An inelegant and ominous rewrite
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Two state senators think they can improve a 183-year-old constitutional provision on religious freedom.
Virginia students are free to pray in public schools, and free of the subtle coercion of sectarian prayer led by public schoolteachers. Virginia residents are free to pray before a government body, and free of the implied coercion of prayer led by their government officials.
These freedoms, guaranteed in the second Constitution of Virginia, adopted in 1830, remain encased in the constitution today in Article I, Section 16: “Free exercise of religion; no establishment of religion.”
February 1, 2013 - 6:20 AM
Good editorial. I get aggravated when modern politicians think they can pen simple concepts better than those who framed them in the first place. Leave it as is.
Would have been nice to tell us where we can read the proposed new thing.
Here are the proposed new things:
Stanley’s resolution: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?131+sum+SJ287
Carrico’s: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?131+sum+SJ261
It depends on the concept IMO. Those who framed them in the first place in 1700 or 1800 could be as wrong as wrong could be. And for many, “simple concepts” are as fair game as the complex concepts. What many seem to expect to be a given, that the Founders were somehow prescient for all time to come has proven problematic for many for a long time. I have certainly wished for both a more fluid application and a more stringent one, depending on the issue or concept.
I will say that I do not like any religious activity being codified. Just leave it alone unless it violates laws.
I don’t think it’s a matter of the Founding Fathers being prescient, but more that they KNEW they were not prescient.
So they wrote documents as simple and uncomplicated, and in as general terms as possible.
The overriding concept in both the Virginia Bill of Rights/Amendments 1-10 of the US Constitution was the recognition and importance of individual rights, and individual freedoms, and in the need to curb the natural tendencies of state (national) governments to grow and infringe (no matter how well intended) on those rights and freedoms. So those amendments were written specifically to limit the power of the government.
So a simple “Free exercise of religion; no establishment of religion” is all that is needed to convey the notion that the government can not tell you what, how or who to worship.
A simple statement that speaks volumes more than the contorted mess in the in the language of the proposed amendments.
that no student in public schools shall be compelled to perform or participate in academic assignments or educational presentations that violate his religious beliefs;
This will mean revisionist history, banned books, abstinence-only, and an end to STEM education. Back to the dark ages we go.
If these knuckle-heads really want to help out Virginia, they should demand private and home school kids be held to the same standards and taught the same subjects as public school children at a minimum.
The free pass they give to private and public schools is unconscionable.
It’s getting to the point we’ll have to start our own private schools in order to ensure the kids get a non-revisionist history, can read challenging books, learn comprehensive sex education and actual science.
I also find it odd that the GOTP is perpetually trying to “protect” via legislation and even Constitution Amendments, their definition of marriage, public prayer, public religiosity and display, government religiosity and display, and the fetus in a woman’s (not their own) womb, but screams in indignation when the liberals want to protect the air, water, soil, or whales.
7 – I believe they do, in that they have to pass the same standardized tests, fill out the same college application forms, and survive in the same world as the public school kids. The fact that they frequently outperform the public school kids should calm your concerns.
And you are welcome to home school your kids, or start your own private school. What’s stopping you?
89Hoo, perhaps you misunderstand me. I’m complaining there are children, because of home schooling and the like, that are not being taught actual science, are being taught American was founded as a Christian nation, are sometimes limited in what they can read (full disclosure – I don’t let my children read or watch age inappropriate materials), etc.
You say they fill out the same college applications and survive in the same world as public schools do. Yeah, but they’re at a disadvantage right off the bat because they will have to un-learn the world is 10,000 years old, etc.
These children shouldn’t be victims of their parent’s stupidity.
10 – all the home-schooled kids I know, Scott (and there are more than a few at my church) are a lot more well-rounded than you portray; more to the point they are taught to look at the facts and issues presented, and to make their own decisions. Not all agree with the Christian viewpoint; and many have advanced beyond their public-school peers in terms of education and accomplishment. Who is at the disadvantage?
