Does MSU professor Dr. Raymond Barranco really believe that 18 year olds are mature enough and fully formed to not be influenced by a particular bent of philosophy or particular thrust of personal beliefs? I don’t agree with him here, and minds are still being influenced by various viewpoints and beliefs. So teach them how to think for certain and allow them to express their beliefs.
Hopefully our upbringing has formed us and we do need to see differing outlooks, but I wonder if he prefers teaching what to think not how to think. Example below:
He wants to determine that gender is different from sex? That is not really true from my viewpoint. Since I am a Christian, I believe God created two sexes (genders). There are always aberrations or exceptions, but to think that we can and should determine our own gender is plain hokey to me. How does teaching about gender issues really educate and not indoctrinate a certain view I wonder? Surely most scientists agree that two sexes are the norm for mammals, even though the AMA still thinks we can and should start changes in teenage or preteen children “for their own good.” Come on parents (guardians), the AMA, NCAA, etc., please allow the child to reach adulthood first.
I’m not afraid of education when it really teaches us something that enriches our life or has a real practical benefit. When he says “the curtain is drawn” perhaps he is doing the same thing concerning some of his college courses. I’m not the smartest pencil in the box, so please have him help me out here.
P.S. And I loved Clay Bowen’s column from the weekend edition where he says that we make children obsessed with being first in sports or whatever endeavor they try. Of course sports can be a good motivator but not the be all or end all… He says “at 18 they are still just kids… – and they will lose if they don’t keep up or play the game… (Instead) Let’s applaud kids for being themselves rather than creating a false narrative for success.. Stop making them think that sports and college are their only hope…”
Kathie Baeuerlin
Columbus
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