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When Princeton gave its stamp of approval to Peter Singer by offering him an important appointment, the university dismissed the possibility that it might have any moral obligations beyond upholding the principal of academic freedom. Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Teaneck, New Jersey, took its lead from Princeton in assigning the following assignment to sixth graders:
Please respond to the following statement in at least 3 paragraphs. Choose a "for or against" point of view and defend your opinion.
"Now it must be admitted these arguments apply to the newborn baby as much as to the fetus."
"When the death of a disabled infant will lead to the birth of another infant with better prospects of a happy life, the total amount of happiness will be greater if the disabled infant is killed... Therefore, if killing the hemophiliac infant has no adverse affects on others, it would, according to the total view, be right to kill him. The main point is clear: killing a disabled infant is not morally equivalent to killing a person. Very often it is not wrong at all."
Sharon Hes, a candidate for a seat in the New Jersey state assembly, posted a copy of the assignment to her campaign web site and noted:
However, it is both dangerous and damaging for eleven-year-olds to be exposed to Singer's "utilitarian ethics" in the writing assignment described above ... The real danger of this assignment is that it acclimates the students to morally reprehensible views, making it seem like simply a choice between chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
Well said, Ms. Hes. It is shocking that Singer's views have gained such cachet in elite institutions such as Princeton. It is not surprising that some people still think the world would be a better place if only we could get rid of "those" people -- cranks and crackpots who denigrate human life will probably always be with us -- but to see this view embraced and promoted in so many corners is truly frightening.
Reference:
Public School Teaches About Infanticide by Sharon Hes (http://www.sharonhes.com/petersinger.htm)