Why I Left the Right, Exhibit R for Robinson

WingnutsJuly 2010 • Views: 4,032

Recently we’ve had several front page posts about Arthur Robinson, the GOP mutant candidate for Oregon’s 4th Congressional District, and his incredibly strange views on … well, everything. In addition, LGF reader freetoken put together an excellent Page on Robinson’s Christian Dominionist connections.

But it gets worse: Oregon GOP Congressional Candidate Sells Racist Book Suggesting Africans Are Like Retarded Children.

For the better part of a decade Arthur Robinson has been reprinting, marketing, and selling a virulently racist 19th Century English boys’ adventure novel that suggests Africans are like retarded children. “By Sheer Pluck” written by George Alfred Henty, is set in Africa and features a sympathetic character patronizing Africans as “just like children” and declaring, “the intelligence of an average negro is about equal to that of a European child of ten years old… Left alone to their own devices they retrograde into a state little above their native savagery.” Over the last decade, Art Robinson’s homeschool curriculum business has sold thousands of copies of the book.

Arthur Robinson has carved out a niche selling a Christian home schooling curriculum developed by his late wife, who according to Robinson compiled its curriculum from material culled from Christian homeschooling curricula published by Bob Jones University, the A Beka Book series, and other sources.

The Robinson Self Teaching Curriculum includes, as a reference for students, a 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica and a 1611 King James Version of the Bible which “is the foundational book of the Curriculum.” As a 2001 article in The American Spectator described:

[Art Robinson’s] family members have developed a home school curriculum consisting of over 250 books-among them the 30,000-page 1911 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica—which the youngsters took turns scanning into computers. The curriculum was transferred to 22 compact discs, which are sold in a box for $195. Over four years, 20,000 sets have been sold. More recently, with typical single-mindedness, Robinson tracked down all 99 historical novels by the Edwardian writer G. A. Henty, and they in turn were optically scanned. Three thousand Henty sets (6 CD’S) were shipped in the first year. They retail for $99.

Read the whole appalling story.

Also see

The GOP’s Newest Star: Far Crazier Than Rand Paul GOP Candidate Arthur Robinson: Dump Oil and Nuclear Waste at Sea

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113 comments

SpaceJesus Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:04:59am

why does this not surprise me this is linked to homeschooling

jamesfirecat Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:07:35am

Well I suppose if the story itself is good enough we could look past that as a sign of the times. I've heard (but never read, I've learned that it's never EVER a good idea to read ANYTHING when involved in this particular setting) that Lovecraft's books have a way of making people of different races sound as disturbing as his great old ones....

Though why a 1911 edition of Britannica? Does anybody here have any ideas?

Kragar Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:08:14am

The Robinson Self Teaching Curriculum includes, as a reference for students, a 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica and a 1611 King James Version of the Bible which “is the foundational book of the Curriculum.”

Because all knowledge compiled by man was complete by 1911 and the Word of God was fully revealed in 1611.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:08:56am

Homeschooling is how the fringes protect themselves against the evils of learnin'. It's how this generation of raging stupid can ensure the survival of utterly disproven ideas well into the future.

The thought that racist propaganda like that is forming the basis of the "education" of thousands of future voters does not comfort me.

HappyWarrior Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:13:00am

The Bob Jones University connection really tells me all I need to know about this guy.

Summer Seale Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:14:26am

I really think that, at this point, homeschooling should have rules and regulations. As in: "you have to follow certain mandatory guidelines, like it or not, or we will not agree that your child is in school."

And I'm sorry to say this, but at this point we have several million kids who have grown up thinking that the apocalypse is now, evolution is "evil", that other races are stained with "sin", and that all science is from the devil and liberals are as well.

So, if we want a civil war to split this country in half again, then by all means let's let them do whatever they want and teach whatever they want without fear of any consequences. And for those who think that mere words don't have consequences, you have to look no further than the extremists quickly taking control of half of the country.

It can get much, much, worse. I'm not advocating that we force people to believe something or another thing, but I am advocating that education is real education and not "Stormfront Military Training Camp For Jesus".

I just want some damn sense injected into the problem at this point.

SpaceJesus Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:15:13am

re: #4 Fozzie Bear

Homeschooling is how the fringes protect themselves against the evils of learnin'. It's how this generation of raging stupid can ensure the survival of utterly disproven ideas well into the future.

The thought that racist propaganda like that is forming the basis of the "education" of thousands of future voters does not comfort me.

you should see how the historical revisionist homeschool texts play up the leaders of the confederacy to be true christian heroes.

MandyManners Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:17:31am

Every single home-schooling parent I know would be disgusted by this bozo's ideas.

ShaunP Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:18:07am

re: #2 jamesfirecat

...Though why a 1911 edition of Britannica? Does anybody here have any ideas?

The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica's transition from a British to an American publication...Some articles have special value and interest to modern scholars as cultural artifacts of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Also:

"...While it may have been a reliable description of the general consensus of its time, for some modern readers, the Encyclopedia has several glaring errors, ethnocentric remarks, and other issues:

* Contemporary beliefs about race and ethnicity are included in the Encyclopedia's articles. For example, the entry for "Negro" states, "Mentally the negro is inferior to the white... the arrest or even deterioration of mental development [after adolescence] is no doubt very largely due to the fact that after puberty sexual matters take the first place in the negro's life and thoughts."[4] The article about the American War of Independence attributes the success of the United States in part to "a population mainly of good English blood and instincts".[5]

Oh yeah, and it's public domain, so you can have children photocopy the pages for you to distribute...

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:18:41am

It's a sticky situation. I know people who home-school their kids because the public schools are insufficiently academically rigorous. And then there's shit like this.

As far as I'm concerned, there should be a test of some sort, akin to the GED, if not alot harder, that home-schooled children have to pass in order to be considered to have a high school education. That test should include questions regarding evolution, the age of the earth, the leaders of the civil rights movement, and the actual causes of the civil war.

Cannadian Club Akbar Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:21:15am

Any polling data on this stoopid fuck?

SpaceJesus Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:21:24am

re: #10 Fozzie Bear

It's a sticky situation. I know people who home-school their kids because the public schools are insufficiently academically rigorous.

that's a total BS excuse. kids can skip grades, take honors or AP classes, etc. not "academically rigorous enough" is just a code phrase for "i want my kids to learn about the TRUE age of the earth, and the TRUE story of how we got here."

allegro Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:23:16am

re: #10 Fozzie Bear

As far as I'm concerned, there should be a test of some sort, akin to the GED

Isn't it a bit late to wait to test kids on their knowledge well into their teen years? At that point, real learning would be remedial and much more difficult to get caught up for any kind of future.

