Idaho bill would require students to read 'Atlas Shrugged'

[kygator]

Can we get a Florida legislator to introduce a bill to make "Too Hot" threads required reading for all students in Florida?

[rpmGator]

I see a religiuos group suing as a response to a pro atheism book being madated. It happens all the time the other way around.

[mocgator]

Originally Posted by kygator

Can we get a Florida legislator to introduce a bill to make "Too Hot" threads required reading for all students in Florida?

+1

[gator421]

It would probably be better if they made a law that said the students had to read anything.

[rpmGator]

Rand followers believe the way to individualism and a free human mind is by mandating a book.

Ironic.

[mocgator]

Originally Posted by rpmGator

Rand followers believe the way to individualism and a free human mind is by mandating a book.

Ironic.

Atlas Shrugged >> Heather Has Two Mommies

[wgbgator]

Does Heather Has Two Mommies feature long winded speeches and rough sex? If no, then maybe Moc is right.

[HALLGATOR]

Even if required I would bet only a very small percentage of students would actually read the whole book. I have always been an avid reader and found the book to be tiresome.

[cocodrilo]

an American book: a hymn to the ideals of individualism, capitalism, and the free human mind."

Propaganda, anyone? "Capitalism" and "free human mind" are sort of oxymoronic. Just look at today's big capitalistic corporations and the stranglehold they have on the media (they own it), to control what "human minds" can know. Unless, of course, those minds seek truth on their own (a form of "individualism"), which is dangerous. (A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So is too much knowledge. The individual must know his or her place.)

[oragator1]

What is with the trend lately for the "less government" crowd trying hard to get government to do more of their bidding lately? Either they want heavy handed government out of our lives or they don't, but they can't say "we like more government when it espouses conservative values", it's a pretty glaring contradiction.

[Matthanuf06]

Originally Posted by oragator1

What is with the trend lately for the "less government" crowd trying hard to get government to do more of their bidding lately? Either they want heavy handed government out of our lives or they don't, but they can't say "we like more government when it espouses conservative values", it's a pretty glaring contradiction.

The schools are already public.

[oragator1]

Originally Posted by Matthanuf06

The schools are already public.

But instead of more mandates, wouldn't the conservative or libertarian approach be to put less restrictions on what teachers can put in their curriculum and not more?

[gator10010]

Originally Posted by oragator1

But instead of more mandates, wouldn't the conservative or libertarian approach be to put less restrictions on what teachers can put in their curriculum and not more?

You are using the terms conservative and libertarian very loosely painting a lot of people with a broad brush.

As an individual who believes in limited government I don't even think we should have public high schools.

[antny]

Originally Posted by kygator

Can we get a Florida legislator to introduce a bill to make "Too Hot" threads required reading for all students in Florida?

It would illustrate how absurd partisan politics are if nothing else

[Matthanuf06]

Originally Posted by oragator1

But instead of more mandates, wouldn't the conservative or libertarian approach be to put less restrictions on what teachers can put in their curriculum and not more?

No. The conservative/libertarian approach would be to not have public schools at all, and have your kids to to the school that you approve of.

Since we don't have the choice to spend our money to have our child attend the school that we want, we might as well try to influence the school that our children attend that we already pay for.

[reformedgator]

Originally Posted by kygator

Can we get a Florida legislator to introduce a bill to make "Too Hot" threads required reading for all students in Florida?

Why not? The pool of ignorance is wide & deep. We have room for a few more.

[OaktownGator]

Originally Posted by Matthanuf06

No. The conservative/libertarian approach would be to not have public schools at all, and have your kids to to the school that you approve of.

Since we don't have the choice to spend our money to have our child attend the school that we want, we might as well try to influence the school that our children attend that we already pay for.

Sure we have choice... we don't have to put our kids in public schools.

But I understand wanting to leverage what we're already paying for... and influence it.

[Matthanuf06]

Originally Posted by OaktownGator

Sure we have choice... we don't have to put our kids in public schools.

But I understand wanting to leverage what we're already paying for... and influence it.

Sure, but we already pay for it. Id love to send my kids to private school, but I can't pay for a school that he won't even attend. Maybe one day...

[Spurffelbow833]

Did they make sure everybody who is expected to read it can actually read? Didn't think so.

[OaktownGator]

Originally Posted by Matthanuf06

Sure, but we already pay for it. Id love to send my kids to private school, but I can't pay for a school that he won't even attend. Maybe one day...

You pay a certain amount in taxes regardless of where your kids go to school (same for any aspect of govt whether or not you use the service or even agree with it).

So school becomes an investment decision on your part... "free" public school (that probably requires significant additional support for extracurricular programs, etc), or home school or private school options.

Often, public schools are not a bad choice in that light even if you can afford private school options. Depends on the public school and the relative value of the private options. And your ability to pay of course.