[Courier]

This isn't forced religion (constitutionally prohibited) or socialist indoctrination (violation of free speech and assembly).

But, yes, the State can test if the child knows how much is five times five or that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

[servantoftheservant]

But, yes, the State can test if the child knows how much is five times five or that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Who determines the content of the test? The state? Mass., where they were recently teaching the delicate intimacy of FISTING to high schoolers???????

I can just see it now...sexual education is critical to the forming of a well rounded individual. These 'eeevil' parents were depriving their kids of a quality education. Hey kids, welcome to the loving, caring, state-run orphanage!

[TigersEye]

But, yes, the State can test if the child knows how much is five times five or that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Why? What compelling interest of the State overrides the individual right that makes it necessary to test math competency or astronomical knowledge? Does knowledge of math impart intelligence? Honor? Morality? Loyalty to family, community or country? Does it insure happiness?

...or that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Sherlock Holmes addressed this very question (and obviously it was the thought of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who was not unsuccessful or considered a dolt). Holmes said "I am not interested to know that the Earth revolves around the Sun. I don't need to know such things. The knowledge of it has no practical use to me."

An awful lot of people here seem to think that education (which is stretching the limits of logic and common sense when applied to government schooling) is necessary to the acquistion of intelligence, happiness and productivity. That's a load of manure big enough to fertilize eastern Montana! What is truly disturbing though is the recurrent idea that 'society' has some right to standardize the fit and form of the individuals that make it up. What's worse is the idea that the State ought to use its power and force individuals to conform to this societal ideal. Seig heil (Hail welfare), Comrades!

Abraham Lincoln and George Washington Carver can thank their lucky stars they were born way back when.

[CyberCowboy777]

But, yes, the State can test if the child knows.....

Know......what who decides? The state has no right to force education. And you obviously have not seen the required lesson plans if you believe that there is no forced religion and socialist indoctrination. Just because it is a violation of Liberty does not mean well intentioned busy bodies like yourself have not force it.

Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies, The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
- C.S. Lewis

[CyberCowboy777]

Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.
- Daniel Webster

I will have no masters, no matter how good you think it will be for me.

[CyberCowboy777]

By what reasoning do you assume the power to force testing? What Ivory Tower do you peer down from that you assume the supreme power to take kids and jail parents because they disagree with a test?

Step off.