Murielle Boudreau, co-chair of the Greater Toronto Catholic Parent Network, said that exposing children to controversial books gives parents an opportunity to discuss important issues at home.For a detailed review of the article, check out the The Politics of the Cross Resurrected blog. Myself, I have only one question: Would Ms. Boudreau have the same opinion, if the controversial material was, let's say, a pro-life display?
“If it's out there, in my opinion it's better to expose the child and explain whatever it is, rather than not to expose them,” she said. “… If you really have objections you should do home schooling.”(Source)
Usually, that's their main argument - pictures of unborn babies shouldn't be allowed, because they could be seen by the children and then parents would have to explain what abortion is. And, to make sure that kids never raise the controversial question at home, (until their "sex ed" teachers explain them that abortion is a cool way to make sex safer and that it's every girl's Charter-given right,) everything that mentions life in the womb is considered controversial. Including plain text signs "abortion kills children".
But, if exposing children to controversial material means an opportunity for the parents to discuss the subject and to present their point of view - then how about exposing high-school students to information that life begins at conception, so that they could discuss fetal rights with their parents? Let's start with the Watch Me Grow brochure, which, so far, has been deemed either "too controversial" or "too politicized" to be distributed in high schools. I wonder if Ms. Boudreau, as well as all those who believe that there's nothing wrong with exposing students to controversial literature despite their parents' wishes, will welcome this lovely brochure about fetal development in the public school libraries.
2 comments:
because they're often disgusting and disturbing and aim to give an emotional argument, rather than a rational one, which is what schools are all about.
If a brochure about fetal development (such as the "watch me grow" brochure) is disturbing - then maybe we should just stop teaching kids biology? After all, a picture of what our stomach looks inside is no less "disturbing".
Even when it comes to pictures of fetuses, dismembered by abortion - if it's ok to tell teenagers that abortion is a "right" and that it's mere yet another form of contraception - then, for the sake of a rational discussion, we ought to show them what it looks like.
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