Mindless Indoctrination

World Magazine Blog links to two videos demonstrating how some schools handle homosexuality.* I viewed them. I was Not Pleased.

The title of the videos is "Homosexuals Brainwashing Children." At first I was put off by that--it seemed, potentially, overly strong. But then I watched. It's brainwashing.

The problem isn't really homosexuality, though. Listen in on a faculty meeting where plans are being made for "Gay and Lesbian Pride Day":

Teacher 1: "I guess, for me [unintelligible]... I don't know what to do about this, but, as a school are we saying that the kids have to support this? I mean, I guess that's what it sounds like to me, that we're saying, if a child comes from a background that says homosexuality is not correct, are we telling that child that they're supposed to, this is what you're supposed to do?"

Teacher 2: "I don't know if this works for you, but I think that we are asking kids to, to believe that this is right, not as a matter of moral principle but as a matter of we're educating them, and this is part of what we consider to be a healthy education."

Granted, Teacher 2 is not a professional moral philosopher. She didn't compose this as an essay in ethics; she is just saying, off the cuff, what she understands to be true. She thinks that homosexuality is "right" but not "as a matter of moral principle." It's just "part of what we consider to be a healthy education." But--even speaking off he cuff--how on earth did "right" ever get separated from morals?

They weren't just teaching that children ought to treat one another with tolerance and respect, even if we disagree with others' life choices. If they did that, it would be great. But they were teaching that homosexuality is right, it's just fine, and that it's wrong to think homosexuality is wrong.

Still, the real problem is not homosexuality. The much more fundamental problem is that we have cut ourselves loose from any moral foundation, any awareness even, of what it means to thoughtfully consider moral choices. That's the only credible explanation for, "It's right, [but] not as a matter of moral principle."

There is a spiritual root to this: we've lost contact with God as our guide. There's also a severe failure of sensibleness. Indoctrination like this is mindless at its source. Every elementary school teacher ought to be able to see that if it's "right" then it's necessarily also "a matter of moral principle." But we're scared to death to talk about moral principles, or especially to impose any such things on others. I believe that's why she didn't dare call it "a matter of moral principle." Nevertheless, heedless of all contradiction, she says it's "right."

It's just doublespeak, of course. "I wouldn't dream of imposing any morals on anyone, but we must teach the children it's wrong to disagree with homosexuality."

Oh, and did I mention this was a Quaker school? Grades K-8?

Part Two of the video moves to a public elementary school in New York City. It doesn't get any better there. The discussion--among third graders with no moral guidance given--is entirely about feelings.

Ours is a society cut loose from its foundations. God help us learn to think clearly again. God help us submit to truth again. God give us the spiritual resources in Christ to understand and do what is right.

*Update April 26: YouTube has removed the videos for copyright reasons. Black Kettle says that this website has gained legal approval to display them (not compatible with all browsers, but they work for me in Firefox).

Related, Today: Disturbing Directions

Posted: Tue - April 24, 2007 at 02:41 PM |

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Mindless Indoctrination

Thinking Christian by Tom Gilson