Charles Johnson Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:24:33am

re: #8 MandyManners

Every single home-schooling parent I know would be disgusted by this bozo's ideas.

There are millions of children being taught this stuff.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:25:50am

re: #12 SpaceJesus

that's a total BS excuse. kids can skip grades, take honors or AP classes, etc. not "academically rigorous enough" is just a code phrase for "i want my kids to learn about the TRUE age of the earth, and the TRUE story of how we got here."

No, really. I have friends who home-school their kids because they are appalled that the schools don't teach Latin, require you to read the collected works of Shakespeare in their entirety, and that they don't require a deep understanding of Calculus to graduate.

There are some people out there homeschooling for good reasons. Then again, those people's kids would have no problem acing any kind of standardized test.

I agree with you, I think. If I were king for a year, I would make education at an actual brick and mortal school mandatory subject to truancy laws, as it used to be. Then, I would be burned at the stake by Republicans.

allegro Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:26:25am

re: #14 Charles

There are millions of children being taught this stuff.

And when their university applications are turned down they scream discrimination and persecution.

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:27:04am

Art Robinson is the one on the right.

Image: Ron%20Paul%20020-cropped-reduced.jpeg

baier Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:28:22am

re: #15 Fozzie Bear

No, really. I have friends who home-school their kids because they are appalled that the schools don't teach Latin, require you to read the collected works of Shakespeare in their entirety, and that they don't require a deep understanding of Calculus to graduate.

I would strongly argue that the fact graduates don't understand statistics is far more damaging than calculus. Statistics is a far more useful tool in today's world.

Shiplord Kirel Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:29:36am

re: #9 ShaunP

In my experience, the 1911 Britannica has almost a cult status among survivalists and home-schoolers. They claim for example that it was the last full revision before some kind of PC influence crept in in the form of woman suffrage, evolutionary science, and the various revolutionary effects of World War 1.
Some of these beliefs are false--- the edition was fully supportive of contemporary evolutionary science, for example--- but this is not a crowd noted for actually reading the books they quote.

It is (legitimately) prized among collectors and historians for the enormously high scholarly standard of the writing team, its status as the first primarily American edition, and for providing a comprehensive but accessible look at the world on the eve of the First World War and the upheavals that followed.

allegro Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:30:02am

re: #18 baier

Statistics is a far more useful tool in today's world.

It actually is. However, having taught biological statistics for over 20 years, even I was bored.

MandyManners Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:30:17am

re: #14 Charles

There are millions of children being taught this stuff.

I've read the links but I've not seen this.

ReamWorks SKG Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:30:39am

re: #19 Shiplord Kirel

More important, it's free online! [Link: www.1911encyclopedia.org...]

Summer Seale Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:30:39am

re: #17 wrenchwench

Art Robinson is the one on the right.

Image: Ron%20Paul%20020-cropped-reduced.jpeg

Two little Nazis, sittin' in a tree.... F-U-C-K-I-N-G.

MandyManners Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:31:27am

re: #16 allegro

And when their university applications are turned down they scream discrimination and persecution.

They can always go to Bob Jones.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:31:27am

re: #18 baier

I would strongly argue that the fact graduates don't understand statistics is far more damaging than calculus. Statistics is a far more useful tool in today's world.

It's ALL important, imo. And it's scary as hell that there is a generation of idiots being raised that revere Reagan above Jefferson, and who think that evolution is a liberal plot.

These kinds of ideas can't thrive in an educated populace.

reloadingisnotahobby Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:31:30am

...And our Public Schools aren't stuffing the little minds with
any rubbish??
The home schooled kids I've known .....
2 are in the Military(Career).
1 is in the 3rd year of med school.
2 are in college (Buis..Admin)..
If I was in a Metro area I'd home school to PROTECT my child!

Kragar Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:32:32am

re: #22 reuven

More important, it's free online! [Link: www.1911encyclopedia.org...]

But the internet is evil! Much safer to have it on disk where you have more control over what the children read.

///

Shiplord Kirel Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:33:25am

re: #22 reuven

More important, it's free online! [Link: www.1911encyclopedia.org...]

True enough, but its survivalist-right cult status dates back at least as far as the 1970s.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:33:43am

re: #27 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I have heard that EXACT argument before, made in all seriousness. "My kids aren't getting the internet. I'll download and print what they need to see, so I can control what they learn."

HappyWarrior Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:34:03am

There's an university around here called Patrick Henry University ran by this Baptist minister, Michael Farris. He was a big Huckabee supporter in the primaries and he's also notable as the Va Lt Governor candidate who John Warner refused to endorse in 1994.

SpaceJesus Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:35:22am

re: #15 Fozzie Bear

No, really. I have friends who home-school their kids because they are appalled that the schools don't teach Latin, require you to read the collected works of Shakespeare in their entirety, and that they don't require a deep understanding of Calculus to graduate.

There are some people out there homeschooling for good reasons. Then again, those people's kids would have no problem acing any kind of standardized test.

I agree with you, I think. If I were king for a year, I would make education at an actual brick and mortal school mandatory subject to truancy laws, as it used to be. Then, I would be burned at the stake by Republicans.

Those kids can always take AP Calc. B at school if they want an in depth understanding. It's not required, but it's there. You can also always take college classes of any kind while a senior in high school (math included). I think for the vast majority of homeschooling parents, this is about being a weirdo with a siege mentality.

elizajane Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:35:51am

The 1611 King James Bible is one of the great pieces of prose in the English language from the age of Shakespeare. I cannot understand why he would use that version because it's really hard reading for a child today, and the content is the same, so what's the point? But as a piece of literature it's a treasure. Definitely what I choose when I want to read something from the Bible.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:38:33am

re: #31 SpaceJesus

Those kids can always take AP Calc. B at school if they want an in depth understanding. It's not required, but it's there. You can also always take college classes of any kind while a senior in high school (math included). I think for the vast majority of homeschooling parents, this is about being a weirdo with a siege mentality.

I tend to agree. You can always teach your kids MORE than the school did.

