School orders families to sign "biblical morality pledge".

[Threlizdun]

There is no logical basis for ethics or than that.

That, in itself, isn't a logical basis for ethics.

How could it not be? Why would we ever not desire sentient wellbeing and what could we place as an alternative basis for morality other than that?

[Zottistan]

That, in itself, isn't a logical basis for ethics.

How could it not be? Why would we ever not desire sentient wellbeing and what could we place as an alternative basis for morality other than that?

What makes it logical? Nothing. It's instinctual. From a societal point of view, it's a pretty good moral system, but for it to work the individual has to embrace it, too. And the individual may or may not care about society.

Any alternative would be just as arbitrary. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that putting value on sentient life is illogical. I'm saying it's alogical, if that's a word. Logic doesn't apply to it on a fundamental level. It's no more logical or illogical than having a favourite flavour of icecream.

[The Emerald Legion]

That, in itself, isn't a logical basis for ethics.

How could it not be? Why would we ever not desire sentient wellbeing and what could we place as an alternative basis for morality other than that?

Preservation and Expansion of Knowledge as the basis of ethics.

[New Chalcedon]

How could it not be? Why would we ever not desire sentient wellbeing and what could we place as an alternative basis for morality other than that?

Preservation and Expansion of Knowledge as the basis of ethics.

At which point, of course, the question gets asked: what human price is too high to pay? After all, there are many medical-research benefits to be had from a whole host of practices which are considered unethical today....if the only ethic was the gain of knowledge, well....

Which means that any coherent ethical system that's suited to the real world needs to be more complex that that. Which in turn is why ethics is such a thorny subject....go figure.

[The Tovian Way]

Link.

The letter.

A Christian private school in Wilmington, NC has announced that it has adopted a so-called “Biblical Morality Policy” that allows the school to expel or refuse to admit LGBT children or children from families with LGBT members. According to Salon.com, the letter was written by Myrtle Grove Christian School President J. Stacy Miller.

The letter (embedded here) begins by evoking the childhood game “Duck Duck Goose.”

“Do you remember playing circle games like ‘Duck Duck Goose’ in elementary school?” Miller asked. “In order to form a circle, we would gather in close together, hold hands, and then back up away from the center” and form a circle.

“If we move to far from the center, we can’t hold hands anymore,” the principal warned.

He went on to say that all families with children at Myrtle Grove must sign the “Biblical Morality Policy,” swearing not to participate in, support or affirm “sexual immorality, homosexual activity, or bisexual activity; promoting such practices; or being unable to support the moral principles of the school.”

Compliance with the anti-LGBT policy will enable the school, he said, will help “students to develop a biblical understanding of morality and to pursue a life that is governed by the biblical moral code.”

“For this reason,” said Miller, “the school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student if the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home or the activities of the student are counter to or are in opposition to the biblical lifestyle the school teaches.”

Salon noted that in spite of the exclusionary policy, Myrtle Grove will still be eligible for taxpayer-funded government subsidies in 2014.

To sum up, a private school in North Carolina has adopted a policy that allows them to expel or refuse to admit sexual and gender minority students, or students from families with sexual and gender minority members. Their reasoning? Bible quotes and a terribly put-together metaphor about duck-duck-goose.

Honestly, isn't this illegal? Are private schools exempt from the Civil Rights Act? They shouldn't be. And isn't the school continuing to be open to government subsidies blatantly unconstitutional?

Private school, they should be allowed to make their own rules. I have zero problems with this.

[Gauthier]

Link.

The letter.

To sum up, a private school in North Carolina has adopted a policy that allows them to expel or refuse to admit sexual and gender minority students, or students from families with sexual and gender minority members. Their reasoning? Bible quotes and a terribly put-together metaphor about duck-duck-goose.

Honestly, isn't this illegal? Are private schools exempt from the Civil Rights Act? They shouldn't be. And isn't the school continuing to be open to government subsidies blatantly unconstitutional?

Private school, they should be allowed to make their own rules. I have zero problems with this.

Even when they're accepting state money through vouchers?

[Regnum Dominae]

Link.

The letter.

To sum up, a private school in North Carolina has adopted a policy that allows them to expel or refuse to admit sexual and gender minority students, or students from families with sexual and gender minority members. Their reasoning? Bible quotes and a terribly put-together metaphor about duck-duck-goose.

Honestly, isn't this illegal? Are private schools exempt from the Civil Rights Act? They shouldn't be. And isn't the school continuing to be open to government subsidies blatantly unconstitutional?

Private school, they should be allowed to make their own rules. I have zero problems with this.

Even though they are receiving state money?

[The Tovian Way]

Private school, they should be allowed to make their own rules. I have zero problems with this.

Even when they're accepting state money through vouchers?

Private school, they should be allowed to make their own rules. I have zero problems with this.

