Posted on 11/20/2006 7:28:03 AM PST by BigAlPro
It is time for a new direction in the way our government handles our public schools. It is time for the government to relinquish constitutional control of our public schools. It is time for a separation of school and state.
How insane is it that all American children cannot participate in a Bible club at school if they so desire? How wrong is it that Christian children are being persecuted by faculty and staff if they want to pray in school? How unacceptable is it that our valedictorians are not allowed to thank or praise the Lord their God as part of their commencement speech?
If a local school board wants to allow their schools to have Bible clubs on campus, they should be allowed to do so without governmental persecution. Criteria would need to be established and upheld to ensure the club's activities are in keeping with the school's guidelines. Such clubs would be voluntary, require faculty sponsorship and hopefully parental involvement, just like the chess club, the Spanish club or the debate club.
What about other religions? If the local school board wants to allow religious clubs on its campuses, they should also be allowed to do so. Consider Dearborn, where there is a huge Muslim student body. If there is a demand for a Koran club and there is faculty support of such a program, students should be allowed to have a religious club.
If a student wants to pray silently at his desk prior to the commencement of class or taking an exam, he should feel free to do so without being chastised by the teacher. If a student wants to pray over her lunch tray in the cafeteria, she should be able to do so without any pressure from faculty or staff. If a team of students want to pray before a big game, they should be allowed to do so. And if the coach is invited and wants to participate in the prayer, she should be encouraged to do so.
All across this "great" nation, our brightest and our best students are acknowledged at commencement ceremonies by giving their valedictorian speech. In too many cases, these most honorable students are being told that they will face stiff penalties if they mention God in their speech. Can someone please tell me when and how these students became part of school staff, subjecting them to this ludicrous misrepresentation of the separation of church and state, as it relates to public schools?
The valedictorian is simply a student of the school. He or she does not represent the faculty, the staff, the school itself, or the country. These students should be encouraged to say whatever is in their hearts and on their minds at their commencement ceremony. The government has no business and no right to interfere with a speech from one student to other students. How can we be such a "great" nation, when we stifle the "free speech" of our future leaders?
The government needs to get out of the business of running schools and let local school boards manage their academic programs according to the culture of their respective communities. The schools are not government bodies and the faculty members are not government officials. Just because their salaries are paid by our taxes, that does not justify holding them to the same standards as our elected officials.
What is the difference between a school principal and the foreman of an engineering company hired by the government to lay 100 miles of highway? Is the contractor prohibited from expressing his faith in the workplace, as the principal is? What is the difference between a Navy chaplain and a high school guidance counselor? Why is one allowed to express his faith, while the other is prohibited from even mentioning matters of faith on the job?
The concept of the "separation of church and state" has gone too far and it is time for a common sense correction. It is time to allow God back into the schools where the majority of the people who send their kids to those schools want Him there. It is time for a separation of school and state.
Alan Helvig is a local resident. He can be reached at Alan@Helvitorial.com.
One reason why vouchers are worthwhile: they create momentum for people to leave government schools, and for people to realize "There's a better way" and for people to wakeup and understand "I shouldn't hand my kids over for government indoctrination".
They can in the public school where I teach.
How wrong is it that Christian children are being persecuted by faculty and staff if they want to pray in school?
Again, they can where I teach. We also have periodic "Meet Me At the Pole" events.
How unacceptable is it that our valedictorians are not allowed to thank or praise the Lord their God as part of their commencement speech?
They can, in my district.
Maybe you have a local problem.
The sad thing is, I think the public is addicted to free schools and partly sold on the "keep vouchers out of Catholic schools" slogan. The solution would be to have more and more Protestant schools, or have home schoolers lobby for tuition refunds.
You should check out what they're doing to Christians at Brown University.
IMHO, in general, the "state" doesn't care for "religion" as it threatens their power base and control. The teachers unions are well-entrenched too and are hanging on to public education for dear life. The job security of a union teacher is almost totally secure, as even the most moronic of teachers cannot be fired. The system is flawed.
"Maybe you have a local problem."
Christians can do all that in my area as well. I do read articles from around the country where they ARE running into resistance, though.
I celebrate the district or school you teach in...but your's is the exception, not the rule. Not a week goes by that there isn't at least one story of some kind of religious restrictions in the schools. And there are numerous organizations in court constantly, defending the rights of students.
You won't for long. Yours must be one of very few such schools. The ACLU has made sure of that.
This problem won't be solved until we get the government out of schools, it has no business there in the first place. You can send your kid to a private christian school where he can read the bible all day and I'll send mine to a private school for athiests where I can bitch at the teachers for promoting liberalism.
God it's hard being an objectivist.
I agree 100%. All education should be sold on the private market.
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