Finally some reason has entered the debate. Thank you Garra.

I don't have children but if I did I would certainly want freedom of choice as to where to send them. The ideal school would have a diverse curriculum and a diverse community of attendees. Most public schools embody this. And, I believe, public schools are in the best position to achieve a broad, well rounded education not restricted to a narrow perspective which is a problem with many private schools.

Therefore, government funding should be for to public schools only. If you want to go private - then you pay. I am sure that there are very good private schools but I resent them being funded with my hard earned dollars which I prefer go into public education sector.

Dennis Altman is a highly intelligent compassionate man and I always look forward to reading his erudite articles. Sexuality has no bearing on intelligence, compassion, tolerance, empathy and understanding.

To Garra & Xena
I could not agree more. In fact there is an old argument about private schools. it goes like this "if you accept public funding you accept public control along with it." In other words if private schools need public funds then they become public schools. To be fair though government funding wasn't originally extended to win the Christian vote. it was done because if private schools closed there would be an influx of kids into the public schools that the public school system just couldn't cope with.
By the way to anyone concerned homosexual does not equal pedophile. How could it? Many of the children molested are female. Are we to believe that male homosexuals can suddenly fancy females, but only if their kids? That is more than a little unbelievable.

Garra
your 'corrections' were uneccessary, I pointed out that the female genital mutilation was NOT Islamic .. . It is not related to 'birth'.. agreed. Not the point I was making. I'm alluding to 'rites of passage' in the wider cultural sense. They would normally be harmless and tolerable EXCEPT where they go against our law.

Altmans sexuality has EVERYTHING to do with his input on education with his views on man boy love which, as an opinion leader/shaper in the field of education are VERY relevant to shaping of education policy.
Did you miss that bit ? or are you sympathetic to such a view about men and boys.?
Moral relativism... it stinks because THAT is where it leads. The continual 'little bit by little bit' which taken together constitute a HUGE change over time, and it's people like you who defend the 'small' changes, while they should know full well that its all a 'direction'.

Well, blind nellie we are not, and we will fight such attitudes and the defending of the morally putrid and indefensible on every level.

Do you guys notice the process going on here ? I'll spell it out:

1/ Altman states in a publication "Men having sex with boys is the least dangerous of the stigmatized ..."
2/ You guys come along and TOTALLY IGNORE that, and say "He is a caring compassionate man"

Which is EXACTLY the prophetic call we have been making for ages, and is the foundation of our opposition to the gay lobby also, same reason.

If you ever call us 'homophobes' 'religious nutters' ? thats pretty close to vilification u know... (u 4got 'racist and intolerant') just watch out, or you might be called a NAMBLA_LOVER. So, how about we play the issue and not the man. Did you all notice Aslan gave CHAPTER AND VERSE of Altmans view on man boy love ? It was Page 144 !

Religious schools have not been free of homosexuals molesting boys at the school; and it these types we must eradicate from the classroom. That is one primary reason why known homosexuals should not teach children. But who cares in Public Education?

Two four year old boys are heard talking outside the kindergarten about where babies come from. One said, "I came from my mothers tummy". The other said, "I havent got a mummy just my two dads, and I'm not sure who I came from or how I escaped". Cabbage Patch reality.

BD - re aslan - he is always negative about homosexuals, therefore I am sceptical about anything he posts regarding gays. As for mutual masturbation - you don't have to be gay for that - I have three brothers all straight (whatever that means) and I know more about male sexuality than I really would like.

I do not approve of pedophilia per se - to imply that I do because I find Altman caring and compassionate is offensive in the extreme.

If you have a problem with an extensive, diverse and broad education system purely because of someone's sexuality - well then you do indeed have a problem!

I do not understand your superstitious beliefs BD - when you start with your quotes I just don't read your post. Thankfully you are not one of the editors of this forum - I can imagine how little diversity of opinion would occur then.

You don't like being called a religious nutter? Then ease off on the bible bashing. I know that you can write erudite and reasonable posts sometimes.

But...

You don't reach
When you start to
Preach.

Cheers

BOAZ goes northern most point in the Holy Thread "Dan"... (nothing).. then south to the post of Aqaba (nothing)... then east to Jericho,(nothing) and then west to Joppa.. and the 'preaching' I found not :)

Dear Xena, I assume you are referring to a DIFFerent thread, the one where I posted 'Who's side is God on' ?...
and of course, I 'lost' you there. Surprising, if anything, what I posted from the prophet Amos supported all you stand for. (on the surface).

But one thing I should point out. While I mention your name in prayerful intercession with the Almighty, my 'preaching' posts as you put it, are not their for the exclusive purpose of annoying you :) I'm sure this must come as a shock, but you will recover.

Hey.. the suggestion that 'erudite' posts are ONLY those which make no reference to God, sounds jussssst a tad...... you know ?

In regard to this actual topic/thread, I can only assume that if you were the honorable member in charge of Ed, you would extinguish any and all reference to God or abiding moral value. Well, be that or not, as it may, it's as much about democracy as anything else.

If you give me the 'religious nutter' stuff, I'll have to think up a name for you :) aah.. I've got it already .. "precious human being, who is uniquely valuable" there ! take that :)