• aidan@lemmy.worldM
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      1 year ago

      Sure

      This is why we don’t allow children to consent to sex, something I hope you would agree with.
      

      The difference is opting into something vs opting out of something, it is much easier to make the decision of opting out rather than opting in- as well as significantly less harmful. Furthermore, in the case of sex the child is being exploited- it is disgusting to compare this.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Ok, can a child also opt out of cancer treatment if they think it sounds scary? Let the child die if they want to?

        • aidan@lemmy.worldM
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          1 year ago

          It depends, but in most situations I’d say probably not. But that is also very different from 13 continuous years for 8 hours a day.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Only the amount of time spent is different. So why not? Both are choosing to opt out of something. Are you saying children should only be allowed to opt out of things that take a certain length of time?

            • aidan@lemmy.worldM
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              1 year ago

              I’m saying life unfortunately isn’t black and white and sometimes in practical situations you must weigh cost and benefit.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                That’s not really an answer. And your idea that children should be able to refuse education is very black-and-white.

                • aidan@lemmy.worldM
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                  1 year ago

                  Just like my idea that its wrong to kill someone based on an inherent trait of them is black and white. Some issues do have clear answers in my opinion. But, generally I’d like to see some reform- since I don’t think totally voluntary schooling is likely to pass. One thing I’d like is the ability for a student to test out of mandatory schooling as early as they want.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                    1 year ago

                    Now being able to test out of schooling I would agree with. You probably would be surprised at the perspective I have- I dropped out of high school and got a GED and there was nothing on that GED I didn’t already know by the time I started high school. But I don’t think I should have been allowed to opt out of high school entirely because I also learned valuable social skills that I definitely would not have if I hadn’t gone.

                    Meanwhile, schools now make really good accommodations for children with special needs. My daughter has special needs (but is not in special ed) and the school has a lot of things they have to do legally to make it so that it isn’t such an unnecessary challenge for her. It’s something they have to do by law and I think it’s a good thing. Let’s say my daughter could test out of high school at her age- she can’t, but let’s say she could. Despite our prompting her to do activities, she has decided to spend most of her summer vacation at home in her room and because of that, she is desperate for any and all human contact even though she isn’t aware of it. So because of that, we have four-hour conversations when I get off of work. I let her do it, but that is what she would spend her days doing if she tested out of school this early. She wouldn’t be doing anything productive with her life because she doesn’t know how to be productive yet. And very, very few 13-year-olds would either. That’s why we generally do not allow them in the workforce.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                By the way, I appreciate that, unlike Reddit, we can have such opposite views and manage to have a cordial discussion.

                • aidan@lemmy.worldM
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                  1 year ago

                  Yeah, I appreciate it too for the most part- although a few people have just been insulting me, honestly though I was able to have good discussions on Reddit- just not many.