Plus, there is the acculturation aspect. I WANT my kids to be exposed to all kinds of different points of view, so they can see and understand why not all ideas are created equal. So they can see what stupidity really looks like. So they can learn how to get along with others. So they can learn to stand up for themselves, and for those they care about. So they can meet girls, get heartbroken, and generally be humans.

kirkspencer Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:40:40am

re: #12 SpaceJesus

Wellll....

I had to homeschool my daughter for a year. She'd been in gifted/honors programs up to that year. When we got to the new district she spent about four months rehashing what she already had learned under my wife and I, despite still being honors/gifted programs. We still supplemented her education, and she recently graduated as salutatorian of her class.

The bottom line being that a school's honors or gifted or AP program is not necessarily proof of academic rigor.

HappyWarrior Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:41:20am

re: #33 Fozzie Bear

I tend to agree. You can always teach your kids MORE than the school did.

Plus, there is the acculturation aspect. I WANT my kids to be exposed to all kinds of different points of view, so they can see and understand why not all ideas are created equal. So they can see what stupidity really looks like. So they can learn how to get along with others. So they can learn to stand up for themselves, and for those they care about. So they can meet girls, get heartbroken, and generally be humans.

That's a good way of thinking about it. The best teachers I've ever had have always been ones that have provoked my thoughts.

ArchangelMichael Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:42:11am

re: #31 SpaceJesus

Those kids can always take AP Calc. B at school if they want an in depth understanding. It's not required, but it's there. You can also always take college classes of any kind while a senior in high school (math included). I think for the vast majority of homeschooling parents, this is about being a weirdo with a siege mentality.

It's often not offered because of low enrollment. When I was in High School we had AP Calc AB and BC and both classes were full. I've heard from people at that school now, more often than not AB isn't even offered and BC is nowhere on the radar. Not everyone can afford to send their super-genius kid to the community college to take Calculus classes at night.

Donna Ballard Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:42:19am

Gotta go, have a good day everyone! Keep Laughing!

Shiplord Kirel Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:44:36am

re: #32 elizajane

The 1611 King James Bible is one of the great pieces of prose in the English language from the age of Shakespeare. I cannot understand why he would use that version because it's really hard reading for a child today, and the content is the same, so what's the point? But as a piece of literature it's a treasure. Definitely what I choose when I want to read something from the Bible.

King James Only movement

The bottom line: Quite a few fundies weirdly assert that the KJV has some degree of divine inspiration or authority that is lacking in other translations, especially those "compiled using 20th century rationalistic principles of scholarship."

Macha Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:46:17am

re: #10 Fozzie Bear

It's a sticky situation. I know people who home-school their kids because the public schools are insufficiently academically rigorous. And then there's shit like this.

As far as I'm concerned, there should be a test of some sort, akin to the GED, if not alot harder, that home-schooled children have to pass in order to be considered to have a high school education. That test should include questions regarding evolution, the age of the earth, the leaders of the civil rights movement, and the actual causes of the civil war.

I know that in California there are some kinds of exams that home-schooled kids have to pass, but don't know what they consist of. Certainly they are not as rigorous as they need to be, for either home schooled or public schooled children.

What is frightening to me is that this man is actually being taken seriously for a national office. With their home schooling approach and the slow,but steady growth they have made in the past twenty years, this faction of the Christian Fundamentalist movement has gained enough strength to actually move into controlling positions in government across the board, where they enact law and make decisions that reflect their religious beliefs but affect all of us. Take a look at your city councils, your school boards, your county positions, elected and appointed and I fear you will be astounded at how many people with this mindset are working to impose a Dominionist belief system wherever they can. I know I sound paranoid, but I've been watching it develop from the ground up.

Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:47:21am

re: #38 Shiplord Kirel

King James Only movement

The bottom line: Quite a few fundies weirdly assert that the KJV has some degree of divine inspiration or authority that is lacking in other translations, especially those "compiled using 20th century rationalistic principles of scholarship."

Boils down to something that appeals to a group that wants to take a "stick my fingers in my ears and go 'la la la la'" approach to the entire 20th century.

MandyManners Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:47:27am

What's the scriptural justification for keeping your child ignorant?!

Every home-schooler I know does so because she doesn't want her kids in the cesspool that is public education around here and cannot afford the tuition for private schools.

MandyManners Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:47:50am

This is a form of child abuse.

allegro Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:49:15am

re: #39 Macha

Take a look at your city councils, your school boards, your county positions, elected and appointed and I fear you will be astounded at how many people with this mindset are working to impose a Dominionist belief system wherever they can.

This has been a part of the RR strategy since about 1980. They start with the school boards and local offices that few people pay much attention to and move up from there.

elizajane Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:50:24am

re: #38 Shiplord Kirel

King James Only movement

The bottom line: Quite a few fundies weirdly assert that the KJV has some degree of divine inspiration or authority that is lacking in other translations, especially those "compiled using 20th century rationalistic principles of scholarship."

Okay, that is truly bizarre. But thanks for the info.

Decatur Deb Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:51:15am

re: #41 MandyManners

What's the scriptural justification for keeping your child ignorant?!

Every home-schooler I know does so because she doesn't want her kids in the cesspool that is public education around here and cannot afford the tuition for private schools.

Why don't they all go into the cesspool and clean it up?

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:57:48am

re: #45 Decatur Deb

Why don't they all go into the cesspool and clean it up?

This. This. This.

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:58:54am

Sounds like some on here are as bigoted against homeschoolers as they fear homeschoolers will be against them.

We homeschool our kids. My wife and I are both college educated professionals in business and healthcare. To say that "most" homeschoolers do this for wacky religious fanatasicsm is making up your own facts and showing your own biases.

BTW, where do you think the parents were educated that are teaching/using this racist stuff?

The problem is not homeschooling. The problem is the parents. You could take these same kids and put them in the most liberal school in the USA, but the majority of their time is spent at home with these nutcases that spew this filth. Mandatory "briack and mortar" schools will not solve this problem.

kirkspencer Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:58:54am

re: #31 SpaceJesus

No, they can't "always take Calc B at school". They can do so only if the school offers it.

Not all schools are academic refuges. Not all schools have academic refuges in all disciplines. It's been my experience that there is always one or two classes that are above average, but there's no guarantee of it across the board.

In my experience - that one year homeschooling - there are three groups of homeschoolers. There is some overlap (people being in more than one) but they're dominantly one of three groups.

