EdAction
Maple River Education Coalition PAC
105 Peavey Rd, St 116 
Chaska, MN  55318 
952-361-4931
http://www.EdAction.org
E-mail

September 10, 2003
Printer Version

URGENT ALERT: The New Civics in Congress
"The American History and Civics Education Act of 2003"-- H.R. 1078

WE NEED YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION! - HR 1078 Resurfaces
H.R.1078 would set up 12 federal academies to teach the "new" civics and history to top-performing students around the country. It would set up 12 more federal academies to teach teachers what to teach. Then it would set up "best practices" for teaching it everywhere. (See "Beware the New Civics")

On August 25th, we halted our National Call-in To Congress Day, because the "New Civics" bill, H.R.1078 was "as dead as any bill gets," according to Congressional insiders. H.R. 1078 WOULD NOT be coming up for action. (See update)

Now we are told, however, that the White House has become involved. We have been informed that the White House wants HR 1078 passed, and so the Leadership will not oppose it anymore!

In a matter of days, H.R.1078 has been transformed from a bill that was unable to be revived to a bill that cannot be stopped!

Some members of Congress are trying to "clean up" the language, since the leadership will likely add it to the "consent calendar" and pass it by a unanimous voice vote this week or early next.

An example of "cleaning it up" involves changing some of the language. For example, the bill lists "key ideas" that shaped the "heritage of the United States" -- ideas that must be taught, that will cement the federal curriculum into federal law. One of these is the "separation of church and state." "Maybe" that misrepresented concept that the courts have used unconstitutionally to censor the public expression and representation of our religious heritage, one not written into any founding document, will be removed.

Will national sovereignty be added to the list of "key ideas" that must be taught? Or self-evident truths? Or unalienable rights? That is, will the genuine fundamental principles of freedom be included in what must be taught in American government classes?

Probably not, we're told, no, because Senator Ted Kennedy is negotiating the final language, along with Senator Lamar Alexander, and, those ideas are unlikely to get past him. But it does list "individualism" as a key idea.

Well, unfortunately, "individualism" has no legal meaning.

Will negotiators also remove "belief in progress," from the existing list of key ideas that must be taught, a concept of "evolving" principles that replaces the recognition of God-given unalienable rights and self-evident truths? It's not likely to be removed.

Analysis of "We The People"
If you want to know what the passage of this legislation means to our country and to our heritage, look at "We the People," the federally sanctioned and funded textbook on American Government -- the ONLY textbook directly sanctioned and funded by federal law. (Available through the Center for Civic Education, http://www.civiced.org)

Notice that National Sovereignty is never mentioned once in the entire textbook on American government.

Then go to Lesson 37 (high school level). Notice that instead of National Sovereignty, the textbook promotes the "global village" and  promotes world citizenship.

Notice that the lesson ends with this question: "Do you think that world citizenship is possible in your lifetime?"

Go to the last lesson in the textbook, Lesson 40, titled, "What is meant by returning to fundamental principles?" 

• " The Founders, themselves, were vigorous critics of the wisdom they inherited and the principles in which they believed. They were articulate, opinionated individuals who loved to examine ideas, to analyze, argue and debate them. They expected no less of future generations. They would expect no less of you." [p. 214]

In other words, there are no fundamental principles. This radical teaching of civics and government is undermining our National Sovereignty, our Constitution and our Bill of Rights.

Now go to "What is meant by teaching the Bill of Rights?" 

• "As fundamental and lasting as its guarantees have been [past tense], the U.S. Bill of Rights is a document of the eighteenth century, reflecting the issues and concerns of the age in which it was written.. . . " [p. 207]

In other words, the Bill of Rights may have been useful for people 200 years ago, but it is not necessarily useful for us today. 

It is impossible to imagine that the "Presidential Academies" will not teach the federal curriculum that is sanctioned and funded by federal law. This is what HR 1078 will teach! 

If the "clean-up" of the language doesn't at least include incorporating the principles of national sovereignty, unalienable rights and self-evident truth, then the "clean-up" is not worth the paper it's written on. H.R.1078 is an "inside job" to undermine the authority of our government to govern, and the God-given rights articulated in both the Declaration of Independence and in the Bill of Rights, such as the 2nd amendment right to bear arms, the 10th amendment's reserved and delegated powers, and the unalienable right to life and property. It is that serious.

ACTION:
We face the daunting task of turning around White House support for this slick and misleading proposal, because the White House staff wants the President to have a bill to sign by September 17th, Constitution Day. Ironically, Senator Ted Kennedy is sitting in judgment over which rights for American citizens will be recognized by our government.

1. PLEASE CALL:
   Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert 202 - 225-2976
   dhastert@mail.house.gov
   
   House Majority Leader Tom DeLay     202 - 225-5951
   
   Majority Whip Roy Blunt   202 - 225-0197
   r.blount@mail.house.gov
   
   Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
   Congressman John Boehner 202 - 225-6205
   
2. URGE THEM TO SEND A DELEGATION TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
   This bill is part of Ted Kennedy's agenda for America. It is not the defense of our founding principles of freedom.
   
3. CALL YOUR OWN MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
   Make these points:
   1. H.R.1078 is anti-American. It deliberately excludes the most essential principles of our free system of freedom that sets America apart as a beacon to the world.
   
   2. Senator Ted Kennedy's left wing agenda should not be running the show. Republicans are in the majority, and should be keeping Kennedy OUT of power, not empowering him.
   
   3. H.R.1078 is an insult to the men and women in the American military and their families who are sacrificing their very lives today in Afghanistan and Iraq for our freedom . They are dying and suffering to protect the freedom Congress is about to so willingly toss aside.
   
   4. Senators didn't hear ONE word of testimony opposing this bill before passing it. If H.R.1078 goes ont the consent calendar in the House, House members won't hear ONE word of testimony at all.
   
   5. Passing this attack on our Constitutional principles is exactly the wrong way to honor the Constitution.
   
   REJECT H.R. 1078!
   
   The White House Phone Numbers
   COMMENTS:  202-456-1111
   SWITCHBOARD: 202-456-1414
   FAX: 202-456-2461
   
   The White House E-Mail Addresses
   President George W. Bush: president@whitehouse.gov
   Vice President Richard Cheney: vice.president@whitehouse.gov
   
   Secretary of Education Rod Paige
   Phone:  (202) 401-3000
   E-mail: Rod.Paige@ed.gov
   
   Members of Congress by state:
   http://clerk.house.gov/members/index.php
   
   Minnesota Members of Congress:
   http://edaction.org/Legislators/USCongress.htm

EdAction - 105 Peavey Rd, Ste 116, Chaska, MN  55318 
952-361-4931 - edaction@lakes.com - (c) EdAction - All rights reserved.