Dad slams school lesson that teaches 2nd graders ‘government gives us rights’

EAG News ^ | Nov 19, 2014 | Kyle Olson

[Whenifhow]

FAIRFIELD, Ohio – According to a citizenship lesson for 8-year-olds, rights are given to Americans by their government.

Parent Andrew Washburn posted a picture on Facebook of a handout titled “Being a Good Citizen” by Phyllis Naegeli.

“So Emma brought home a very interesting handout from school the other day. So informative! I didn’t know that our rights come from the government! Thank you, government!” he sarcastically wrote.

“And thank you, Fairfield (City School District), for teaching my eight year old daughter all about her rights!” he added.

Washburn tells EAGnews his daughter attends Fairfield North Elementary in the Butler County, Ohio district.

Among other things, the worksheet claims:

* Rights are special privileges the government gives you. * Because the government gives us rights, we have the duty to be good citizens. * Someday you will be given the right to vote.

Washburn posted the entire worksheet on the social media site.

Being a Good Citizen“You see, I know how important it is to get to children early in their lives and make sure they understand how it is in the world. Otherwise their impressionable minds might be corrupted by falsehoods like the idea that our rights come from our Creator and that we are born with them,” Washburn posted on Facebook.

After all, the Declaration of Independence makes it clear the rights of Americans are “endowed by their Creator.”

“I personally hold myself to be a patriot, committed to the spirit of 1776 and the American way of life,” the father tells EAGnews.

“As someone steeped in the Enlightenment philosophies of Locke, Paine, and Jefferson, the idea that government is the fount of our rights is a morally repugnant one to me. The whole tone of that handout seemed to be ‘Government gives you your rights and you should be grateful.’ This is what they taught children in the Soviet Union. In fact, the entire handout smacks of a tribute to Comrade Stalin,” he says.

On Facebook, Washburn concluded, “So, again, I just feel so grateful to live in a country whose leaders have generously granted my rights, and even more grateful that they make sure my children know where those rights came from!”

He researched the lesson and found it was met with similar criticism in 2009 and the author supposedly changed it. But at least one school – Fairfield North – is clearly still using the old version.

Washburn tells EAGnews the staff and faculty at his daughter’s school “have all been very helpful” and that the teacher’s use of the outdated worksheet was “a simple accidental oversight.”

The lesson was published by edHelper.com, a site that provides lessons and worksheets on a number of subjects for all ages.

The author, Phyllis Naegeli, has produced other lessons, such as one titled “Our Living Constitution,” which can be found on the Opelousas (Louisiana) Junior High School website.

[Whenifhow]

See image of worksheet on the page, also hypertext links.

[Mrs. Don-o]

The Declaration of Independence coreectly locates the source of rights: "endowed by their Creator."

Without this, there are no rights; and there is not even the possibility of an understanding of the universal nature of human rights, such as sprang from specifically Christian civilization.

[Whenifhow]

Ohio Ping

Washburn tells EAGnews his daughter attends Fairfield North Elementary in the Butler County, Ohio district.
Among other things, the worksheet claims:
* Rights are special privileges the government gives you.
* Because the government gives us rights, we have the duty to be good citizens.
* Someday you will be given the right to vote.

[rhoda_penmark]

Of course our government does not grant “rights”. what it does is remove liberties.

[The Antiyuppie]

This is a case of the stupid teaching the ignorant. Rinse, repeat several times and you will basically have a scene from Idiocracy.

[originalbuckeye]

‘’The teacher’s use of the outdated worksheet was s simple, accidental oversight.’

Yeah, right. Like the Nation of Islam handout to the 3d grade class in Tennessee?? Parents, wake up and pay attention to what lies are being taught in our public school system! Education responsibilities should revert back to the States. Period.

[knarf]

As a school board member, you'd think I'd have access to the text books but no-oooo

Parents are / will be the key to exposing the commie agenda

I just found out there's gay/straight alliance club in my high school and I asked if I could sit in (one 1/2 hr morning before school, a month)

Nope ... I don't have the proper "clearances"

[Blood of Tyrants]

Governments cannot grant rights, they can only take them away.

[Whenifhow]

There is a hypertext link to the constitution in the article.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

One of the hypertext links in the article is for edhelper which is sometimes used by homeschoolers.

http://edhelper.com/

Also from the article note this:
He researched the lesson and found it was met with similar criticism in 2009 and the author supposedly changed it. But at least one school – Fairfield North – is clearly still using the old version.

[Maceman]

Unbelievable the crap they teach in school.

I remember when my daughter was in 4th grade during the 2010 election, and they taught they kids that “the President’s job is to run the country.”

I know they taught that because the kids made posters about what they had learned, and that statement figured prominently on many of them.

[Mygirlsmom]

I did a google search of Phyllis Naegeli, and found lots of "lessons" written by this person, but found no information about who she is and what her credentials are.

I'm wondering if she is the "Betty Crocker" of Common Core?

[Don Corleone]

the teacher’s use of the outdated worksheet was “a simple accidental oversight.”

Another "Gruberism".

[no-to-illegals]

Thanks to Dad and Thanks to this Dad! Telling the truth never goes out of style!

[ChildOfThe60s]

‘’The teacher’s use of the outdated worksheet was s simple, accidental oversight.’

So an apology will do just fine, as it always does for leftists.

Shaneen Allen's misunderstanding that NJ recognized her CC permit from PA was "simple, accidental oversight". Can she apologize instead of spending 3 years in prison, losing her kids and having her life ruined???

[SoFloFreeper]

hslda.org

Just sayin’......

[Red Badger]

I remember when my daughter was in 4th grade during the 2010 election, and they taught they kids that “the President’s job is to run the country.”

Are you sure they didn't say: “the President’s job is to RUIN the country.”....................?

[Pietro]

Not knowing God, liberals insert government as there omnipotent overseer.

[WayneS]

The author, Phyllis Naegeli, has produced other lessons, such as one titled “Our Living Constitution"...

Somehow, I have a feeling that reading "Our Living Constitution" would cause my blood pressure to rise dramatically.

[DoodleDawg]

So he posted on Facebook. That’ll show ‘em.

[Cheerio]

Of course our government does not grant “rights”. what it does is remove liberties.

Obozo is about to "GRANT CITIZENSHIP" on his own to non-Americans tomorrow.