Group A, the largest, is the people doing it for "principle", which is mostly code for religious beliefs. These are the ones who refuse to allow any teaching of evolution, and all the related situations.

Group B is the people who are teaching because they believe they can do it better. This subgroups to two: academics and special needs. In my experience several of those pulling for academics are wrong and the students would do as well if not better in school. Some, however, are right. Of the special needs groups, the parents are almost always correct. Schools try, but restrictions on money and time mean that autistics and dyslexics often don't get as much aid as they should.

Group C is people like I was. For some reason the student cannot go to the school for a short period of time but needs to be taught. It might be an ongoing lawsuit with belief (or proof) of retaliatory actions against the student. It might be a case of having moved into an area with an "experimental" school schedule that would short-change the student if she enters mid-year. It is, in other words, the cracks in the system.

It angers me that most of the homeschooling is driven by the theocratically oriented parents. It made it, and makes it, harder for the rest of us. It is also massively detrimental to our nation's long-term health. But don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. There are reasons -- valid reasons -- for homeschooling.

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:00:25am

re: #45 Decatur Deb

Why don't they all go into the cesspool and clean it up?

You are kidding right? You don't think many parents have tried? There are many places where the schools are just fine failing their kids as long as that federal paycheck keeps coming in.

I am sorry, but my kids is not a social experiment. My duty is to my family, so I will do what is best for them.

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:02:28am

re: #33 Fozzie Bear

I tend to agree. You can always teach your kids MORE than the school did.

Plus, there is the acculturation aspect. I WANT my kids to be exposed to all kinds of different points of view, so they can see and understand why not all ideas are created equal. So they can see what stupidity really looks like. So they can learn how to get along with others. So they can learn to stand up for themselves, and for those they care about. So they can meet girls, get heartbroken, and generally be humans.

What makes you think this doesn't happen with homeschooled kids? We have classes at our city zoos, aquariums, go to events with public school kids etc. We take them to work sites, museums, major art functions etc. Homeschooling is not wht you think it is. We don't keep our kids in a basement hoping that the world never seeps in.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:04:08am

re: #47 brownbagj

re: #48 kirkspencer

Then would you have a problem with your home-schooled children having to pass a difficult and comprehensive examination which demonstrates their mastery of scientific concepts such as evolution, and seminal parts of our country's history, such as the civil rights movement?

Decatur Deb Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:04:13am

re: #49 brownbagj

You are kidding right? You don't think many parents have tried? There are many places where the schools are just fine failing their kids as long as that federal paycheck keeps coming in.

I am sorry, but my kids is not a social experiment. My duty is to my family, so I will do what is best for them.

The parents who care enough to be active will easily outweigh larger numbers of the unconcerned. bend the school boards, make the principals uncomfortable, and sit on every committee from band-boosters to PTA. Or surrender.

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:07:36am

re: #51 Fozzie Bear

re: #48 kirkspencer

Then would you have a problem with your home-schooled children having to pass a difficult and comprehensive examination which demonstrates their mastery of scientific concepts such as evolution, and seminal parts of our country's history, such as the civil rights movement?

Sure, as mine are already blowing away their peers. My two year old can pick out all of the continents and name them on a world map.

But, are you actually saying it should be TOUGHER for homeschooled kids than the general public? Are you assuming that public school kids can't pass the harder exam or are you assuming they are learning anything?

Double-standards seems wrong on principal. Either make all students pass those tougher exams or leave them as is. If the public exit exam is good enough for public schooled kids, it is fine for homeschooled as well.

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:09:27am

re: #52 Decatur Deb

The parents who care enough to be active will easily outweigh larger numbers of the unconcerned. bend the school boards, make the principals uncomfortable, and sit on every committee from band-boosters to PTA. Or surrender.

And in the mean time, my kids would be stuck with teachers who don't give a damn, over-paid administrators who care more about "zero tolerance" policies etc. than educating my kids. No thanks.

I am happy to be a part of helping public schools, I would like a return on the tax dollars I pay, plus a healthy public schools system is best for the long-term health of our country. However, I will NOT sacrifice my kid's immediate education to "change the system" which wil take years if not decades.

kirkspencer Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:09:36am

re: #51 Fozzie Bear

No, I don't have a problem with that. In fact I think it's an obvious requirement -- with one caveat.

It should be equivalent or identical to one taken by the brick and mortar students.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:13:04am

re: #53 brownbagj

The only reason these things are issues is that home-schooled children will later be voting adults. I believe your children are probably going to be fit participants for a modern democratic republic.

And yes, I think that publicly-schooled children should have to pass the same test. My problem is that I want what would be considered in some circles as a "liberal worldview" to be represented on that test. You know, the world in which Thurgood Marshall was an integral part of the civil rights movement, where the civil rights movement was a good thing, where the Earth is older than 6000 years, and where evolution is a fact.

Therein lies the problem. My trust in you to raise your children well ends where your children start voting in a way that deprives my children of their liberties.

Decatur Deb Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:13:07am

re: #54 brownbagj

And in the mean time, my kids would be stuck with teachers who don't give a damn, over-paid administrators who care more about "zero tolerance" policies etc. than educating my kids. No thanks.

I am happy to be a part of helping public schools, I would like a return on the tax dollars I pay, plus a healthy public schools system is best for the long-term health of our country. However, I will NOT sacrifice my kid's immediate education to "change the system" which wil take years if not decades.

Our four kids were educated in KY, NJ, and AL public schools, plus Defense Schools in Korea and Italy. Those are rough schools. We got out what we put in.

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:23:27am

re: #56 Fozzie Bear

The only reason these things are issues is that home-schooled children will later be voting adults. I believe your children are probably going to be fit participants for a modern democratic republic.

And yes, I think that publicly-schooled children should have to pass the same test. My problem is that I want what would be considered in some circles as a "liberal worldview" to be represented on that test. You know, the world in which Thurgood Marshall was an integral part of the civil rights movement, where the civil rights movement was a good thing, where the Earth is older than 6000 years, and where evolution is a fact.

Therein lies the problem. My trust in you to raise your children well ends where your children start voting in a way that deprives my children of their liberties.

