Re: Rights (Was Re: Violence in schools)

From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Tue Oct 03 2000 - 14:36:28 MDT


Michael S. Lorrey writes,

> Ah, but is forcing your child to move to Montana with you kidnapping? No? Then
> they have no rights separate from the authority of their parents.

Well, I suppose you could ask for the kid's permission first. If they don't want
to move, let them stay in Peoria by themselves.

> I have no trouble with preventing teachers from forcing students to behave. I
do
> have trouble with not permitting teachers to expel troublesome students who
are
> violating the rights of everyone else to teach or be educated. When a parent
> enrolls their child in school, they must accept responsibility for the
behavior
> of their child, or else give the school the authority commensurate with the
> responsibility they are being asked to assume.

I'll go along with that. We may not have the right to tell kids what to do, but
we have the right to exclude kids from that discipline.

> > Parents rights ought to end where children's rights begin, IMO.
>
> Funny. And they are?

What they are is left as an exercise for the student. It's where they begin and
end that's been settled.

> If a society prevents parents from taking action to prevent their children
from
> becoming serial killers, the it is on the head of society, not the parents.

Excellent point. Parents therefore have the responsibility to prevent their
children becoming serial killers. How do parents do this? I dunno, I killed my
parents. Just kidding.
Why ignore that it may have to do with genetics? Serial killers spawn serial
killers (serially, I suppose).

Instead of focusing on how to prevent sociopathology, why not focus on how to
instill a longing for enlightenment in children? IOW, instead of asking how to
prevent sick kids, why not emphasize how to create Buddhas?

> Starting kids on a regimen from infancy does wonders for their emotional
> stability (it works with pets too). Try feeding your pet from puppyhood at the
> exact time every day. They do get to know when they are supposed to be fed.
> Don't do so, and they will want to eat at any time, and are far more
bothersome
> on a consistent basis.

Sounds like you've got a very good understanding of this aspect of parenting.
These days it seems like mostly kids are having kids. Perhaps their parents
should have taught them more about the advantages of masturbation. (Where's
Joyclyn Elders when you really need her?)

"It's not what you know that counts, but who you know."
>
> And if you can pay for it.

Don't worry, I won't charge you anything for knowing me.
<smirk, wink>

> Ah, a meritocracy. Something I've often speculated about, but most people tend
> to be of the opinion that a meritocracy is fascistic (mainly because they fear
> they themselves will not qualify).

Yes, I agree. Inferior people seek equality. Exceptional people endorse
meritocracy.

--J. R.

"Think.
It ain't illegal yet." George Carlin



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