This thread is inspired by a comment on another one, which made me wonder to what extent the education system should have a role in shaping the attitudes of children, even when (or particularly when) those attitudes are in conflict with the views of their parents.
For context, although this is not a TAAT, and I hope this thread broadens beyond the perennial topic of trans issues (please!), the comment was about how 'education' should teach children in a particular way about trans issues.
What I am wondering is, who decides which attitudes should be perpetuated, and who oversees the people who decide? Should there be a 'governing body' of elected people (maybe made up of randomly selected parents of state school children) who have a say, or is it up to the Secretary of State for Education ? How do we ensure that a future malevolent government doesn't use the school system to instil malevolent values, such as racism or homophobia? What should happen if a teacher's views are at variance with those of the decision-makers? Should children be exposed to a range of views, or should there be limits on the things they can be told to protect them from extremism or indoctrination?
Obviously, those who can afford to can opt out of the state system and pay for a school to instil their own values into their children - should this right be limited to parents with higher incomes, or should 'ordinary' people share those rights?
A lot of questions, I know, but the topic is a broad one, and one question leads to another. Any thoughts? My own views are mixed, and I haven't sorted out my answers to some of the questions in my own mind. I'm prepared to believe that most people (me included) would be happy so long as their children were being taught attitudes with which they are broadly in favour, but would take issue with others. I'm trying to think of examples from my own experience as a parent, but nothing is springing to mind yet.
CUTTING OFF A ROSE BRANCH IN NEXT DOOR'S GARDEN