I do understand where you are coming from. But, I would say that I am more worried about what the kids are getting in public school and that they will be voting adults some day. IF you want my opinion, our expectations for education should be much higher - tests should be more comprehensive and reflect western liberalism. Not party liberalism, but true western liberalism with all of its pros and cons. The struggles for dignity (my wife is native American) for minorities, evolution (yes we are Christian but evolution is science, our faith is just that - faith) and so on. But ALL KIDS, not just homeschooled kids should be tested and PREPARED to know these things. Amazing huh, a homeschooler believes just as you do. And there are many, many more just like us.

Decatur Deb Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:27:15am

BBL

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:28:37am

re: #57 Decatur Deb

Our four kids were educated in KY, NJ, and AL public schools, plus Defense Schools in Korea and Italy. Those are rough schools. We got out what we put in.

AL. I grew up in Alabama. I have seen some bad schools there my friend.

Kudos to you and your family for working through this to get them prepared for life. We just chose a different path. I do not begrudge you at all for your choice. The main thing as parents is to make the decision you feel is best for your family, and then work hard to make it successful.

allegro Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:28:53am

re: #58 brownbagj

Amazing huh, a homeschooler believes just as you do. And there are many, many more just like us.

Maybe I missed it, but I haven't seen anyone say that ALL homeschooled children are left ignorant and lacking. The subject of the thread has been that many homeschool their children for the express purpose of keeping them ignorant of all that evil librul satan inspired stuff like evolution and the homosexual agenda.

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:38:34am

re: #61 allegro

Maybe I missed it, but I haven't seen anyone say that ALL homeschooled children are left ignorant and lacking. The subject of the thread has been that many homeschool their children for the express purpose of keeping them ignorant of all that evil librul satan inspired stuff like evolution and the homosexual agenda.

I never said anyone said this. My point has been throughout this that while some seem to think the majority of homeschooled kids are suffering child abuse due to nutty parents, that the VAST majority I know homeschool for very valid sane reasons. AS Charles mentioned, millions of kids are taught this, but millions are also taught correctly. Also, there are millions in public school who have parents that teach them nutbag stuff as soon as they get home. Schools are not the solution for getting rid of hate or backwards thinking as many of the idiots who support backward thining came through public school.

I don't know what the solution is, but just making homeschooling "harder" or more regulated will not solve the problem.

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:56:38am

r: #10 Fzz Br

s fr s 'm cncrnd, thr shld b tst f sm srt, kn t th GD, f nt lt hrdr, tht hm-schld chldrn hv t pss n rdr t b cnsdrd t hv hgh schl dctn. Tht tst shld ncld qstns rgrdng vltn, th g f th rth, th ldrs f th cvl rghts mvmnt, nd th ctl css f th cvl wr.

Gd d, 'm ll fr t s sn s vryn s rqrd t tk th sm tst bfr thy r llwd t vt.

Nw, clmng Hnty's bk s rcst s lttl slly. Hs bk ws wrttn n 1884, nd tttds wr qt bt dffrnt thn. n mzn, th pblshr hs ths t sy bt th bk
Ths scrc ntqrn bk s slctn frm Kssngr Pblshngs Lgcy Rprnt Srs. D t ts g, t my cntn mprfctns sch s mrks, nttns, mrgnl nd flwd pgs. Bcs w blv ths wrk s cltrlly mprtnt, w hv md t vlbl s prt f r cmmtmnt t prtctng, prsrvng, nd prmtng th wrlds ltrtr. Kssngr Pblshng s th plc t fnd hndrds f thsnds f rr nd hrd-t-fnd bks wth smthng f ntrst fr vryn!Nw, s Kssngr Pblshng knwn fr bng rght-wng wck rgnztn? thnk ths s srs "nntrvrsy" s Chrls ftn pts t.

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 12:30:42pm

re: #63 ben_t

Good idea, I'm all for it as soon as everyone is required to take the same test before they are allowed to vote.

Now, claiming Henty's book is racist is a little silly. His book was written in 1884, and attitudes were quite a bit different then. On Amazon, the publisher has this to say about the book

...

Now, is Kessinger Publishing known for being a right-wing wacko orgainization? I think this is a serious "nontroversy" as Charles often puts it.

Kessinger says that about all their books. Just because they make no judgment about what the book says doesn't mean nobody can. The fact that "attitudes were quite a bit different then" doesn't mean they weren't racist attitudes.

Why the hell would you defend that book? Are you trying to defend Robinson? Why?

wiffersnapper Thu, Jul 1, 2010 12:54:07pm

I couldn't wait to post this in an open thread (though I'll probably repost anyway, heh), but I figured everyone here would a kick out of this!

The Mad Tea Party

That's not what I wished for at'all!

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:17:29pm

'm nt tryng t dfnd Rbnsn drctly, bt 'm nt tryng t ttck hm thr. 'm nly ntrstd n th trth f thngs, nd hv hrd tm gttng wrkd p bt bk tht ws wrttn n 1884 nd tht hs lw pnn f frcns. Fnd m rpn bk frm tht r tht hs hgh pnn f frcns nd wll b ntrstd. Whtvr th bk sys bt frcns, ths ds nt prvnt t frm bng gd ltrtr by gnrl stndrds.

Hck, sn't Twn cnsdrd t b rcst by mny ppl? Shld w nt rd Hcklbrry Fnn?

Dbl hck, Prsdnt Lncln s ntd t hv sd n spch:
" gr wth Jdg Dgls tht h [ blck] s nt my ql n mny rspcts, crtnly nt n clr — prhps nt n ntllctl nd mrl ndwmnts; bt n th rght t t th brd wtht lv f nybdy ls whch hs wn hnd rns, h s my ql nd th ql f Jdg Dgls, nd th ql f vry thr mn.

Shld th rcrd f Lncln b scrnd? thnk Chrls' pnn n th bk s mssv nntrvrsy, nd thnk h'd hv hdln sttng sch f t trnd t tht th bk ws fvrt f Dmcrt, nd th "rghtwng blgsphr" hd thr nppls n twst vr t.

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:22:47pm

re: #66 ben_t

I think Charles' opinion on the book is a massive nontroversy, and I think he'd have a headline stating such if it turned out that the book was a favorite of a Democrat, and the "rightwing blogosphere" had their nipples in a twist over it.

So, you're a troll then?

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:38:44pm

re: #67 wrenchwench

So, you're a troll then?

Disagreement with Charles == troll?

freetoken Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:39:22pm

re: #66 ben_t

Um, where have you been the last 126 years? Art Robinson is running for office in 2010, and today holds up Henty's book as exemplary material for young children.