Even though they are receiving state money?

Well, I disagree with the concepts of both taxation and public schooling, so I don't think there should be any state money to give to any school, but I consider that a separate issue.

[The Emerald Legion]

Preservation and Expansion of Knowledge as the basis of ethics.

At which point, of course, the question gets asked: what human price is too high to pay? After all, there are many medical-research benefits to be had from a whole host of practices which are considered unethical today....if the only ethic was the gain of knowledge, well....

Which means that any coherent ethical system that's suited to the real world needs to be more complex that that. Which in turn is why ethics is such a thorny subject....go figure.

Did I ever say that I considered current society to be entirely ethical?

The question was "What could possibly be the basis of ethics aside from individual wellbeing."

[Pandeeria]

Even when they're accepting state money through vouchers?

Even though they are receiving state money?

Well, I disagree with the concepts of both taxation and public schooling, so I don't think there should be any state money to give to any school, but I consider that a separate issue.

And? Just because they're privately owned doesn't exclude them from secularism and educational standards. Private schools should meet the standard of teaching, not indoctrinating, not being utterly biased, etc.

Also, bump.

[DickChaineyisGod]

Thank god, it's about time the Christians took action!

[Vazdania]

Private school, they should be allowed to make their own rules. I have zero problems with this.

Even though they are receiving state money?

The state money they use goes to non religious education, like math...If the state wishes they can remove funding

[Pandeeria]

Thank god, it's about time the Christians took action!

How is this good?

[Liriena]

Thank god, it's about time the Christians took action!

Yeah, about time Christians began to violate the privacy and freedom of conscience of their brethren.

[DickChaineyisGod]

Thank god, it's about time the Christians took action!

Yeah, about time Christians began to violate the privacy and freedom of conscience of their brethren.

No, just make sure they accept the Bible as the book with more power in the region.

[Pandeeria]

Yeah, about time Christians began to violate the privacy and freedom of conscience of their brethren.

No, just make sure they accept the Bible as the book with more power in the region.

Making sure kids accept* the bible is against our nation's secularism.


*A better term would be indoctrinate

[Liriena]

Yeah, about time Christians began to violate the privacy and freedom of conscience of their brethren.

No, just make sure they accept the Bible as the book with more power in the region.

More power than the Constitution? That just reeks of sedition. It also reeks of simplism. The Bible has countless interpretations, some of them pro-LGBT.

[Vazdania]

No, just make sure they accept the Bible as the book with more power in the region.

Making sure kids accept* the bible is against our nation's secularism.


*A better term would be indoctrinate

Its in a private school not a public one. Secularism doesn't apply.

[Pandeeria]

Making sure kids accept* the bible is against our nation's secularism.


*A better term would be indoctrinate

Its in a private school not a public one. Secularism doesn't apply.

I'm pretty sure educational standards apply and as such secularism should apply. It doesn't matter if they're owned by the state, corporate giants, like businesses, ect they should be secular.

[DickChaineyisGod]

No, just make sure they accept the Bible as the book with more power in the region.

More power than the Constitution? That just reeks of sedition. It also reeks of simplism. The Bible has countless interpretations, some of them pro-LGBT.

Lol, I am not against gay rights. Just against other religions acting all powerful in an area where they are outnumbered, that is just asking for conflict.

[Vazdania]

No, just make sure they accept the Bible as the book with more power in the region.

More power than the Constitution? That just reeks of sedition. It also reeks of simplism. The Bible has countless interpretations, some of them pro-LGBT.

I didn't know it was illegal to hold dominionist political ideals...I thought we were passed the McCarthy Era.

[Liriena]

Making sure kids accept* the bible is against our nation's secularism.


*A better term would be indoctrinate

Its in a private school not a public one. Secularism doesn't apply.

Debatable. I find it hard to believe that the First Amendment suddenly vanishes just because you, as a customer, choose a certain business with certain sociopolitical leanings.

[Liriena]

More power than the Constitution? That just reeks of sedition. It also reeks of simplism. The Bible has countless interpretations, some of them pro-LGBT.

Lol, I am not against gay rights. Just against other religions acting all powerful in an area where they are outnumbered, that is just asking for conflict.

It's called equality under the law.

[Vazdania]

Its in a private school not a public one. Secularism doesn't apply.

I'm pretty sure educational standards apply and as such secularism should apply. It doesn't matter if they're owned by the state, corporate giants, like businesses, ect they should be secular.

Religious classes are beyond standard criteria. They are beyond the required curriculum. It's not illegal for schools to have classes that go beyond core standards and classes.

[DickChaineyisGod]

Making sure kids accept* the bible is against our nation's secularism.


*A better term would be indoctrinate

Its in a private school not a public one. Secularism doesn't apply.

True indeed.