Column: Teachers should be trained in gov't laws
H. Douglas McLeod
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 04/26/09
This is in response to the guest column of April 19 "Court's ruling on song case a wake-up call on belief" which the writer addressed the human dynamics involved in the controversy over the song, "In God We Still Trust."
I was dismayed by the lack of understanding by teachers and school administrators who could not fathom the "overtly specific religious viewpoint" espoused by the song. Did the teachers and administrators agree with this viewpoint? Were they blind to the possible objections this selection would surely produce? Are school personnel, especially teachers, trained regarding constitutional issues that might arise in the educational process?
Maybe it's time that teacher training include familiarity with our U.S. Constitution. Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor asserted that, "generally speaking, today's students do not receive the educational foundation to become good citizens." People who understand the meaning of religion, the meaning of freedom and the nature of democracy are more likely to actively protect religious liberty.
One of the obstacles to achieving an informed citizenry is the fact that some people intentionally spread harmful myths that bend the truth to advance sectarian-oriented politics. Mythology posing as history is dangerous. A good example of this mythology is the notion that "America is a Christian nation" myth found in the song "In God We Still Trust."
Supporters of this theory cherry-pick quotations from various founders of the nation. Most of the founders (Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Paine, Madison and Washington) were far from the kind of avid believers in the lordship of Jesus Christ and devotion to the trinitarian God. The notion that the colonists were devout, God-fearing people is false. Only 10-15 percent of the people at the time of the American Revolution belonged to any church. The truth is that the government of the United States is secular in nature. That is by intent and design. It is interesting to note that most intense advocates for a secular nature of the U.S. government have been people who are most respectful of religion and devoted to preserving its integrity.
Space does not allow consideration of several other myths. They include the notion that the constitution guarantees freedom for religion but not freedom from religion. Another myth suggests that support for church-state separation is somehow an expression of hostility toward religion. And finally, the myth that there is a war on Christianity under way in the United States. These fallacious assertions are the product of either brainwashing of the American public as a political strategy, or an ignorance born of deficiency in the basic lessons of civics. Even well-intentioned people fall victim to the power of deceitful messages. Democracy functions best with an informed citizenry.
I believe St. Johns County has a good education system with many dedicated teachers and staff. I just hope this "song" issue really does become a wake up call for our community to put more effort into providing the educational foundation that leads to good citizenship.
*H. Douglas McLeod is a member of the Interfaith Alliance and of the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
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1 comment:
According to the post/article Judges Now Deciding Which Songs Are Too Religious, the language of the First Amendment says that Congress may not make a law establishing a religion and it may not prohibit the free exercise of religion. Keep in mind that this amendment did not disrupt the several states that had an official state religion at that time. Some interpret the 14th Amendment to prohibit the state from making a law establishing religion or prohibiting free exercise (and some disagree). Even if that were true, how does a school programming a religious song, no matter how overt, equate to a LAW establishing a state religion?
And this also creates the ridiculous situation of having a judge decide which songs are too religious and which are limited enough in their religious content to be acceptable. Should music departments not let students sing Handel's Messiah? This is recognized as one of the great pieces of music history, but it is very religious. (In case you are wondering, that, too has been prohibited by judges in some cases.)
We need to restore a little perspective. If the parents at the school think a song is not appropriate for some reason, they should address it through the school administration and teachers, not in court. If the Constitution of the U.S. was about anything, it was about keeping power from becoming too centralized.
I'm a little surprised the same judge would not see the Florida constitution as unconstitutional to itself. The Constitution of Florida, originally from 1845, contains in its preamble a statement of gratitude to God: "We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty,..."
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