I am judging Robinson by what he does today - which is to hold up bigoted stories as models for children.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:42:14pm

re: #68 ben_t

Disagreement with Charles == troll?

You are clearly cherrypicking. Taken alone, the fact that a particular edition of an encyclopedia is included in the Robinson curriculum is meaningless. In the context of the curriculum as a whole, and books like "By Sheer Pluck", it takes on a different meaning.

So, you are either trolling, don't get it, or agree with Robinson's curriculum choices.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:42:21pm

re: #66 ben_t

haha nice chaff, chump

Something tells me you're not sticking around here with stupid arguments like that

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:45:40pm

re: #68 ben_t

Disagreement with Charles == troll?

No, implying that Charles holds an opinion of something only because of the opinion someone else holds = trollish attitude, especially coming from such a recent registrant.

Also, defending a stupid racist book in order to say that about Charles = troll.

William Barnett-Lewis Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:45:51pm

re: #63 ben_t

Smells like we got us a Troll here. Hey, DF! Get the grill readied.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:49:48pm

re: #26 reloadingisnotahobby

...And our Public Schools aren't stuffing the little minds with
any rubbish??
The home schooled kids I've known ...
2 are in the Military(Career).
1 is in the 3rd year of med school.
2 are in college (Buis..Admin)..
If I was in a Metro area I'd home school to PROTECT my child!

How does getting into the military proof of how great homeschooling is? I am given to understand they're not demanding badass SAT scores to let you into the army.

In ebil public cesspit school I was taking calculus, programming in C++ and Pascal, doing team software development projects with my classmates, and taking advanced art, printmaking and graphic design classes at a collegiate level.

All of these public school programs have been directly relevant to my career as an artist and software development. Not like some theoretical thing, directly, clearly relevant.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:50:37pm

re: #68 ben_t

Disagreement with Charles == troll?

Your name wouldn't start with Young and have Libertarian in the middle, would it? :D

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:53:17pm

A book dripping with racism being sold to educate kids today. I would have to hold that person as believing in that book and its thoughts on Africans.

My wife is Native American and you can bet we wouldn't be using books that depict her ancestors as savages.

Twain is studied as classic literature revealing characters of the time- this book is being used as showing Africans as being children compared to Europeans.

I am not sure how you cannot see the difference. It has to be willful.

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:54:59pm

r: #70 Fzz Br

Y r clrly chrrypckng. Tkn ln, th fct tht prtclr dtn f n ncyclpd s ncldd n th Rbnsn crrclm s mnnglss. n th cntxt f th crrclm s whl, nd bks lk "By Shr Plck", t tks n dffrnt mnng.

S, y r thr trllng, dn't gt t, r gr wth Rbnsn's crrclm chcs.

Hv y rd "By Shr Plck?" r y crtn t s nt gd bk fr chldrn? Wht g f chldrn r w wrtng bt nywy? Srsly, thr's lt f cntxt hr tht nbdy sms ntrstd n. 'm nt dfndng Rbnsn, cldn't cr lss bt hm, bt d cr bt th trth, nd th smpl fct tht bk frm 1884, wrk f fctn n lss, hs chrctr wh hlds lw pnn f frcns s nt gng t gt m strrd p.

r y s crtn tht y "gt t?" r r y smpltn chrldr nt qstnng shllw crtq f pltcn?

nd ys, 'm nw t cmmntng hr, s wht? 'v bn dly rdr f LGF fr yrs, gng bck t prbbly 2003. Nw tht fnd myslf, nt n dsgrmnt mnd y, bt lttl bt crtcl f Chrls, th gn sqd cms t?

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:56:40pm

re: #74 WindUpBird

I don't consider public schools "ebil" at all. Just not right for my family and I believe parents have the right to decide what is best for their family.

And, depending on what you want to do in the military, yes, the standard tests scores must be quite high. I was offered to enter as an officer in Nuclear engineering and work on a nuclear sub. I turned it down, but they don't just offer that to "c" level high school students.

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 1:57:21pm

re: #77 ben_t

This goon is on your case because you seem to be expressing your approval of racism, and that always deserves calling out.

Since you claim to be a long time reader, your comments are all the more troll-like.

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:02:44pm

r: #76 brwnbgj

bk drppng wth rcsm bng sld t dct kds tdy. wld hv t hld tht prsn s blvng n tht bk nd ts thghts n frcns.

Drppng? Srsly? Hv y rd th bk? Chrls psts n prgrph frm bk nd tht s ngh fr y t clm tht t s drppng wth rcsm?

My wf s Ntv mrcn...

S s mn, s wht?

...ths bk s bng sd s shwng frcns s bng chldrn cmprd t rpns.

t s? Tw smll xcrpts frm wrk f fctn, ndctng th pnns f sngl chrctr n th stry? nd y knw tht th bk s bng sd n ths wy? Y thnk tht 1. ths s th pnt f th bk, nd 2. tht Rbnsn s sng t t cmpr frcns t rpns? s n vdnc t spprt yr clm. thnk y ght t rd t fnd mr cntxt. 'v nt rd th bk thr, whch nly mns tht cn't sy f t s r s nt th "drppng wth rcsm" wrk tht t s clmd by sm t b.

m nt sr hw y cnnt s th dffrnc. t hs t b wllfl.

r, sm t y.

brownbagj Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:03:56pm

re: #77 ben_t

I think what I am doing in discussing this with you is taking this person at the center of this in context. He has some strange views and when adding this book to that, if fits with a racist ideaology. If this was a book taught to show how ignorant and bigoted people were back in 1884 and how far we've come. That does not appear to be the case, what with the person involved.

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:07:44pm

r: #81 brwnbgj

thnk wht m dng n dscssng ths wth y s tkng ths prsn t th cntr f ths n cntxt. H hs sm strng vws nd whn ddng ths bk t tht, f fts wth rcst dlgy. f ths ws bk tght t shw hw gnrnt nd bgtd ppl wr bck n 1884 nd hw fr w'v cm. Tht ds nt ppr t b th cs, wht wth th prsn nvlvd.

nd wht ls bt Rbnsn lds y t thnk h mght b rcst? nd y r ls syng tht bk frm 1884 tht hs cntxt tht s cnsdrd rcst tdy cn hv n vl s ltrtr sd frm th rcst spcts? f s, thnk tht ths s thrwng th bby t wth th bthwtr.

