Posted by
JayPeriod on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:39:47 AM
Over the last few years, separation of Church and State has been a very hotly contested issue. There are many who feel very strongly on both sided of the aisle. The problem is that most of the time, those who are against the Church are guilty of breeching the wall themselves.
When we think of the supposed wall of separation, we generally think of organizations, churches, and parents who want to put prayer into schools, introduce the theory of intelligent design in science classes, or use the Bible as a literary or history book. The problem is that if we intend to keep a true separation there, we need to look at all avenues where "spirituality" and "morality" are taught. For example, let's look at a few topics currently being accepted and just how they are climbing the wall.
First, there is the issue of sex education. I argue that by teaching our children the how's, why's, and what's of sex, we are in fact overriding the rights of the parents to teach it to their children in the manner they choose. When did it become the responsibility of teachers to promote or degrade specific ideologies regarding sex? Say the parents of little Johnny want him to learn only abstinence, why should their authority be usurped just because the school board believes that all children should learn the use of a condom? Are they not promoting their version of morality? Is that not what we are told the "wall of separation" was put their to protect against? Why, then, do we tolerate this blatant violation of our rights?
Next would be the idea of acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle. We are told that our children must be taught to accept this lifestyle in order to promote understanding and tolerance. In some cases, children are given information on what to do if they feel they are experiencing feelings for those of the same gender. What about those parents who choose to teach their children what the Bible has to say on the subject? The education system is becoming counter productive for these parents. Why does the school board attempt to become the moral authority in this issue, when in fact, it was not designed to exist in that role? I have a moral right to teach my children to accept other people, not necessarily their lifestyle. That is my spiritual choice, and we know that choice is very important in our country!
There are other subjects, as well, but the point of the matter is this; by teaching on moral subjects, the education system is just as guilty of violating the "separation" clause as any religious organization that is accused of doing so. It should not be the responsibility of educators to impart spiritual or moral standards to our children. They are there to teach them the basics of communication, reading, math, and science. When they begin to teach things which are the parents responsibility, whether those parents do so to their liking or not, they have overstepped their bounds. It is time, in America, that we take back our education system. If our teachers need only concentrate on teaching little Janie to read, rather than how to contact her "personal life guide," maybe she won't get to the working world and realize she doesn't know how to write a quarterly report with proper grammar and spelling.