Liberalism in Schools Redux

One of my first articles for PolitiChicks was about Liberalism in public schools and universities. This could be a forever article as there are always new stories coming out about Liberal assignments given to students, and it seems the progressives are reaching younger students.

A few stories have caught my eye in the past couple of days. The first comes from Connecticut, where a boy’s father discovered that his son’s class was taught that Americans don’t have a 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.  Seems that the social studies teacher gave the 8th grade class a worksheet called, “The Second Amendment Today” which goes on to say, “The courts have consistently determined that the Second Amendment does not ensure each individual the right to bear arms…. The courts have never found a law regulating the private ownership of weapons unconstitutional.”  It also says, “This means that the rights of this amendment are not extended to the individual citizens of the states…. So a person has no right to complain about a Second Amendment violation by state laws.”

Apparently the folks at Instructional Fair, who published the work sheet, have never heard of the District of Columbia vs. Heller case where it was ruled that the D.C prohibition on the possession of usable handguns in the home violates the Second Amendment.

I guess the people in charge of putting this worksheet into the hands of 8th Grade American students have never read the various opinions of those who actually wrote the Constitution. Specifically, George Mason, a coauthor of the Second Amendment who stated, “I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.”

Samuel Adams is quoted in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, August 20, 1789, saying, “And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the Press, or the rights of Conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; …”

And for a bit more of Thomas Paine’s just plain common sense, “The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.”

The next story comes from Union Grove, Wisconsin from April 10, where an 8th grade civics class was given a crossword puzzle on “Liberalism vs. Conservatism”.   Gee, I wonder which could be the winner there.  According to this one, conservatism is “the political belief of preserving traditional moral values by restricting personal freedoms …”

Now that’s rich!  Considering it has been liberal politicians who have: told people what kind of light bulb they can have, what kinds of school lunches they’re allowed (and forbid kid’s mothers pack the wrong kinds of food!), what kind of car they ought to drive, what sized drink they can purchase, and now, what kinds of fire arms you’re allowed- if you’re allowed.  Oh, but I’ll give them this one, if it’s the freedom to murder your baby through abortion, then yes, this Conservative is all for that restriction.

At least the publisher of this one, Cerebellum did apologize for the worksheet.

One more, this time in Jacksonville, Florida on April 15, where a mom of a 4th grader found a paper in his backpack which read, “I am willing to give up some of my constitutional rights in order to be safer or more secure.”  The boy explained that he and some other students were asked to write the statement.  The school district’s superintendent has expressed concern about the activity, which may have been done after a lesson from curriculum on the First Amendment.

Apparently the teacher has never read some of the wisest words found outside the Bible, “They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Ben Franklin

And some people think I indoctrinate my child because I homeschool.