State Rep. Agema wants Michigan to require pledge, teaching of historical U.S. documents

Jim Harger | The Grand Rapids Press (Mlive) ^ | January 14, 2012 | Jim Harger

[cripplecreek]

State Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, says kids are graduating from high school without a sound education in our constitutional underpinnings.

He and 22 Republican co-sponsors have introduced a bill mandating the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, the Anti-Federalist Papers, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights are taught in public schools.

His bill also calls for a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Similar measures have failed in the past, but Agema said he hopes tea party groups will push for passage.

"Hopefully, they will put enough pressure on and get it done," said Agema, who is term-limited at the end of this year.

[cripplecreek]

I post this local story partly because this is a good idea but the real interesting thing is the rabid reaction from liberal commenters. The left is terrified of history and need to be confronted on it.

An example

Does Agema ever do any real work? This 19th century thinker continues to waste time and taxpayer dollars on grandstanding and empty politics. Sure, the right wing, psuedo patriots love panderers like this. I am more concerned that our students can acheive at English, Math and Science. But we have to worry about a pledge to our country? Or memorizing the Bill of Rights? The only good thing to come out of this article is the fact that this dill is term limited after this year. Where do these simpletons come from? Is this the best and brightest we can muster in West Michigan. What a pathetic disapointment this guy has become. I can't wait to see what kind of republican clone we get next time. As for the folks that think their education was better than today. When you read through the threads on mlive you quickly realize that most Americans are uneducated and ignorant. And haven't actually picked up a book since High School. And no, Going Rogue doesn't actually count. Wonder who had the incredible task of editing that dribble.

[cripplecreek]

Thought I would ping you to this story because you mentioned that you are a teacher earlier.

[Paleo Conservative]

In Texas, students also plege allegiance to the Texas flag.

[PGalt]

He and 22 Republican co-sponsors have introduced a bill mandating the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, the Anti-Federalist Papers, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights are taught in public schools.

HOORAY State Rep. Dave Agema! It'll be fun to watch "progressive" heads explode. Better yet, replace the social-engineering, agenda-driven drones/propagandists with real "educators".

[Paleo Conservative]

In Texas, students also pledge allegiance to the Texas flag.

[FrdmLvr]

Hm. Good luck finding public school teachers qualified to teach that!

[FrdmLvr]

“editing that DRIBBLE” LMAO!!!

[cripplecreek]

A few years back I noticed that one of my friend’s kids brought home a Michigan flag to color as part of learning about the state. I noticed immediately that the rifle in in the real flag had been replaced by a walking stick.

[cripplecreek]

LOL I saw that too. I thought about asking if DRIBBLE is what comes from an outdoor “spicket”.

[BfloGuy]

I agree with the legislators' sentiment but we cannot get the school curriculums even more bogged down in regulatory specifics. We just keep passing more and more laws -- no one can possibly keep up with them.

At some point we have to figure out how to regain control over the school system or just avoid it and starve it to death (which sounds pretty good to me.)

[Windflier]

Outstanding!

[Typelouder]

The “Founding Documents” bill passed the Ohio House in December by a wide margin and is headed back to the Senate. It is similar to what Michigan is pushing for.

http://www.journal-news.com/news/ohio-news/ohio-bill-would-require-teaching-historical-texts-1298444.html

[Mich Patriot]

Agema is fantastic...I got to talk to him last summer at Fifth Third Ballpark near Grand Rapids. He’s my fiancee’s rep, and a GREAT conservative.

[cripplecreek]

Bill Huizenga is the GOP congressman from that district but I don’t know enough about him to say whether Agema should challenge him or not.

[cripplecreek]

Times are definitely changin across the midwest and our presidential candidates should take note.

[Sioux-san]

Back in ancient times when I was in school, this was called Civics - used to be required, but then in the 60s a lot of the fundamentals got dropped. No coincidence that our citizenry is pretty ignorant these days.

[cripplecreek]

But who will teach the children that its good or even preferable to be gay?

[Sioux-san]

geez, I don’t know - SATAN!!!

If I had a school-aged child today, I would be homeschooling - if I had had a brain in my head when my children were young, I would have homeschooled back then.

[GILTN1stborn]

Michigan family ping-

Thanks for posting Cripplecreek!

[RedMDer]