Education

Citizens for a Constitutional Republic believe that parents have the responsibility of educating their children. and that Education should be free of all federal government envolvment. Parents have the right to provide for the education of their children in the manner they deem best, including home, private or religious. We oppose all legislation from any level of government that would interfere with or restrict that liberty. All federal legislation related to education should be repealed.

The Bill of Rights:Amendment X reads: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.That means parents have the fundamental right and responsibility to nurture, educate, and discipline their children.

As all of you well know, there are many reasons people support getting children out of state schools. For some, it's a practical concern, for others a freedom issue and for yet others a religious conviction.

For most, though, it’s not an issue at all. It's not something they’ve ever given a thought to –– or worse, it's something they actively refuse to think about. So, it's refreshing to see someone explore the concept — in print — with unbending honesty.

That’s just what Gary Ledbetter has done in his powerful editorial
in a special edition of the Southern Baptist Texan. This magazine was distributed free of cost to everyone who attended the 2007 Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio this month.

We’ve reported in the past on the resolutions to remove children from public schools submitted to the convention each year and how they are repeatedly stopped in committee. This year was no different, as Mr. Ledbetter predicts in his article, but the article more than makes up for the disappointment.

The idea of fully independent education is hard for folks to swallow. What seems so obvious to us seems outlandish to others. Sometimes planting a seed is a more effective communication tool than outright debate.

Mr. Ledbetter’s article has planted many seeds (and he's not even an out-and-out supporter of independence). I'm asking myself this week where I might plant a seed. I'm thinking I'll send a note and a couple of links to a few individuals.

Mr. Ledbetter’s article will be part of my package to two people. And all of them will receive links to the Alliance site. Here are the ones I plan to use (because they invite people to think):

Would you consider planting some seeds this summer? Just a short note and a few links to some friends or acquaintances might reap some exciting results.

PHOENIX –– Arizona legislators like the concept of displaying the American flag to promote patriotism, particularly for school children, but they have their limits.

Endorsing a House-passed bill to require that an American flag be displayed in all public school classrooms, the Arizona Senate agreed Tuesday to extend the requirement to legislative hearing rooms but not the offices of legislators or other public officials.

The Senate gave preliminary approval to a House-passed bill that would require that community colleges, state universities and public K-12 schools display American-made U.S. flags at least 2 by 3 feet in all classroom.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, contends putting flags in classrooms would help raise the level of patriotism.

The bill (HB2583), which now awaits a formal Senate vote, was amended by the Senate to expand the requirement to include private schools that receive contributions from tax credit-contribution contributions for scholarships. "All students should have the flag in their classroom," said the amendment's sponsor, Democratic Sen. Ken Cheuvront of Phoenix.

The bill states that the Legislature intends that donations and fundraising be used to acquire flags, but the Senate deleted a requirement that school districts, charter schools, universities and colleges report by July 2007 how many classrooms do not have flags.

The Senate also amended the bill to require flags be displayed in all House and Senate hearing rooms.

However, the Republican-led Senate rejected a Democratic amendment to also require that flags be displayed in the offices of all public officials, including legislators.

"We're the legislators and we get to tell everybody else what to do," the amendment's sponsor, Democratic Sen. Bill Brotherton of Phoenix, said sarcastically.

Senate President Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, argued against that amendment, saying it was enough that the Legislature has a flag in its chamber and would put them in hearing rooms, the places where it conducts official business. "We don't vote anywhere else," Bennett said.

What's required? House Bill 2583 requires a 2 feet by 3 feet American flag in Arizona kindergarten through college classrooms and in state legislative hearing rooms. The flag must be made in the U.S. and in place by Independence Day 2007.

What didn't fly? The flags won't be required in state legislators' offices. Senate Republicans vetoed that Democratic idea. Senate President Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, said the work of lawmakers is done in hearing rooms and not in offices, much like the work of teachers is done in classrooms.

The bill also contains no exemptions for classroom flags that are too small or made in a foreign country. "Nobody's going in with a ruler," Pearce said.

What's next? The bill was overwhelmingly approved in the House in March. Since the Senate made some changes to the bill, it will go back to the House, where the lawmakers could agree with the changes or make their own changes. From there, it will go to the governor's desk.

Which schools must display flags? All public kindergarten through college-level schools and any private and parochial schools that receive money through Arizona's education tax credits. Sen. Tim Bee, R-Tucson, criticized extending the mandate to private schools, which he said are supposed to be free of government regulation. He recommended that the House remove this provision before it goes to the governor.

Who buys? The schools must pay for flags unless they are donated. The Senate removed a portion of the bill that called on the state to consider paying for flags in classrooms that didn't receive donations.

Don't schools already have flags? Yes, most elementary and high school classrooms already have flags in classrooms, according to school officials around the Valley. Colleges and universities are far less likely to have flags in classrooms.

New law puts U.S. flag, federal documents on display in every classroom

School officials across the state are hoisting flags and tacking up copies of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to meet requirements of a new law going into effect on Sunday.

Every public classroom in every school, from Grade 7 up to the college and university level, must display an American-made American flag along with the documents.

The law originally said that all flags must be 2 feet by 3 feet, but legislators have since adjusted the law to allow any flag that is visible, easily recognized, and not made of paper, so that schools don't yet have to replace those.

Some Valley community groups are stepping up to help districts meet the deadline.

More than 500 Peoria Unified classrooms were outfitted with flags and copies of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, thanks to a $12,000 donation from Hickman Family Farms. And the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors donated 300 flags to the Scottsdale Unified School District.

But some districts had to shell out for the new materials. Mesa Public Schools spent about $5,300 on getting documents and flags to classrooms that did not yet have them. The Tempe Union High School District spent nearly $1,800 for 262 flags.

Parent Sharon Shindel said she thinks the new law “is going overboard.”

“All students should be exposed to and learn about the flag, the Constitution, (and) the Bill of Rights as part of their studies. But just because it’s hanging on the wall doesn't mean the students are really going to learn much about these subjects," said Shindel, a Phoenix resident. “I’d like to see the Legislature ensuring we have the resources and curriculum to teach these subjects."

Colleges and universities also are affected because many of their classrooms are not equipped with the flags and documents.

Arizona community colleges needed to convert 2,500 classrooms, and the three state universities were looking to convert more than 1,400 classrooms.

Reporters Anne Ryman and Georgann Yara contributed to this article.

Reach the reporter at (602) 444-6943.