Indispensible Supports of Political Prosperity
Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 1:45PM Some Not-So Final Thoughts Concerning BC and BCE
- Part One: Before Common Era?
- Part Two: Is There Room For Teachers’ Personal Preferences in the Classroom?
In part two of this series I recounted how in an email to Franklin Schools Superintendent Steve Patz, I wrote:
As an educator I’m sure you know that for our Founding Fathers, Judeo-Christian values played a foundational role in the creation of America. For evidence, one need not look further that our Declaration of Independence…
I hindsight I should have used the word “religion” in place of “Judeo Christian,” in pointing out the great importance—and historical fact—which the Founding Fathers originally attached to the role of religion in creating our unique form of government. However, using the word “religion,” does not change my primary argument that there needs to be set policy in our schools when it comes to controversial subjects. No Teacher’s personal or political beliefs should ever enter into the equation when it comes to teaching History, and MORE IMPORTANTLY American History.
To be clear about my view, I’ll repeat what I wrote in part one when I brought up the subject of FPS teachers teaching BCE (Before Common Era) versus BC (Before Christ):
… Not one for political correctness and far from a religious fanatic, as a student of history I emailed Franklin School Board President David Szychlinski for an explanation…
CONTINUED...
More than anything else, I firmly believe that Superintendent Patz’s dizzying explanations and defense for the lack of a policy on this subject, has more to do with “political correctness,” a misguided understanding of the First Amendment, and insufficient knowledge of our Founding Fathers’ political frame of reference when they penned the Constitution.
In 1787, the same year that the Constitution was written and approved by Congress, that same Congress passed the well-known Northwest Ordinance, believed to be one of the most significant achievements of the Congress of the Confederation.
The Franklin School Board and Superintendent Patz would likely pass out if they new what was contained in Article 3 of this document considered a “primary document in American history” by the Library of Congress:
Article 3: Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged…
This view was further emphasized by President Washington in his Farewell Address in 1796:
...Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness...
This entire matter of BC versus BCE has provided me with a revealing—and not so pretty— glimpse of how this school board does business. With the exception of Janet Evans, its members, including its officers and the members of its Curriculum Committee, have shown me nothing but an unwillingness to address my concerns as a Franklin elector and parent.
BOE members Szychlinski, Larson, Traylor, Witkowski, Bialk, and Works, apparently could not be bothered with my concerns even though BOE member Janet Evans forwarded the following email to the appropriate members of the Curriculum Committee which includes BOE Vice President Debbie Larson:
Janet:
Can you please tell me whether my request that the Franklin School Board will be take up a discussion pertaining to the use of BC versus BCE in the classroom, with the goal of issuing a written policy statement on the subject, and if so, when?
Thank you for following up on this for me.
As for the other BOE members; ignoring me will not make me go away.
Reader Comments (1)
Patz is obviously a product of the delusional POLITICALLY CORRECT cabal who believe that "it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
I predict that he will place political correctness above historical fact, and our kids will again end up on the receiving end of HISTORICAL REVISIONISM fostered by the public education system. The education system does not need those who depart from reality and opt for the deviate practice of "POLITICAL CORRECTNESS" to achieve their personal goals. Let's leave that muck to the solicitors of the "worlds oldest profession" - politicians.
" BC to BCE will just be the "thin edge of the wedge" while we have the ham-fisted, ram-rodding Patz around. I would like to see PATZ become "history"!! We are finding ourselves with too many sycophants on the Board of Education who are easily beguiled by a Superintendent who thinks his omniscient wisdom supersedes that of the plebeian board members. We need to apply the rule : "sacrifice one to benefit the many". Patz should be fired and be replaced with an administrator who is willing to respect and sincerely interact with the Board of Education and not try to steamroller them. Getting rid of Patz would be good "revisionism"....not to mention putting an end to his inordinate, superabundant salary that is "out of the park" when compared to Superintendents of like-responsibilities in WI!
I still would like to know the names of the flaming idiots who were on the Board of Education when Potsie was lavished with his unprincipled salary of dissipation.
Who was the fool that said, "You get what you pay for" ? YEAH.....SURE!!!