What are values and where do you get them

Mondo Rock says:

09:43am | 26/06/09

“Values based” teaching is simply a euphemism for discipline. 

The values that Roger identifies as “human values” are indeed common to all schools: private, religious and public.  If these were the ‘values’ these parents were referring to then it would make no sense that they seek out private or religious schools - there would be no need.

In fact, when they criticise the public system for its lack of values what they’re really saying is that they perceive state schools to lack discipline.  For some there is also a clear desire to find a school that will better instil an old fashioned conservative morality - but there are plenty of lefties who also insist on finding ‘values based’ schools.

I’m one of them.

David C says:

10:41am | 26/06/09

Maybe people are looking for a school that will do what they cant be bothered to do. When are parents going to start beeing parents?
Schools should be chosen becasue they reflect and reinforce the values of the home.

R says:

02:38pm | 26/06/09

I choose to forgoe a Porsche Boxter and send my children to an outrageously expensive private school because of the proven track record of producing outstanding academic results.  The fact that it is a church run school is a secondary matter for me as I am an Atheist.

Ben Payne says:

03:09pm | 26/06/09

When a young adult freely chooses to convert from their family’s religion to, say, Scientology, the reaction of their parents is usually hysterical bleating about “brainwashing” their “innocent minds” – and yet these same parents have no problem with their young children being brainwashed into believing absolute rubbish about the nature of the universe and our position in it, every day at school.

When a young child, at an impressionable age, is repeatedly told by an authority figure (whether a parent or a teacher), that the universe was created in 6 days, or that breaking certain rules will result in an eternity in hell, the child will grow up to believe that this is actually true, regardless of all the evidence to the contrary. 

When this child becomes an adult, and has children of their own, they start the cycle again by sending their own children to be brainwashed in the same way.

*This* is the child abuse that needs to be stopped, because without this irrational belief in patently absurd claims about morality and sin, we wouldn’t have sexually repressed priests raping boys, or parents suffering under guilt from perceived sin taking out their frustrations on their kids.

I believe that every adult has the right to choose their beliefs, no matter how stupid they look, but a child is not in a position to make an informed decision, and should not be indoctrinated with religious teachings until they are old enough to understand what they are signing up for.

R says:

03:26pm | 26/06/09

Ben,

I grew up going to Sunday School and Church, went to Church based school, attended Youth Groups and Camps.

I’m an Athiest.

Ben Payne says:

05:11pm | 26/06/09

R - Me too, everything you said. 

I’m not saying that it is impossible to break the cycle, just very difficult.

Different people will be affected in different ways, and the compartmentalising of thought processes required to go from science class to bible study, without seeing any conflict between the two, has to have implications later in life.

When I was growing up, I used to read lots and lots of different stuff, from encyclopaedias to science fiction, and had an interest in computers, leading to logical thought processes that conflicted with the illogic of the religious teachings at school, etc.

I honestly feel embarrassed and humiliated when I remember having to kneel on the floor, saying prayers and asking forgiveness…  I could go on, but this is probably not the time or place.

It is getting harder and harder to justify any kind of religious belief in these modern times, because we actually know the answers to so many of the questions that religion tries, however childishly, to answer.

Surely by now we can just let it go and move forward?

Razor says:

05:43pm | 26/06/09

If the worst thing that happens to my kids is they end up being christians then I’ll be happy

Bishop Rick says:

02:56pm | 04/08/09

‘R’ elects to send his/her children to an expensive school and forego the Porsche.

Hmm, something funny about the values there, methinks.

If s/he was really interested in ‘values’ s/he’d be sending the tykes to a state school and visiting the principal and P&C president demanding that the school lifts its game, if it is really as bad as most people pretend they are.

After all, values begin at home, and the value R is promoting is one of cheap commodification… ‘go and buy your values kiddies’.

Florence says:

10:35pm | 03/11/09

Hmmm quite interesting. I did not go to a christian school and all that but am a christian now and i wish i learnt these things early enough. To me it takes more faith to believe in evolution than creation. Otherwise how else will one explain the order in the universe unless an orderly God put these things in place.
That s why we need to instil these values in the children early enough so they can make informed decisions especially about their stand with the God of creation.

sue says:

07:11am | 11/08/10

There are no values taught in State Schools.  It is about time someone from the Islamic Community questioned Gillard in Public as to why she does not support Islamic Schools.  No one is asking the question and even when Keneally sent an email saying ask any question I asked her why was she so against Islamic Schools and she would not reply.  Some of these alleged disadvantaged areas need Islamic Schools which will show well dressed and well groomed students not like a lot of other Schools. Why has she let Camden and Bass Hill be so racist as well as Rosebery against Hillsong areas which have a lot of Public Housiing and problems.

Kasey says:

12:15pm | 20/08/10

One Islamic school quotes its aims are: to raise every Muslim child as a “total” Muslim”....and suggests that for a child to live Islamically he/she must be taught the Islamic way of life to avoid an “identity crisis”,  a nd to resist the impact of the non-Muslim environmment….So what about learning about and living the Australian way of life if you’re going to live here???  Why stay here when it seems so difficult and abhorrent to the indoctrinated belief systems!...A hidden agend maybe for the long term????