Bill would require all Idaho school kids to read ‘Atlas Shrugged’ to graduate

Posted by sdesapio 11 years, 3 months ago to News
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The chairman of the Idaho Senate’s Education Committee has introduced legislation to require every Idaho high-school student to read Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” and pass a test on it. He said he was making a “statement.”
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  • Posted by khalling 11 years, 3 months ago
    what happened to free will?
    if I were that chairman, I think it would be a more productive use of time to repeal some education-based law in Idaho, rather than waste time doing something that he knows won't pass. for instance: has Idaho worked hard at allowing school vouchers?
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  • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 3 months ago
    An interesting proposal, but I was thinking that making it mandatory smacks of strong arm govt tactics. It should just be on required reading for English classes. Like Shakespeare. They have to take up the space that 'To Kill a Mockingbird' has left.

    The only problem is getting teachers to not skew the philosophy behind it.
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    • Posted by UncommonSense 11 years, 3 months ago
      I love your last sentence, that point can't be stressed enough. I would add that unless the teacher AGREES (genuinely, no coerced) and understands the philosophy, they shouldn't be 'teaching' the subject.
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      • Posted by lostinaforest 11 years, 2 months ago
        I agree that a teacher needs to *understand* a philosophy in order to teach it, but I disagree that a teacher necessarily needs to *agree* with a philosophy in order to teach it without misrepresenting it.

        Indeed, I think it is imperative that subjects like philosophy, politics, and religion be taught in an impartial and objective manner. Otherwise it would be indoctrination rather than education.

        And yes, I'm not disputing that indoctrination occurs—but the solution is not to supplement indoctrination into one ideology with indoctrination into another.

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  • Posted by net5000 11 years, 2 months ago
    Give them the Audible version. Give them the movie. Make the teachers read it to them. They will never read it. Don't fool yourselves. Just teach the basics of small business. Make it cool to understand Looters vs Producers. Teach Looters vs Producers at home and inoculate a generation against Looter lies. Teach Logic and they can figure it out. But good try. Bring the kids to the Gulch where they can see what freedom can produce.
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