Frhtr, dd y nt rd th qt pstd bv bt Lncln's pnns f th ntllct f ppl f frcn dscnt? Cn w nly thn cnsdr Lncln t b rcst prsdnt, nd thrfr vrlk nythng gd h my hv ccmplshd?

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:08:41pm

re: #77 ben_t

Have you read "By Sheer Pluck?" Are you certain it is not a good book for children? What age of children are we writing about anyway? Seriously, there's a lot of context here that nobody seems interested in. I'm not defending Robinson, I couldn't care less about him, but I do care about the truth, and the simple fact that a book from 1884, a work of fiction no less, has a character who holds a low opinion of Africans is not going to get me stirred up.

Are you so certain that you "get it?" Or are you a simpleton cheerleader not questioning a shallow critique of a politcian?

And yes, I'm new at commenting here, so what? I've been a daily reader of LGF for years, going back to probably 2003. Now that I find myself, not in disagreement mind you, but a little bit critical of Charles, the goon squad comes out?

If you read the linked passage above, and are able to see that book as anything other than racist propaganda, you aren't literate, let alone intelligent.

Since you apparently would rather just spout than click the link yourself, here's an excerpt. The lack of punctuation is due to shitty OCR.

They are just like children Mr Goodenough said They are always either laughing or quarrelling They are good natured and passionate indolent but will work hard for a time clever up to a certain point densely stupid beyond The intelligence of an average negro is about equal to that of a European child of ten years old A few a very few go beyond this but these are exceptions just as Shakespeare was an exception to the ordinary intellect of an Englishman They are fluent talkers but their ideas are borrowed They are absolutely without originality absolutely without inventive power Living among white men their imitative faculties enable them to attain a considerable amount of civilization Left alone to their own devices they retrograde into a state little above their native savagery

You are a troll. Fire up the grill.

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:09:37pm

re: #80 ben_t

I've not read the book either

Go read the book, then come back and show us some more of what an idiot you are.

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:18:47pm

r: #83 Fzz Br

f y rd th lnkd pssg bv, nd r bl t s tht bk s nythng thr thn rcst prpgnd, y rn't ltrt, lt ln ntllgnt.

clckd th lnk rly n, nd 'm nt tht wrkd p bt t. Y'r tkng Brc Wlsn's wrd tht th bk s n gd. dn't knw Brc frm hl n th wll, nd 'm nt wllng t mk tht lp. cncd tht th bk my b s y clm, bt tw shrt xcrpts s nt cnvncng.

r: #84 wrnchwnch

G rd th bk, thn cm bck nd shw s sm mr f wht n dt y r.

h, hh, lk ths dscssn wll stll b hr n tw wks ftr gt th bk nd rd t. Hw bt y mk smthng thr thn pntlss sggstn. nd th nm cllng, vry mtr. ls vry cnvncng! f th ppst sd f yr rgmnt, tht s.

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:20:42pm

re: #85 ben_t

Uh, huh, like this discussion will still be here in two weeks after I get the book and read it. How about you make something other than a pointless suggestion. And the name calling, very mature. Also very convincing! Of the opposite side of your argument, that is.

Not even smart enough to click a link.

The whole book is there waiting for you. It's not my fault if you're a slow reader.

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:23:40pm

Pessimist.

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:26:20pm

Hr's cntrxmpl t ny clms hr tht tw qts frm chrctr n wrk f fctn mk th wrk "rcst prpgnd." n Tm Swyr, by Mrk Twn, w cn fnd th fllwng sntnc, frm n f th chrctrs n th bk, tht s drppng wth rcsm.

Bt nvr s nggr tht WLDN'T l.

h! Twn ws rcst. Hs bks r ll rcst prpgnd! ny GP cnddt fr gvrnmnt tht lks bks by Twn s RCST!!!

Lm.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:26:26pm

re: #85 ben_t

I clicked the link early on, and I'm not that worked up about it. You're taking Bruce Wilson's word that the book is no good. I don't know Bruce from a hole in the wall, and I'm not willing to make that leap. I concede that the book may be as you claim, but two short excerpts is not convincing.

You don't have to take Bruce's word for it, if you can read. I even quoted a passage for you.

If you really think this is a 'nontroversy', it stands to reason you are a bigot. Or just an idiot. Take your pick.

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:39:58pm

r: #89 Fzz Br

Y dn't hv t tk Brc's wrd fr t, f y cn rd. vn qtd pssg fr y.

f y rlly thnk ths s 'nntrvrsy', t stnds t rsn y r bgt. r jst n dt. Tk yr pck.

Nc, th nm cllng gn! Vry knd f y!

Thnks fr th lnk. rd thrgh bt f th bk, strtng wth th prgrph y lnkd t. Nt vry xctng. bt hw 'd xpct rpn f tht r t rct t crtn prts f frc t th tm. nd y rlly thnk t's "rcst prpgnd?" thnk y r shrt sghtd.

Fozzie Bear Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:45:39pm

re: #90 ben_t

Nice, the name calling again! Very kind of you!

Thanks for the link. I read through a bit of the book, starting with the paragraph you linked to. Not very exciting. About how I'd expect a European of that era to react to certain parts of Africa at the time. And you really think it's "racist propaganda?" I think you are short sighted.

Sigh. You are being willfully ignorant, or just refusing to read the extremely well-researched and fully sourced page linked above. There's a huge amount of information there. Read it, please.

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:52:49pm

ls, jst t gv y n d f whr 'm cmng frm... ntl Chrls pstd bt hm, 'd nvr vn hrd f Rbrt Stcy McCn. ftr rdng bt hm hr nd brfly lkng nt th ss lswhr, cn s tht h s rcst, gnrnt, prck.

Stll, cn't gt vry xctd bt ths cs. Rbnsn lks ld bks by sm 19th Cntry crckpt. BFD.

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:57:53pm

re: #92 ben_t

Also, just to give you an idea of where I'm coming from... until Charles posted about him, I'd never even heard of Robert Stacey McCain. After reading about him here and briefly looking into the issue elsewhere, I can see that he is a racist, ignorant, prick.

Still, I can't get very excited about this case. Robinson likes old books by some 19th Century crackpot. BFD.

You did some research on RS McCain and came to a reasonable conclusion. This post is about Arthur Robinson, and you defend him before reading anything. Why?

