The 108th Congress should
- identify and list all federal education programs;
- abolish all programs and agencies (including the Department of Education) not provided for by the Constitution; and
- return education to the state, local, and family level.
The most important thing any candidate can say about education is to come out strongly in defense of the separation of school and state. Bureaucrats do not educate children as well as parents. Schools do better the more they resemble a family and the less they resemble a government institution.
America's Organic Law on Public Schools
If most politicians ignore the irreplaceable role played by families in education, they seem hell-bent on ignoring the most fundamental purpose of schools: to teach religion and morality.
Politicians take an oath which the U.S. Supreme Court has said indicates an affirmation of America's "organic law." One part of America's Organic Law makes a stunning declaration about the purpose of education. In his concurring opinion in Engel v. Vitale, 370 US 421 at 443, the case which removed prayer from public schools, Justice Douglas admitted:
- Religion was once deemed to be a function of the public school system. The Northwest Ordinance, which antedated the First Amendment, provided in Article III that
- Religion, morality, and knowledge
being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind,
schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.
Those who try to keep religion and morality separated from education violate their oath of office. Not a single person who signed the Constitution believed that education could or should be "secular" and that public schools should not teach "religion, morality and knowledge." Nor should we.
Because education is intensely personal and inescapably value-laden, government coercion is inappropriate. Atheists should not be taxed to provide Christian education, and Christians should not be taxed to provide secular education.
See also:
After federal intervention in education is eliminated, we should work for the complete abolition of government interference in education at state and local levels. Kevin Craig supports the separation of school and state.
Virtue 101- character education in schools
Culture (independent.org)
Teaching Captivity?
Discover the Reality of the Gay Agenda in Public Schools
- Guidelines for Religious Expression in Public Schools (Nov 5, 1999)
- Taking Religion Seriously in Public Schools (May 26, 1999)
- Vouchers for Christian Child Care (May 1, 1999)
- Pop Quiz: 20 Questions Parents Should Ask about Their Children's School (Mar 4, 1999)
- Can Public Schools Teach Character? (Feb 16, 1999)
- Parental Choice in Education (Sep 2, 1998)
- Charting a New Course (Jul 30, 1998)
- Does the PTA Still Support Parents? (May 18, 1998)
- Self-Esteem in the Sacred Story (May 15, 1998)
- Religion in Public Schools (Feb 25, 1998)
- Home Schooling (Feb 25, 1998)
- Private Schools (Feb 25, 1998)
- Creation/Evolution Controversy: Selected Books, Curriculum and Organizations (Feb 25, 1998)
- Selected Books and Organizations Addressing Public Education (Feb 25, 1998)
- Parental Rights in Public Education (Jan 1, 1998)
- Free-Market Predators vs. Well-Meaning Reformers, Harry Browne, August 15, 2001
- How Did We Lose America?, Harry Browne, January 31, 2002
- Spoiler for Gore?, Harry Browne, November 4, 2000
- What Do Libertarians Want?, Harry Browne, October 25, 2000
Next Education Issue: Vouchers vs. Tuition Tax Credits
Next Cabinet Level Department: Energy
|