So, as some of you know, yesterday was Constitution Day. One of the parents approached the administrator of our school so he could talk to the students (5th - 8th graders) about the Constitution. I guess he also told the administrator that he wanted to talk a little bit about how the founding fathers prayed and felt the constitution had divine influence. The presenter was told has long as he framed it historically from the written few of the founders (such as Ben Franklin) it would be ok.
So, he starts out with the pledge of allegiance, then America the Beautiful, and I have to say the students did a great job on that considering it was not rehearsed. He then starts a slide show about how the founding fathers had different levels of faith, but in the end they had differences and that they had to pray on those differences. In the end they had to rely on a supreme leader to help them through those differences, and proceeded to ask the students who that was ...... George Washington ... no, Abraham Lincoln ... no, wrong era. Finally he said God and had the kids repeat it.
The next part he started on the Constitution, but didn't refer to any one part. But instead proceeded to say it was under attack quoting the length of tax code, the number of pages in the health care bill. At that point I asked the Administrator into the hallway and let him know I was uncomfortable with the whole presentation as it was nothing but a political indoctrination. At no point did he even talk directly about the Constitution or any part of it. It frankly sounded like a presentation you would give at a Tea Party meeting to put a little bit of fear into your followers. Far from what should be taught to 5th - 8th graders in a public school. I know the parent meant well, but the context was completely inappropriate.
After school I had a talk with the assistant administrator and he told me he is expecting some fallout over the weekend. For the record I am against anything like this regardless of whether it is from Conservatives, Liberals, Tea Partiers, the Green Party, or Libertarians. Religion and Politics need to be left out of the schools. The only exception would be during elections and only if two sides are presented.
So, he starts out with the pledge of allegiance, then America the Beautiful, and I have to say the students did a great job on that considering it was not rehearsed. He then starts a slide show about how the founding fathers had different levels of faith, but in the end they had differences and that they had to pray on those differences. In the end they had to rely on a supreme leader to help them through those differences, and proceeded to ask the students who that was ...... George Washington ... no, Abraham Lincoln ... no, wrong era. Finally he said God and had the kids repeat it.
The next part he started on the Constitution, but didn't refer to any one part. But instead proceeded to say it was under attack quoting the length of tax code, the number of pages in the health care bill. At that point I asked the Administrator into the hallway and let him know I was uncomfortable with the whole presentation as it was nothing but a political indoctrination. At no point did he even talk directly about the Constitution or any part of it. It frankly sounded like a presentation you would give at a Tea Party meeting to put a little bit of fear into your followers. Far from what should be taught to 5th - 8th graders in a public school. I know the parent meant well, but the context was completely inappropriate.
After school I had a talk with the assistant administrator and he told me he is expecting some fallout over the weekend. For the record I am against anything like this regardless of whether it is from Conservatives, Liberals, Tea Partiers, the Green Party, or Libertarians. Religion and Politics need to be left out of the schools. The only exception would be during elections and only if two sides are presented.
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