Posted on 06/30/2002 5:25:11 AM PDT by The Raven
Question is this:
Why not challenge the basis that schools are an arm of the government? It seems that each court takes for granted that the government (in the form of public schools) can't force kids to recite the pledge, pray, etc) - but these are local/State community based schools. What right does the court have in directing actions and behaviors? Teachers aren't Congressmen.
Or better yet, if the government is caught between a rock and a hard place --- why not challenge the Constitutionality of public schools period. A school receiving ANY instructions whatsoever from the Federal/State government - whether for or against religions, or text books touting the political agendas or fad of the moment - coupled with the States forcing children into schools - is collectivism, not individual freedom.
If Congress must interfere with freedom to worship in schools so that Congress is not forcing religion in the schools, it's a rock and a hard place - since "Congress shall make no law".....[either way]
Yes....can we overturn the construction since the church/state decision? Overturn the first domino and the rest fall. What court will do that?
In Connecticut:
In education, as in other aspects of colonial life, the church was the predominate force, and much teaching was of an ecclesiastical nature,3 and some modern historians find that education had a strong secular purpose as well. Colonial leaders tried to enforce the need to read the holy word by use of the Code of 1650 which required each town with fifty families to hire a schoolmaster to teach students to read and write. Towns of one hundred families were to open Grammar Schools to prepare students for studies at Harvard. Students entering these Grammar Schools were expected to be literate. This meant that families wishing their children to attend these schools had to take an active part in the childs preparation. These laws were modified in 1662 to make then applicable to New Haven after its inclusion in the Connecticut Colony.4 In 1864 school property, like Church property, was made tax exempt.In the following eighty years the funding of schools by public taxes was adopted and then later dropped, but then reinstituted on a cycle of about every ten years, showing the public distrust of taxation and expenditure but yet showing the public opinion of the necessity of educated citizenry as when unfunded the schools fell into great neglect when private as the bulk of the citizenry were uninterested in educating their children or insuring that it was done well by others......xxxxx.....
In 1717 the General Assembly required every parish, in towns with more that one parish, to have a school. The upkeep of the school was to come from a tuition paid by the parents. However, the town covered the cost for anyone too poor to afford it.6 In those townships where no school-houses existed students received their instructions at the teachers home. When the teacher lacked a home the class would be rotated among the homes of the families whose turn it was to board the teacher.
.....xxxxx.....
: A new period of education in Connecticut began in 1795. In that year Connecticut parcelled and sold off to private purchasers areas of its Western Reserve in the Ohio Territory. The money from this sale was originally to be used as funds for the ministry. However, this idea met with so much opposition that the General Assembly decided to set aside this money for perpetual educational use,1 and it became the base for the states first School Fund.2 In 1798, the legislature transferred control of the public schools from the ecclesiastical societies of the town to the newly formed school societies.3 From now on, the schools would be maintained by a civil authority. A board of managers was established to control the public fund, and under James Hillhouse the board showed an annual dividend of nearly $50,000 after 1800.4 However, things did not go along as smoothly as hoped. It soon became clear that towns relied too much on the school fund. They became indifferent to the need for local funds to meet school needs and maintain standards. In 1821 the state property tax was discontinued thereby cutting off a major source of financial support.
Posted wirelessly from my new PocketPC.
Oh, my apologies.
So, where does the Constitution tell the government what behavior its employees (agents) cannot exhibit, while on duty, regarding religion, and enforcing with their authority?
Oh!!! By their authority as government agents on duty, they cannot establish religion in the minds of captive children. OK, I get it.
I'll skip that part !!!
None. I was just warning you for when the libertarians show up and start spouting their bizzare interpretations of the constitution.
So does that mean that you are eager to further trash our Constitution by redefining its meaning to fit your agenda, the same way Liberals love to do?
Most Liberals and Libertarians are happy to see the power of central government used to impose an anti-God agenda on our local schools systems.
Me?? My agenda is the original Constitution - as written.
You sure you're reading my posts???
If the State attaches strings to funding. They should give you a check - ala the GI Bill.
Why should local school systems be used as indoctrination centers for theological beliefs at all of any kind?. Why do you think the government should have any perspective on theoligical issues pro or con?. Don't you believe it to be a wiser course of action to leave theological matters to those more suited to that end rather than have a bureaucrat interpret something?. Common sense dictates that if you want to screw something up, get the government involved, therefore I see no point in your statement, maybe you'd like to elaborate.
---max
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