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Wednesday, July 08, 2009
In defense of Bill 44
It’s good to know that Halifax News Net blogger Kim Kinrade is frightened by Alberta’s Bill 44. His article starts with quote from an Albertan parent that clearly opposes Bill 44 stating that the bill limits exposure to diversity (run for your life!), followed by this gem:
Some people in Canada think “Progressive Conservative” is an oxymoron, like “military intelligence.” And nowhere is this more evident than in the Progressive Conservative government of Alberta Premier Ed Stelmack, who rammed Bill 44 through the provincial legislature two weeks ago.
Hm, I never heard that one before! Then again, I would never expect the Nova Scotia media to support such a thing as originality or change. The new bill enables parents to legally opt their children out of class when certain subjects are “taught”. These subjects are things like sexual orientation, sexuality, and religion – the subjects that happen to be those few that have historically been the responsibility of parents in the first place. As a reaction, the “progressives” are hysterical about such a notion as parents being more competent at parenting and the state. Maybe it’s true that today’s parenting isn’t as great as it used to be, but the idea that we can’t fix ourselves and need the government to be the knight in whining armor yields a white flag in my eyes. Conservatives are not ones to surrender, and I’m no exception. I say more provinces should adopt the bill and see what happens. Surely our public schools cannot get any worse (knock on wood!). Unless I’m shown evidence that what we’re currently doing is working, I propose we consider history and examine what has generally worked and what hasn’t. Bill 44 is a small but solid step towards that. Unfortunately with the new provincial NDP majority in Nova Scotia, Bill 44 is about as unlikely as the possibility of the NDP doing well in office.
[Cross-posted at The Right Coast]
Posted by Dane Richard on July 8, 2009 in School Choice | Permalink
Comments
Personally I don't think the bill goes far enough.
I think we should opt out of state funded "education" altogether.
Private or home schooling are the only ways to give your child an advantage over the socialist conformity that is ruining our kids today.
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-07-08 9:34:05 PM
"...opt out of state funded "education" .... Keep the kids. Keep the schools. Destroy the teachers union by firing all the teachers. Hire back only teachers who are dedicated to teaching according to the wishes of the parents, not the bloody, leftist dick- and snatch-heads.
Posted by: dewp | 2009-07-08 11:03:36 PM
As these are non academic topics for the purpose of indoctrination the bill only makes sense. However, they should never be part of the education program in the first place. If we must have state run schools, then let the schools return to teaching academic subjects. A second improvement would be to allow school vouchers in order for parents to choose the best school for their children including private school without unionised teachers.
Posted by: Alain | 2009-07-09 12:08:16 AM
Why are you so afraid of a child being exposed to different points of view?
This is part of a well rounded education. If you are still full of fear and are convinced your child will be corrupted by demons of the left, then there are plenty of private and charter schools where your child's head can be filled with whatever you believe is in their best interest.
Bill 44 is going to be rejected at the next PC policy convention in November and the offending clauses are going to be withdrawn.
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-07-09 9:56:48 AM
Why are you so afraid of a child being exposed to different points of view?
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-07-09 9:56:48 AM
That's the point of the exercise. The kids aren't exposed to different points of view. They're being brainwashed by the extreme socialist views of a small band of teachers, and their union.
My kids were never allowed to question the global warming theory. Never allowed to question the open immigration policy. Never allowed to question gun control. Never allowed to talk about anything their parents believe in.
They were bombarded with political propaganda, and told conservatives are evil. They were told Hawaii is going to be under water. They were told polar bears are freezing to death because global warming gets them wet.
We have no control over any of this, and that has to change. I'm not talking about banning science, I'm talking about banning politics.
Posted by: dp | 2009-07-09 10:13:47 AM
"Why are you so afraid of a child being exposed to different points of view?" asked epsilon. The answer is that most of us are not afraid of our children being exposed to different points of view; in fact that is life in the real world. However, we do object to them receiving indoctrination in lieu of education.
Posted by: Alain | 2009-07-09 10:20:04 AM
Alain and dp nailed it.
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-07-09 11:12:20 AM
JC: Agreed!
Posted by: Dane Richard | 2009-07-09 1:11:48 PM
Indoctrination my ass.
You guys are so full of fear that you beleive your own children are going to reject your perverted ideology.
You are the problem. Not the schools.
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-07-10 12:05:36 AM
You are the problem. Not the schools.
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-07-10 12:05:36 AM
Actually its the schools. My kids pointed it out to me, not the other way around.
You're probably too young to remember when schools "weren't" indoctrination centers therefore you have no real frame of reference.
But you go ahead and think and talk like a socialist, that's you're privelege. My privelege is to denounce your kind as a cancer on our country at every opportunity.
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-07-10 3:09:52 PM
My "perverted ideology"?
Why don't you crawl into a bottle of merlot, and keep your opinions to yourself, for awhile?
My kids have healthier minds than anything you could squeeze out of that pickled vessel.
Posted by: dp | 2009-07-10 3:25:01 PM
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