what do I do?

me ^ | 08/11/2008 | me

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

I recently recieved a welcome letter from my daughter's teacher. My daughter is going into kindergarden at a catholic school. The letter included the phrase "learning how to help save the planet" which of course means global warming. My wife and I believe that global warming is a hoax built on junk science.

I don't want my daughter brainwashed by this liberal bullcrap. what should I do?

[DoughtyOne]

WayneS, while I agree with you to a point, I think you’re forgetting something. The child will be encouraged to mouth the thoughts of the teacher on this. The other children will mostly agree with the teacher these days.

Once peer pressure gains hold, the child will be forced to adopt the party line. This serves to undermine parental authority. The child from that moment on will doubt anything the parents says as being truthful.

I wouldn’t put my kid in this type of situation if at all possible. It’s terribly destructive.

[Secret Agent Man]

Excellent point. Biblical stewardship doesn’t equal the secular ‘saving the world’ movement. One is being respectful and not wasteful in order to live the way God would want us to. The other is man thinking that they alone must take drastic steps and only we can save the planet (giving ourselves a LITTLE TOO MUCH credit).

Here’s a good rule of thumb example to tell the difference:

1. Try not to use a lot of toilet paper, just what you need. Just not to waste an excessive amount. That is being a steward, not trying to overdo it. Plus then you don’t go through your own supply so quickly.

2. The world idea: Sheryl Crow’s “One Square of toilet paper per poop.” Otherwise you are evil and killing the planet and the planet will die.

See the difference everyone?

[SolidWood]

I hope this was a bad joke.

[maine-iac7]

find another school that doesn't start partisan politics at age 5 - best of all, homeschool.

Contact Home School organizations in your area - lots of support and it's MUCH easier than most suspect...do you have an hour or two a day to set up your kids for the rest of their lives - and your grandkids, by default?

[al_c]

Whatever, dude. Would you rather we all just went into an anti-global warming riot every time we hear something like “learning how to help save the planet” mentioned? Conservation is exactly what I was getting at. If that is what the teaching at this school is, there’s nothing wrong with it. If the required material includes An Inconvenient Truth, then the alarms should be going off.

[Nowhere Man]

Rich countries are clean countries. Socialist and poor countries are dirty countries. Ask that she teach Capitalism and Free Markets. They are societies proven to clean up the environment.

I don't know what to suggest than maybe find another school or homeschool depending on the situation. However, as I watch the Olympics, it sure makes our views correct, I can see the pollution over there. Whether I'm watching in color or black and white (I freelance webpages, I only have a B&W TV in the computer room), it is painfully obvious. Watching the bike-races, when they get out of the city, the landscape looks like West Virginia, I can't tell if it is Beijing or Beckley, WV. B-) Come to think of it, I would classify Red China as fascist although they will still claim to be Communist, their economy has morphed into more of a fascist system.

[Mamzelle]

Don’t overreact. It might be as simple as a recycling drive. I also regard global warming as a hoax, but I sort and recycle much waste.

[maica]

I would make it known to all in authority at that school that you are sending her there for the Catholic fundamentals in her education.

You see the Global Warming Movement as a competing and destructive religion
because it is a
belief system based on faith
hoping that what some people like Al Gore say will cool our planet, when in reality we are alive because GOD created the Universe and put us on planet Earth, which warms and cools based on the SUN’s energy.

You want your daughter to learn to be a good steward of God-given elements on Earth, but you do NOT want her to learn that MEN have more power than GOD.

[maine-iac7]

Request a switch of teachers.

the teachers don't set the curriculum, they have to teach it

[MSSC6644]

1. Try to educate your daughter as well as she can understand at her age. Let her know that intentions may be good, but “information” is not always accurate.
2. Talk to the principal and the teacher. Ask for a copy of the curriculum, and give them real facts.
3. Call and set up a meeting with the pastor of your parish. Express your concerns. This stuff is being taught to a lot of children, not just your child.
4. Make an appointment with the superintendent of Catholic education in your diocese, and explain your concerns. Provide facts to support your position.
5. Finally, talk to your bishop or his adjutant. Send him a letter first outlining your concerns.
6. Don’t give up. Don’t go somewhere else. Take the bull by the horns and deal with the issue. In the long run, you’ll never be sorry.

[FrdmLvr]

I naively thought the Catholic schools would be conservative, so I enrolled my kids. They were much better than the public schools, but the indoctrination goes on in all schools. The teachers are all trained in the same colleges. If you have a lot of nuns in the school, especially from covservative orders, it's a good sign. Older teachers are usually not as liberal, either.

I always countered all of the eco-crazy and other liberal stuff with common sense. You have to stay on top of what they are being indoctrinated with in school.

My kids are grown up and in college. They successfully transitioned through the liberal b.s. in grade school and high school and are very conservative politically.

[ryan71]

I have a 10 year old daughter.

You can't expect to agree with everything the school teaches your daughter.

Use your energy teaching your daughter the truth about History, Science, and morality. Ultimately, you are responsible for educating her.

I've taken this approach with stunning results. My girl knows bullshit when she hears/sees it.

And have FUN!

[Citizen Blade]

Before knee-jerking, maybe you should get more information on what they’re actually going to teach them. Nothing wrong with teaching kids about recycling, conserving resources, learning to avoid waste etc.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

my daughter is going into kindergarden, I don’t see why she needs to learn anything about any of this crap. she should learn her alphabet, basic reading, and coloring inside the lines.

[Mr. K]

Write a polite reply asking how much of the curriculum will be devoted to that subject and what will be taught.

My daughter came home from public school with that crap once and i crushed it immediately- her teacher had to call me and ask me why I made her argue with them about it- and then I convinced THE TEACHER what crapola it was!!!

[WayneS]

I was fed propaganda thoughout my school years and I NEVER adopted the “party line”. I STILL don’t.

Why would my child be any different if I am teaching him to question this stuff every day at home?

I think you have too little faith in the mental strength of our children.

[raybbr]

There are other ways to help "save the planet". Don't litter. Don't pollute. It may not be all about GWarming. Call the teacher and ask her/him what they are referring to. If it's a GW diatribe tell her you object and present facts.

If the school is bent on teaching her about GW then counter it with facts from you. Your daughter may feel left out when all the other children come to school with GW projects and hers is the opposite. Or, she might feel like she's the smart one.

I went to 12 years of Catholic schools. I wish I could send my sons.

[mnehring]

BG&R, this is just a general, in theory statement- In addition to my previous comment, if this actually is about Global Warming, and if your daughter where older, I wouldn't be so quick as to 'isolate' her from this opposition as some suggest. In the real world, she is going to face opposition to her beliefs, and if you isolate her from those who disagree or challenge her, you are not strengthening her beliefs and teaching her how to defend her beliefs. Isolation could make her more vulnerable to falling for anything because she doesn't learn to defend using reasoning.

I would say, let her go, then bring home what she is taught and you and her discuss what she is being told and look up arguments to what she is being taught. Practice with her how to make well reasoned, polite arguments.

This will help her face what the real world will throw at her. Isolating her from these challenges won't.

[BibChr]

Why do you think BibChr’s statement is “hateful”, much less extremely so?

Because!

Besides, crying "hater" beats engaging substance honestly any day!

[cake_crumb]

Home school, or let her skip kindergarten. After making your feelings perfectly clear to the staff of the school.