There are two young ladies (both would be high school seniors) my wife and I employ on occasion to house-sit for us (one is the preacher’s daughter), both are home-schooled. One will be enrolling at UVa as a second year because of the credits she has accumulated at Virginia Western as part of her home-schooling curriculum. The other has been accepted in a program to study abroad (England, I think). Remarkable young ladies.
I don’t think anyone can argue that schooling your own children remains a choice for parents or that some mayhap even most, excel at it.
The issue for myself and many others who have not met the remarkable kids you have 89Hoo, is precisely what “facts and issues” are presented. In the public school system, that is not controlled by a partisan, fundamental or individual’s choice. I have met several home schooled people who are practically handicapped in their lack of social, even trivial information and ability because of such control of “facts and issues”. That you have not experienced it does not mean it does not exist. Kinda like scientific consensus and evolution.
#12 What I hear is if not a government controlled environment….unacceptable.
Why does every discussion about this subject have to end up in an argument over home schooling. There are lots of bright, well-adjusted home school kids. Generally their families are relatively well-off and their parents thoroughly educated. If you examine the performance of public school kids from similar backgrounds you will find plenty of good ones there too. Are there over-sheltered home-school kids with distorted views of the world and no social skills (a typical stereotype)? Perhaps there are, but there are certainly plenty of those in the public schools too.
In all this discussion one thing that is never talked about is the amount of extra administrative work there will be for teachers and principals who will have to deal with students opting out of assignments. It’s very hard to predict just what the scope of such a change would be. I worry that it will be a quagmire.
Then you need your hearing checked Jim Lucas. I clearly said I don’t think anyone can argue that schooling your own children remains a choice for parents or that some mayhap even most, excel at it. Freely and of my own volition, I said that. You are again reading what you want to read into my remarks.
Name Withheld, we always devolve.
#15 Your #12; “The issue for myself and many others who have not met the remarkable kids you have 89Hoo, is precisely what “facts and issues” are presented. In the public school system, that is not controlled by a partisan, fundamental or individual’s choice. I have met several home schooled people who are practically handicapped in their lack of social, even trivial information and ability because of such control of “facts and issues”. That you have not experienced it does not mean it does not exist. Kinda like scientific consensus and evolution.”
My hearing is fine, thanks.
@11 89Hoo, you mention a couple of people at your church who home-school and are doing remarkably well. I congratulate them. But this points me to a contradiction.
If religious and home-schooling works so well, you would think the home school people would be clamoring to have all their children take the State tests and divulge their curriculums to encourage others to follow their path. Your argument is really in support of my conclusions that they should be subject to State minimums, etc.
I mean, if they’re really doing as well as you say, they should have no trouble with the SOLs, science standards, etc. right?
So back to my original problem; why are they exempt from State standards?
The home schoolers I know, Scott, do encourage others to home school, and make no secrets of their curricula, or the co-ops, resources, materials, etc. All you have to do is ask.
Jefferson reiterated, “Liberty of Conscience.” He was more prescient and intelligent than anyone living today. Why question him?
@18 89Hoo, I have asked which is why I think these guys should be held to State minimums. You can find reviews of the curriculums of the major home school companies. I don’t know if your preacher’s family uses them or something more main stream but children shouldn’t be hobbled by being taught humans lived alongside dinosaurs for example.
I reiterate, if home schooling is such a wonderful thing academically for the children, the home schoolers would be clamoring to take the State SOLs, etc. Instead, they just want to be allowed to participate in the sports programs.
Perhaps these home school programs aren’t really that good academically after all?
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/07/photos-evangelical-curricula-louisiana-tax-dollars
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2005/11/22/234711/68
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/hundreds-of-voucher-schools-teach-creationism-in-science-classes
http://video.pbs.org/video/2325563509
#20 People did too live alongside dinosaurs. Haven’t you ever seen “The Flintstones”?