Should parents have a say about the content of their children’s education? It’s a Constitutional issue, so let’s talk about it.
I’ve been sitting on the idea for this article for almost a week. Since this site is not a political page but an educational one, I want to examine it from the original intent of the Founders and public education in general.
First, why was public education initiated in this country? Answer: so that we could have an educated populace who could read, write, speak effectively, especially regarding constitutional rights. Education was also valuable in nurturing civics education, character, and values of good citizenship and learning how to protect the nation from tyrants.
Now, the evolution of education is said to include “the whole person” (except traditional American mores and values and religious expression). It is more important to indoctrinate with a particular viewpoint rather than to teach how to think and debate your view and opposing views.
Throughout history, parents have been the primary educators of their children. Even when their children attend school, the parent is still regarded as the primary educator of their children. It has been and remains the parents’ highest calling to nurture their children in their growing years, that is, until now. Public education seems to want to replace the parent as the primary educator of their children. Government schools will feed, transport, shelter, and assume every significant role that parents have. The curriculum is no longer a body of education but a carefully crafted plan that takes impressionable young minds, turning their young hearts away from parents and family to collective state loyalists.
Knowing this, parental input is tolerated but no longer desirable. Parents have sat by for years and let the government slowly assume the role and rights that only parents should fulfill. Now, Americans are being asked a question that would have been unthinkable even ten years ago: Should parents have a say about their children’s education content?
Consider:
– Does your child belong to the State or you?
-Where in the Constitution does it say that education is the primary responsibility of the government? Where in the Constitution does it mention a department of education?
-Who is better equipped to make decisions for the content of your child’s education? Is it the government or you (even if you are not college-educated)? Why or why not?
-Who, ultimately, will operate in the best interests of your child? The State or you?
-What do you want your children and your town’s children to learn? Who is best equipped to decide that curriculum?
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
