Rcanes, Texas public school students have met the enemy: knowledge.

Texas public school students have met the enemy: knowledge.

The cover story on today’s issue of the Dallas Morning News reported the Texas Education Board’s recent activity. No surprise, Republicans rejected a Democratic-backed proposal requiring Texas students to understand the reasons behind the prohibition of a state religion in the Bill of Rights. Apparently, 10 Republicans snuffed out the proposal, supported by all five Democrats. (Why the DMN pointed out that these Democrats were Hispanic and black, I don’t know. Couldn’t the reporter have just as easily said the 10 White Republicans defeated the Democratic bid?)

All of this is occurring, while the TEB tries to revamp the social studies standards. With the fierce attachment to the Constitution among Republicans, it seems reasonable for them to encourage students to understand the provisions within that document. Studying the establishment clause, however, seems to offend their sentiment.

Why? I’m guessing because the establishment language would allow students to critically analyze the text, which says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The 14th amendment, through the doctrine of incorporation, makes the applicable to states, municipalities and hence local school boards.

The rationale behind the proposal would, ideally, encourage students to ask difficult questions about some of the apparent contradictions in the Bill of Rights. For example, the First Amendment provides for the protection of the free exercise of speech, yet the Second Amendment requires that local school districts take a neutral position in matters of religion in the schoolhouse.

I can’t imagine an authority, such as the state Board of Education, taking this position. Preventing students from asking questions about whether a balance can be maintained between the neutrality requirements of the establishment clause and the free speech guarantees of the free exercise clause really makes no sense. Wait, it gets better.

The board actually agreed that students should understand how taxes and regulations restrict private enterprise, as well as an understanding of the importance of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Oh yeah, and the whole issue about pilfering minorities’ possessions, looks like the students will have to wait to college to learn other historical accounts. Let’s pray that public universities will not soon start watering down the facts.

What then is the goal of education? Is it to protect students from considering a different political philosophy or religious belief? Or is it to provide students with a rich historical perspective in which they can appreciate an alternative point of view?

Looks like public school students have met their enemy: knowledge. Looks like public school students have met their friend: the majority muscle of political power.

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