Comments on: Merry Christmas!! http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/ She escaped from the belly of the liberal beast Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:37:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Webloggin - Blog Archive » Merry Christmas!! http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18256 Webloggin - Blog Archive » Merry Christmas!! Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:10:39 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18256 [...] [Discuss this article with Bookworm over at Bookworm Room…] Trackback URL [...] [...] [Discuss this article with Bookworm over at Bookworm Room…] Trackback URL [...]

]]> By: ymarsakar http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18257 ymarsakar Sun, 23 Dec 2007 10:19:30 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18257 There is better stuff to focus your energies on than what people call a holiday. Course, to the bored rich like Soros, there isn't much entertainment to be had given that they have bought and tried all the normal avenues. There is better stuff to focus your energies on than what people call a holiday. Course, to the bored rich like Soros, there isn’t much entertainment to be had given that they have bought and tried all the normal avenues.

]]> By: Synova http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18258 Synova Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:14:44 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18258 "The real problem is that government is involved in an activity that is *inherently* value-laden…..education. You cannot educate a child without communicating a set of values to them." So true. Education *must* be value-laden to be of any worth. That government is involved in it at all is inherently a conflict of interests. “The real problem is that government is involved in an activity that is *inherently* value-laden…..education. You cannot educate a child without communicating a set of values to them.”

So true.

Education *must* be value-laden to be of any worth. That government is involved in it at all is inherently a conflict of interests.

]]> By: Earl http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18259 Earl Sun, 23 Dec 2007 02:02:24 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18259 The idea that a Christmas program with traditional carols violates the "public values" (I'd sure like to have someone explain just what those are), or in any way establishes religion ought to be too ludicrous to require refutation. This point of view is a relatively recent innovation - our country somehow staggered along for over a century with carols and even prayers in the public schools......but let's leave that aside, since argumentation doesn't seem to change minds in this area. The real problem is that government is involved in an activity that is *inherently* value-laden.....education. You cannot educate a child without communicating a set of values to them. The Catholic church realized that, and set up their own school system to avoid having their children "educated" away from their faith. It is simply *wrong* for our government to take money away from families who wish their children to be raised with values derived from their faith traditions, and use those families' money to undermine parental values in the children. If it's in the interest if the State to have an educated citizenry, and if it's constitutionally OK to tax the citizens to provide it, then let the State provide education the way it provides food to people who qualify -- using "stamps". Food stamps can be spent at any grocery store, including religious ones...."education stamps" could (and should) be designed to do the same thing for schooling. Will this produce Utopia? Of course not. (I have a plan for that, but there' s not enough room, here.) But, it will get our practice more in line with our rhetoric about liberty. The idea that a Christmas program with traditional carols violates the “public values” (I’d sure like to have someone explain just what those are), or in any way establishes religion ought to be too ludicrous to require refutation. This point of view is a relatively recent innovation - our country somehow staggered along for over a century with carols and even prayers in the public schools……but let’s leave that aside, since argumentation doesn’t seem to change minds in this area.

The real problem is that government is involved in an activity that is *inherently* value-laden…..education. You cannot educate a child without communicating a set of values to them. The Catholic church realized that, and set up their own school system to avoid having their children “educated” away from their faith. It is simply *wrong* for our government to take money away from families who wish their children to be raised with values derived from their faith traditions, and use those families’ money to undermine parental values in the children.

If it’s in the interest if the State to have an educated citizenry, and if it’s constitutionally OK to tax the citizens to provide it, then let the State provide education the way it provides food to people who qualify — using “stamps”. Food stamps can be spent at any grocery store, including religious ones….”education stamps” could (and should) be designed to do the same thing for schooling.

Will this produce Utopia? Of course not. (I have a plan for that, but there’ s not enough room, here.) But, it will get our practice more in line with our rhetoric about liberty.

]]> By: swampacreage http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18260 swampacreage Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:14:26 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18260 Jack is exact ! If parents want their kids to be educated according to their values and not the public values they have the freedom to take it elsewhere. Jack is exact ! If parents want their kids to be educated according to their values and not the public values they have the freedom to take it elsewhere.

]]> By: Jack http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18262 Jack Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:41:05 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18262 <i>I meant there should be no religious indoctrination in public schools.</i> I am in complete agreement with you. There is no reason for religion to be included in public school. If you want your children to have religious education send them to parochial school, teach them at home etc. I meant there should be no religious indoctrination in public schools.

I am in complete agreement with you. There is no reason for religion to be included in public school. If you want your children to have religious education send them to parochial school, teach them at home etc.

]]> By: Bill C http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18261 Bill C Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:23:52 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18261 Merry Christmas Bookworm. I hope you and Mr. Bookworm and all the little bookworms have a happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year. Kind Love, Bill C Merry Christmas Bookworm. I hope you and Mr. Bookworm and all the little bookworms have a happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year.

Kind Love,

Bill C

]]> By: judyrose http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18266 judyrose Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:19:37 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18266 I approach this trend from a different perspective. For me, it's all about the music. I'm so glad I went to school in the 1950s and 60s when, even in grade school, we performed traditional Christmas music as part of our year-end concerts. Later, in high school and college, church music was the foundation of music education. (I majored in music.) The study of church music and the study of music history are inseparable. The vast majority of choral music comes from the church. As a Jewish kid, I learned more about the Christian religion from exposure to church music than I would have learned any other way. I also learned a lot about comparative languages. Many composers set well known religious texts (like the psalms) to music and depending on the composer, the piece might be in Latin, German, Italian, or English. Singing the same text in different languages was a GREAT education. If kids are limited in grade school and high school to "neutered" pieces like Frosty the Snowman, they miss the opportunity to be exposed to some of the greatest music of all time. What a loss! I was totally immersed in the music of the church for most of my 16 years of schooling. What rubbed off on me wasn't the religion, but a love of Handel, Bach, Palestrina - the list is long. "Frosty" just doesn't compare. I approach this trend from a different perspective. For me, it’s all about the music. I’m so glad I went to school in the 1950s and 60s when, even in grade school, we performed traditional Christmas music as part of our year-end concerts. Later, in high school and college, church music was the foundation of music education. (I majored in music.) The study of church music and the study of music history are inseparable. The vast majority of choral music comes from the church. As a Jewish kid, I learned more about the Christian religion from exposure to church music than I would have learned any other way. I also learned a lot about comparative languages. Many composers set well known religious texts (like the psalms) to music and depending on the composer, the piece might be in Latin, German, Italian, or English. Singing the same text in different languages was a GREAT education.

If kids are limited in grade school and high school to “neutered” pieces like Frosty the Snowman, they miss the opportunity to be exposed to some of the greatest music of all time. What a loss! I was totally immersed in the music of the church for most of my 16 years of schooling. What rubbed off on me wasn’t the religion, but a love of Handel, Bach, Palestrina - the list is long. “Frosty” just doesn’t compare.

]]> By: ymarsakar http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18267 ymarsakar Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:01:14 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18267 <B>I think the point, Greg, is that she is commenting on the current state of affairs in the education system. </b> I think the point is that g should remember where hamster patties come from. I think the point, Greg, is that she is commenting on the current state of affairs in the education system.

I think the point is that g should remember where hamster patties come from.

]]> By: greg http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/21/merry-christmas/#comment-18268 greg Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:53:26 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2276#comment-18268 That, Miss M. is well stated, and I'll rember it. That, Miss M. is well stated, and I’ll rember it.

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