About indoctrination

Indoctrination in schools is wrong. What is indoctrination? Unfortunately, some think it is teaching anything they disagree with. It is more accurately defined as teaching someone to uncritically and fully accept only the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group without considering other ideas, opinions, and beliefs. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order banning what she called “indoctrination” in schools. Good for her!

I believe that private schools (religious and secular) have a right to teach only their particular world viewpoint as the parents freely choose to send their children and to support that school with their tuition. For the government to not allow this would be a form of censorship. That is true whether or not I personally agree with the parents’ choice or the school’s curriculum. Alexa Henning, Governor Sanders’ spokeswoman, said, “Government policies must empower parents to make decisions for their children.”

However, if a private school receives financial support from Arkansas tax revenue, it should be required to have a curriculum that includes conflicting ideas, beliefs, and opinions. To not allow this would be indoctrination as well as censorship. Parents have a right to have their children indoctrinated, but that right stops when it infringes upon my right to not financially support those private schools. Parents, send your children where you want, but don’t expect me to underwrite it. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund indoctrination in schools that receive our tax dollars through vouchers.

Governor Sanders said, “Schools must educate, not indoctrinate students.” She opposes indoctrination with her words, but not with her actions if the instruction agrees with her viewpoint.

One final thought: Indoctrination tells you what to think. Education teaches you to think. Whether you are conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, that is true.

DENMAN GILLETT Little Rock