boycott of the Roy Rogers TV show. As a 14 year old, I campaigned for a tax increase to create a new city bus system. I did that because the mayor came to our school to tell us the advantages to school kids (our district didn't have school buses so we relied on the city buses to get to school). My father was adamandtly opposed to it, but drove me once to the campaign headquarters. At 17, I testified at a hearing against busing us to a different school district. So while I'm the last person criticize a parent's choices, I'm amazed that a 17 year old couldn't hear the President of the United States say something with which her parent disagreed.

JLeighs

You asked me some questions. I answered you. If you don't want to hear the answers, then the best way to achieve that goal is to not ask the questions. Whether or not you think it's "crap" or "lazy parenting" doesn't matter. You asked me; I answered you. Done.

Apparently you aren't.

In my first post in this thread, I specifically mentioned that I get to avoid all this in-school indoctrination because she isn't even IN a school. I've been able to avoid it for 13 years. So, it wasn't a matter of not "letting" her do anything in this case. She's heard him speak before. But, this addressing all the kids in school and asking them to "help" him (or something like that) is not something I'd be happy about. At all. I think politicians, with few exceptions, are rotten to the core. Period. That really was the whole point of my objection.

Of course, you don't have to agree with me on any of this, and you probably don't. That's certainly your prerogative. But I'm not here to defend my choices; just to explain them if need be.

MichelleBFT

Done, yeah, sure, if you want it to be. But this is certainly what I expected, that you wouldn't want to be challenged given that you won't give your daughter the tools to do so.

If you don't want your opinions criticized, then you probably shouldn't post them on the internet, either. Asked or not. Honestly, what did you expect?

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"And politically correct is the worst term, not just because it’s dismissive, but because it narrows down the whole social justice spectrum to this idea that it’s about being polite instead of about dismantling the oppressive social structure of power.
Fun Fact: When you actively avoid being “PC,” you’re not being forward-thinking or unique. You’re buying into systems of oppression that have existed since before you were even born, and you’re keeping those systems in place."
Stolen.

Trenell

Just curious, do you know what the "helping" was all about?

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Myradella3

I had to have the craziest parents in the world. As a 16-17 year old, I didn't have a curfew. The policy was that you've been taught responsibility and responsible behavior. Should you show us that you need a curfew, then you'll get one, but until then we trust you to use good judgement about when to be home. (My brother had the same rules and ended having to have a curfew.) I graduated from high school (public, inner city) having never had sex, never done drugs, above average ACT score and grade based scholarships to college. Granted, I was weird in that when I misbehaved, I wasn't allowed to go to church because I loved going so much. That said, part of my what parents stressed is that I have to think and make good choices OR accept the consequences for not making good choices. If you don't learn that as a teen, then you have a harder time accepting it as an adult. If a 17 year old can't listen to a president or a janitor or a pimp or priest or a dog catcher tell something, then decide if that something is consistent with the values the parent has instilled, then that speaks volumes.

Springcurl

+1

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Obamacare is not a blueprint for socialism. You're thinking of the New Testament. ~~ John Fugelsang

JLeighs

What I expected (and shouldn't have) was to have an intelligent, adult, insult-free conversation with you since I answered your questions openly, honestly, and without snark. In short, I expected you to remain civil. Since you are apparently unable to refrain from insulting me, our discussion will come to an end.

I'm glad it worked out well for you. Truly. With that being said, we'll simply have to agree to disagree on parenting styles.

MichelleBFT

Yes, I was snarky, but my point is still valid.

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"And politically correct is the worst term, not just because it’s dismissive, but because it narrows down the whole social justice spectrum to this idea that it’s about being polite instead of about dismantling the oppressive social structure of power.
Fun Fact: When you actively avoid being “PC,” you’re not being forward-thinking or unique. You’re buying into systems of oppression that have existed since before you were even born, and you’re keeping those systems in place."
Stolen.

Myradella3

Three years ago, at our opening College wide meeting, a speaker talked about helicopter parents. Those are parents who hover around their college age kids and make all decisions for them. An example she gave was a mom who filed a complaint against a university over her Freshman daughter's reading material. The assignment was to choose two books that offered divergent opinions. There was a list and the daughter chose the bible vs. koran. Mom was livid and raised heck all over the campus community. Another example she gave was that students on a different campus were asked to do a book review on a book that had been banned then either support or reject the banning of the book. A mom there went to the campus and withdrew her child from the class. Heaven forbid the child should learn to read and form an opinion about a topic.

Then last Fall, a mom was upset with a university because a faculty member, told his class to vote for Obama so the woman's 19 year old daughter did. That same day (they had early voting). Mom, a McCain supporter, was upset that she didn't get talk to her daughter about it and the faculty member was wrong for pushing Obama. He was wrong but what's wrong with a 19 year old that she would make a major vote based on one conversation? Hmmm, think maybe it wasn't that one conversation that led the daughter to that decision? Either way, why blame the university?

iroc

There is no way to fully shield your child of the realities of the world. The best way to help them deal with it is to prepare them for it.

A child who has information witheld from them is going to eventually be fully informed. When they are they are going to be overwhelmed, excited, rambunctious, naive, and eager. Like a puppy finally let out of it's pen. At this point I'd be more afraid of what I DIDN'T teach them, then what I did.

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nynaeve77

Wow. If, by college age, a person isn't able to exercise critical thinking skills independently, something has gone horribly wrong. Of course, young people that age will sometimes make mistakes, but that's part of the learning process!

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wild~hair

Having a kid brings out the control freak in some people, apparently. In a BIG way.

It's very odd to me. They are their own person. Mold them. Shape them. Whatever. They're individual people, for crying out loud, not clay pots.

Most here seem to have the right idea, though. Inform, guide, teach critical thinking skills. Then set them free into the world, knowing you've done your best. They're going to need those skills. The other way is why we have cults, "doormats," and Tea Baggers.

JMO

Saria

Michelle, agreeing with what you've said.
I don't even visit these forums, but I stumbled into this topic and the comment about wanting to control a child's education so as to make sure only "acceptable" things reach him/her has nagged at me. It doesn't just seem lazy, it actually scares me just a bit. I end up thinking of people who insist that the Holocaust never happened, or who won't acknowledge that the world isn't flat, as well as book-burning. I am not saying this is the case here at all, only that this is where my mind goes and it's a very disturbing thought.

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