A lot has been said about how today's kids are being "indoctrinated" with liberal dogma by our public school system. On history, on the accomplishments of conservatives, on sexual behavior, and lately on the global warming -- er, "climate change" -- agenda. (See, since the Earth has actually been cooling for the past three years, they had to change the name.)
Today I heard what a couple of parents did and I want to applaud them for their foresight: Al Gore spoke to their child's middle school, and the couple made an audio recording. The father was interviewed and some of the audio is heard at this link:
http://markedmanner.blogspot.com/2009/02/audio-al-gore-tells-kids-not-to-listen.html
In the recording you can hear Gore say, "You know, you as children know things about this world, that older people don't know" and then he goes on telling them how their parents are stuck in the older ways and so on. "...new understandings are more apparent to young people."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unbelievable! The blatant attempt to undermine the authority of these children's parents!
Now, I haven't heard the whole speech, so I don't know for sure that he does not say that kids should go and have a conversation about the subject with their parents-- there is one very quick caveat from Gore: "Now, don't get me wrong, your parents and your elders, as you have already figured out, know a lot that you can gain from, but..."
And with that "but," Gore negates his previous statement. And I'm guessing he says no other words in support of parents.
How can we fight this kind of... well, propaganda is not too strong a word. Listen, I understand that there are things going on in this world that we need to pay attention to and take care of. I also understand that Al Gore and his followers do not have all the facts right, nor do they have the answers to the problems.
Gore and his ilk -- and their beliefs about everything from the ecology to the slant of history to sexual behavior -- are being thrown at our kids as FACTS not opinions. If you -- like me -- are unable to afford private school for all your kids, you are at their mercy.
What can you do? Check the curriculum, especially in the "family life" class, and look over your kids textbooks. (The easiest test for a liberal slant contained within a history book: Go to the index and look up Ronald Reagan and see how he is portrayed. If it sounds negative, chances are that any conservative and his/her values will be shown in a bad light.)
Talk to them every day about what they have learned. Ask them if they heard anything that sounds different than what they've learned at home. Trust your instincts. Look into anything that raises a red flag. Talk to other parents who share your values and beliefs and ask if they have become aware of any objectionable teaching.
And tell you kids to not be afraid to -- respectfully -- disagree with a teacher if it contradicts what they are being taught at home. I have told my kids to tell me if this ever occurs. (So far, just a couple of benign instances.) And I also ask once in a while, in case they've forgotten.
And of course I have met all their teachers. I have mentioned to them that we would like to be informed if there is ever any kind of conflict or problem that arises. I remain vague, not saying anything specific, since I don't want the teacher to think we are at odds. I want them to know I feel we are a team, and I make it clear that I am plugged in to what my child is learning.
Until there is school choice, parents will have to be vigilant to ensure their authority and their beliefs are not being undermined by the public school system... and desperately-trying-to-be-relevant former vice-presidents.
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