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
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?"
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?"
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.