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Thu, Jul 1, 2010 3:11:34pm

re: #78 brownbagj

I don't consider public schools "ebil" at all. Just not right for my family and I believe parents have the right to decide what is best for their family.

And, depending on what you want to do in the military, yes, the standard tests scores must be quite high. I was offered to enter as an officer in Nuclear engineering and work on a nuclear sub. I turned it down, but they don't just offer that to "c" level high school students.

Assumes facts not in evidence ;-)

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 4:13:49pm

re: #93 wrenchwench

You did some research on RS McCain and came to a reasonable conclusion. This post is about Arthur Robinson, and you defend him before reading anything. Why?

Others attacked him before reading beyond a single quote. Why?

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 4:20:44pm

re: #95 ben_t

Others attacked him before reading beyond a single quote. Why?

I can't answer for others.

Can you answer for yourself?

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 4:31:42pm

Yes, my answer is that I don't think the evidence stands up to scrutiny in this case. I'd defend anyone on those grounds.

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 4:42:33pm

re: #97 ben_t

Yes, my answer is that I don't think the evidence stands up to scrutiny in this case. I'd defend anyone on those grounds.

Show me a bit of evidence that does not stand up to scrutiny.

Hint. First you must scrutinize it.

Hint #2. This guy is so many kinds of crazy, you could not have picked a worse subject to defend.

Visitor2011 Thu, Jul 1, 2010 4:54:02pm

Ths rmnds f 19th cntry mrcn bys dvntr nvl. t frqntly ss th n-wrd, nd ws vn bnnd fr whl.

gss vryn wh hs vr rd nd/r njyd Hcklbrry Fnn s rcst.

Ths nvl s wrk f fctn. n wrks f fctn, chrctrs cn b rcst. Tht s n rflctn n th thr r th rdr r th pblshr r th prntr r smn tchng th bk.

ddtnlly, Hcklbrry Fnn s cnsdrd "xmplry" mtrl fr stdnts t rd n mst schls, nd n mny css, RQRD prt f th crrclm.

Whl thr prts f Rbnsn's crrclm my n fct b xtrm, ctng wrk f fctn whr chrctr s rcst s bt vr-th-tp m, nd bd xmpl t s frst.

s vryn wh njyd th flm mrcn Hstry X ls rcst? Lt's b srs.

100

wrenchwench Thu, Jul 1, 2010 4:57:25pm

re: #99 Visitor2011

Not another one.

101

SpaceJesus Thu, Jul 1, 2010 4:57:56pm

re: #99 Visitor2011

what the fuck

102

ben_t Thu, Jul 1, 2010 5:15:57pm

r: #98 wrnchwnch

Shw m bt f vdnc tht ds nt stnd p t scrtny.

Hnt. Frst y mst scrtnz t.

Hnt #2. Ths gy s s mny knds f crzy, y cld nt hv pckd wrs sbjct t dfnd.

lrdy dd. Yr trn.

103

SpaceJesus Thu, Jul 1, 2010 5:19:58pm

re: #92 ben_t

Still, I can't get very excited about this case. Robinson likes old books by some 19th Century crackpot. BFD.

he likes giving those racist books to as many kids as possible, so yes BFD.

104

Dr. Shalit Thu, Jul 1, 2010 5:52:01pm

Everyone -

Our Black/African/"Negro" population is FAR from retarded. Their contribution is integral to the "American Story." We came on "different boats" and are still in the same one today. Need I say more?

-S-

105

Visitor2011 Thu, Jul 1, 2010 9:46:00pm

'd lk th dwn-dngrs t sy why ws dwn-dngd pls.

n yr strng wrld, ws Hcklbrry Fnn nt bnnd? Ds t nt s rcl slrs? Ds sng rcl slrs n wrk f fctn tmtclly mk th thr rcst?

Ds t mk th rdr rcst t njy wrk f fctn f chrctr s rcst r ss rcl slrs?

Ds t mk th pblshr nd prntr rcst f chrctr n wrk f fctn s rcst r ss rcl slrs?

f bk s tght n clssrm tht hs rcl slrs nd/r hs rcst chrctr, s th tchr rcst?

Pls nswr th qstns. gn, t s fr t stt tht Rbnsn's crrclm my b xtrm nd vn hv lt f sss, bt crtczng wrk f pr fctn?

106

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Thu, Jul 1, 2010 9:47:52pm

re: #105 Visitor2011

Oh look, a troll at the end of a dead thread, hiya

107

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Thu, Jul 1, 2010 9:48:34pm

re: #99 Visitor2011

This reminds of a 19th century American boys adventure novel. It frequently uses the n-word, and was even banned for a while.

I guess everyone who has ever read and/or enjoyed Huckleberry Finn is a racist.

This novel is a work of fiction. In works of fiction, characters can be racist. That is no reflection on the author or the reader or the publisher or the printer or someone teaching the book.

Additionally, Huckleberry Finn is considered "exemplary" material for students to read in most schools, and in many cases, a REQUIRED part of the curriculum.

While other parts of Robinson's curriculum may in fact be extreme, citing a work of fiction where a character is racist is a bit over-the-top imo, and a bad example to use first.

Is everyone who enjoyed the film American History X also racist? Let's be serious.

You are a fool

108

Visitor2011 Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:05:03pm

r: #107 WndpBrd

Y r fl

Wld y lk t ddrss my pst r jst thrw t d hmnms?

109

Charles Johnson Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:40:45pm

Bye now! Take care. I'm sure you'll be much happier at some other website. There's one that might be right up your alley, called "Stormfront." Google it; lots of people there just like you.

110

Charles Johnson Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:52:23pm

Have I mentioned that I'm utterly at the end of my patience with people who apologize for racists?

And if you can't see the difference between Huckleberry Finn -- a book that is one long argument AGAINST racism -- and this disgusting atavistic book that calls black people retarded animals, just go away. I'm not interested in debating it with you. Get lost. Am-scray.

111

[deleted] Thu, Jul 1, 2010 10:57:40pm

112

Charles Johnson Thu, Jul 1, 2010 11:21:37pm

Persistent little racist, aren't you?

113

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Fri, Jul 2, 2010 3:11:19am

re: #108 Visitor2011

r: #107 WndpBrd

Y r fl

Wld y lk t ddrss my pst r jst thrw t d hmnms?

Man, I couldn't have said it better myself

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