Religion is harming public schools in the U.S. In spite of the screaming of “groomers” and “communists” from politicians, aimed at public school teachers, most of us received our education in public elementary, middle and high schools. And most of us learned what we needed to know.
To be clear from the very beginning, I support the right of any parent to choose public, private or religious schools for the education of their children.
While that statement is true, it is made with the following caveats:
- Public tax funds should pay for a high quality public education in public schools which should include adequate funding for students who require special needs of all kinds.
- Tax funds should provide an adequate base funding for all students Pre-K through grade 12.
- Tax funds should provide an adequate supplemental funding for students with all kinds of special needs
- The public funding for public schools should come from the states and the counties and cities within them
- Private funds and only private funds should pay for private schools
- Private funds and only private funds should pay for religious schools
Public tax funds should pay for a high quality public education in public schools
The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution places the responsibility for education on the states.
Since the beginnings of the republic, public schools have been established and supported by the states, counties and cities in the country.
These public schools have been called on to provide and have provided:
- Basic education in reading, language, mathematics, science, social studies
- Advanced education in reading, language, mathematics, science, social studies
- Remedial education in reading, language, mathematics, science, social studies
- Physical education and athletics
- Health and hygiene education
- Home and family skills
- Vocational and occupational/career education
- Security and police protection
- Nutrition: breakfast and lunch
- Psychological services
- Social work services
- Transportation
- Basic nursing services
- Specialized education for
- Students who need additional assistance/support
- Students who excel and require enrichment and advanced academics
- College preparation
- Technical career preparation
- Support for families
- School supplies
- Clothing
- Medical care
- Dental care
- Child care
What other benefits do we receive from adequately funded public schools?
In addition to these specific services for students and their families, public schools have provided for the entire nation:
- A literate population
- A sense of history and purpose for the republic
- Cultural continuity
- An electorate that can choose to be informed
- Basic behavioral and social skills
- Speaking skills
- Writing skills
- Teamwork skills
- Problem-solving skills
The public funding for public schools should come from the states and the counties and cities within them
We have seen that education is a service of government reserved for the states and “the people.” States, counties and cities have provided public education services in our country at levels which have varied greatly over time.
While some states have provided a higher level of support nd some lower, the states have continued to provide these services from the beginnings of the republic.
Private funds and only private funds should pay for private schools
The states provide for public schools. State constitutions spell out the details of this support. For example, in Florida, the constitution states (emphasis added):
- “The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida.
- It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders.
- Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education and for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning and other public education programs that the needs of the people may require.”
In the state Constitution, there is no provision for the financial support of private schools. None whatsoever. This means that the state cannot legally fund private, charter or private religious schools.
In Florida, however, charter schools and voucher programs which allow parents to take state vouchers and use them in private and religious schools which can discriminate against anyone they choose are blatantly allowing parents to use tax dollars to fund private and religious schools.
Public schools cannot pick and choose their students. Private, charter and religious schools can and do.
Private funds and only private funds should pay for religious schools
I make the same argument for religious schools that I do for private and charter schools. States cannot legally or ethically provide funding for religious schools.
Again, we look at Florida’s constitution:
SECTION 3. Religious freedom.—There shall be no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting or penalizing the free exercise thereof. Religious freedom shall not justify practices inconsistent with public morals, peace or safety. No revenue of the
state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.
Let’s repeat that last clause:
At the present time, the State of Florida illegally. and in direct contradiction of the letter and spirit of the Constitution, provides funding for private, charter and religious schools within the state.
As we have seen, this is a violation of the state Constitution. It is likewise, a violation of the federal Constitution.
Why are states funding private and religious schools?
Politicians, and sadly, the commercial media, have convinced enough members of the voting public that public schools are failing the nation.
The George W. Bush administration (and his brother Jeb’s administration in Florida) produced the “No Child Left Behind” initiative which was a carefully disguised attempt to show that public schools were failing by setting a national goal of having every child “college-ready” by 2014. Any state which did not achieve this goal was deemed a failure.
This initiative blatantly ignored basic facts:
- Not every child is best served by a college-prep curriculum.
- Not every child needs to attend college to be successful in life.
- Many children are better served by high quality, industry-driven vocational and technical education.
- Some children do not enter school with the requisite skills and capabilities to become “college-ready.”
The Obama administration did little besides changing a few names to remedy this tragedy.
In his inaugural address, Donald Trump stated:
“an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge;”
These words, delivered to the entire nation, have allowed religious fundamentalists to get strongholds in local school boards, county and city commissions, state legislatures and state school boards across the states.
It is important here to point out that is no equity or parity.
These religious fundamentalists represent one thing sand one thing only: that the version of Christianity they prefer be the teaching of schools in the nation.
Members of Congress have publicly made these assertions. They have publicly supported “Christian nationalism,” an oxymoron at best.
These assertions are falsely made in the guise of “parental choice.”
Parental choice
This is what we call a “free country.” As such, parents should have the choice to send children to public schools, private schools, religious schools or even home schools.
The U.S. Constitution, the state Constitutions and common sense agree that states, counties and cities are charged with the responsibility of providing “high quality” public education. They also agree that there is no moral, ethical or Constitutional provision for the public funding of private, charter or religious schools.
Parents can and do have choices.
They may choose public schools and tax dollars will pay the way.
They may choose private schools and the parents should pay the way.
They may choose religious schools and the parents or the church should pay the way.
Families always have prerogatives to pay for extra services they desire. The argument that not all families can afford private school, while true, is not a valid argument.
The state provides police protection. If we want better protection, we can hire private security. The state is not required to supplement family income to provide private security.
The state makes provisions for a level of hurricane awareness. People are responsible for their own insurance.
The state provides roads and streets. It is not responsible to fund every family’s car.
Public schools cannot do the job they are required to do if religious schools take their money
This simple, almost simplistic statement, cannot be made any more plain.
At the present time:
- Funds are being shifted from public schools to private and religious schools in many states.
- States are requiring religious education in public schools
- Politicians are blaming public schools for social problems
If public schools are to do what we demand of them, the states must put the needs of the children and their families first and stop catering to the loudest bleating voices.
If they do not put ALL students first, schools will begin to serve only those whose parents have political power.
This will be our express ticket to third-world status.
“When you wage war on the public schools, you’re attacking the mortar that holds the community together. You’re not a conservative, you’re a vandal.”
― Garrison Keillor
I am certain that many people will have many opinions on this subject. I would be most grateful if you would add a comment below. Thank you for reading.
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