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Culture War Roundup for the week of September 11, 2023

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I already answered that question.

By my recollection, they'd make the cut. In that case the point you're not answering is: "if these theories meet your standard, then there's a tonne of others you'll have to let in as well".

I already said I don’t care who makes the decision, but presumably, like all similar decisions, it will ultimately be made by the school board.

Ok. The only thing I care about is who makes the decision. If it's the school board, then in theory I suppose the law is fine. In practice, I'd argue over it's every line to make sure you don't go "oops! you can't actually make that decision".

Really, it will do nothing? For the 10000th time, it will be better than the alternative, even if -- spoiler alert! -- it isn't perfect.

Yes, really. Nothing. You've not provided much of an argument for why it would be better then the alternative, and as I've stated multiple times, in my opinions it could very easily be worse (for example when the decisions are made by librarians rather than school boards). I never argued that the law has to be perfect, and I have no idea why you keep repeating it, but you can carry on if it's fun for you.

I believe I have mentioned that I am perfectly fine with extending the current prohibition on viewpoint discrimination to cover book acquisitions.

Again, barring a mandate on stocking all books that have ever existed, that rule is toothless. I suppose on one hand that makes me ok with it, but I'm getting the feeling these proposals are more about ensuring your employment as a lawyer, than they are about improving the quality of education.

Where is your empirical evidence that books are removed for their views under the guise of concerns about vulgarity and the like.

What do you call it when libraries ban Huckleberry Finn for the liberal use of the word "nigger"?

Yes, that is exactly what I said: "We are talking about topics, not theories."

It looks like you're having trouble following the conversation. The argument I was addressing wasn't "We are talking about topics, not theories." but "The proposal was to teach only topics on which there are no competing theories." You're clearly wrong about what FC's original proposal was.

Pico prevents only removals, not failures to stock books in the first place.

That is part of the reason why I think it does nothing to prevent the censorship of ideas.

Where is your evidence of how many school libraries stocked Mein Kampf in 1982? And that fewer do now?

My point was that codifying Pico does not prevent censorship, not that it causes it.

if these theories meet your standard, then there's a tonne of others you'll have to let in as well".

I have addressed this several times. Eg: If I am teaching a unit on religion, I have at least three options: 1) teach only about Christianity, the one true religion; 2) teach all the major religions, ie, those having more than X number of adherents; 3) teach every religion that has ever existed. You keep pretending that #2 does not exist. Once again, the mere fact that the perfect (#3) is impossible does not change the fact that #2 is better than #1.

  • If it's the school board, then in theory I suppose the law is fine

Then apparently we agree.

Yes, really. Nothing

I'm sorry but that makes zero sense.

barring a mandate on stocking all books that have ever existed, that rule is toothless

It isnt about specific books, it is about specific viewpoints. Eg if you add White Fragility, then add one book on the other side, not every book.

What do you call it when libraries ban Huckleberry Finn for the liberal use of the word "nigger"?

While Huck Finn has sometimes been removed from curriculum, it has rarely been removed from school libraries. And again, even if it has, the fact that a rule cannot be perfectly enforced does not render the rule illegitimate.

It looks like you're having trouble following the conversation ... He wasn't talking about topics, or theories. He was talking about any and all content, including books.

Nope. You are. His proposal was to drop from the curriculum all topics upon which there was any disagreement.

That is part of the reason why I think it does nothing to prevent the censorship of ideas.

I understand your view. It just makes no sense, unless you are using "does nothing" to mean "does not perfectly prevent." Which I suspect you are.

I'm getting the feeling these proposals are more about ensuring your employment as a lawyer, than they are about improving the quality of education.

If you are going to engage in infantile ad hominem arguments, I am not interested in continuing the discussion.

You keep pretending that #2 does not exist.

No, I'm pointing out that by the criteria you provided, which is included creationism, geocentrism, and flat Earth as "major", #2 would effectively mean teaching lots and lots of theories, not just a few.

Then apparently we agree.

I wouldn't get carried away. Your proposal went from "absolutely intolerable" to "acceptable under specific conditions". I still think it adds pointless complexity, but I'm not going to start a knife fight over pointless complexity.

Eg if you add White Fragility, then add one book on the other side, not every book.

And as long as parents get to decide what that other book from the other side is, I consider your proposal toothless.

And again, even if it has, the fact that a rule cannot be perfectly enforced does not render the rule illegitimate.

The argument wasn't even there to question the legitimacy of the rule, just to point out it does not prevent censorship.

Nope. You are. His proposal was to drop from the curriculum all topics upon which there was any disagreement.

Well, I notice I'm the one who provided quotes, and went through the entire conversation right up to his proposal, and you're the one just stubbornly repeating the same thing over and over, so I can't really take this seriously.

I understand your view. It just makes no sense, unless you are using "does nothing" to mean "does not perfectly prevent." Which I suspect you are.

"Does not make sense" is par for the course. That's usually what disagreement looks like. "I understand", on the other hand is clearly false. If you understood what I was saying, you wouldn't keep hammering the idea that I believe the rule has to be perfect. You should also be able to come up with something that moves the conversation forward.

If you are going to engage in infantile ad hominem arguments, I am not interested in continuing the discussion.

Apologies I shouldn't have made it personal. Allow me to rephrase: I believe lawyers will stand to benefit more from your proposal than the students.