Posted on 04/21/2002 12:15:56 PM PDT by PsyOp
Booked & Bumped!
Purchased by the inch and sold by the yard.
Here I see Jefferson very strong on education and Washington in his first Administration made public education a priority...so, why is it that so many Freepers argue we shouldnt have a public education system, with it so prominent in several key Founding Fathers speeches, Administrations, and clearly in their intents?
"The most effectual means of securing the peace is being prepared for war."
Other statements like this have been made by Cicero, Aristotle and others.
The earliest was a pre-Socratic philosopher whose name escapes me...
"To secure peace is to be prepared for war." (It's also in a Metallica song entitled "Don't Tread on Me.")
Our founders were all very much in favor of public education and its most vigorous proponent was Benjamin Franklin, who also pushed forward the idea of public libraries - having formed the first of them himself and at his own expense. The reason they were for it was becasue of the european and English class systems which kept most people from gaining any formal education, and which the founders felt was a major reason why tyranny and monarchy was able to flourish.
Universal education at the public expense was seen as an insurance policy for liberty. The more educated the people, the longer the fledgling republic they fought so hard to establish would last. Also, in their day, all control over what was taught rested in the community which the school served. If teachers were found to be ineffective, incompetent, or teaching things which the community at large felt ran contrary to the interests of the community, they could be removed without much fuss.
Fast forward 200 years. The principle is still sound, but it has become understood, especially by people with agendas, that the school is the best place to foster their ideas and propagandize the next generation - rather than just teach them how to read, write, add and think for themselves. Add to that the advent of teachers unions, tenure, and a dozen other factors that limit direct parental involvement in their children's education, and you have a situation in which the public schools that were seen by our founders as the vanguard of our liberties are now working, in many cases, towards their destruction.
The movement away from todays public schools can be seen as an attempt to return to what those schools used to be. Returning control of what children are taught back to the parents. A movement that has been driven by the unwillingness of school boards and administrations - protected by unions, tenure and federal intrusion - to listen to the people they are supposed to serve. IMHO.
And a free night in the Licoln bedroom if you buy a gross. Thanks for the great quote. I'll add it to the data-base.
LOL, you mean we cant lump Metallica with Reagan and the Pope in relation to their contributions to bringing down the evil empire?
Although I grew up with stuff like Metallica, Public Enemy, etc.
I still prefer the oldies like J.J. Cale, John Lee Hooker, etc...
My favorite radio station can be heard on the internet: KPIG, Freedom, California. 107(oink)5 FM. I like Ramblin' Rory in the late weekday afternoons. Give 'em an squeal. If you need to oink, make a "hog call" @ 831-724-pork (warning: anything you say can and will be heard on the air).
The most eclectic mix of rock, blues, country, bluegrass and comedy you have ever heard (the commercials are hilarious).
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