More Reasons to Push for School Choice

Two stories in the news today caught my ear as I chugged away grading quizzes. 

First, a geography teacher was caught on a student's mp3 player as he ranted and raved against everything from capitalism to the American flag to President Bush's uncanny resemblance policy-wise to Adolf Hitler.  Apparently, the student had experienced these types of rants on the part of this teacher before and decided to take matters into his own hands.  Michelle Malkin has the entire transcript of the teacher's monologue as well as a link to the audio itself.  20 minutes of this?!  I hope these stories prompt parents to stop thinking, "Things like this don't happen in my child's school" and to start asking what's happening in the classroom.  Among other things you'll learn by sitting in on this particular world geography class--capitalism is the bane of humanity, the American flag is equal to the Nazi flag, and America is the most violent nation in the history of the world.  I'd like to offer my Mason jar of pennies to start a fund to send this teacher away for a much needed visit to the crazy farm...anyone else?

Second, an advanced placement course for seniors in a Morris County New Jersey school district is conducting a "war crimes" trial for President George Bush.  You can read the local paper's account to see the depth of the delirium.  A very articulate and thoughtful student in the class, who happens to be a member of the "defense team" called the nationally syndicated radio program I listen to each day to share first-hand accounts of the project.  What the young man seemed to miss was that to feel so passionately about this project or to conduct this project at all, he and his classmates were ushered, by their teacher, through the premise that these things have occurred or are occurring.  And, that in fact, the 'world' has the right to usurp the sovreignty of the USA and the rights of its citizens and leaders.  This boy actually uttered words akin to 'the indiscriminate killing of lots of civilians.'  Of ALL the people, even from contemporary times, who have committed demonstrably flagrant war crimes, these students had quite a pool to choose from, but their teacher settled on the President of the United States.

I think this public school v. private school/school choice question was best illuminated by M1 tonight outside her ballet class.

She said, "Almost all the kids that come here come in regular clothes and I wear a uniform.  What is the difference between private school and public school anyway?"

I said, "Well, public school is free and private school isn't.  You aren't allowed to pray in public school or talk about God and the kids don't go to church."

M1 said, "Why do they say public school is free if you can't do those things?  Doesn't seem very free to me."

I realized she'd misunderstood freedom and free from cost, but she made more sense than even she realized.

Comments

[stacy lee]

She sure did. I am all for private school. i sent mine to private school, and feel like it was money very well spent, and would do it all over again. Our academy even did random drug testing on the students.

I feel like me received a much better education, and in a much better enviroment.

[michael class]

I listened to the audio of TEACHER (JAY BENNISH) CAUGHT IN ANTI-AMERICAN BUSH RANT, with great interest. Also, with sadness.

My name is Michael Class. I live in the Seattle area with my wife and two children. I am a retired "dot-com" executive turned author, photographer, and publisher.

I was appalled at how some teachers presented American history to my children. My son and daughter learned that Thomas Jefferson had slaves—before they learned that he wrote the document articulating our rights and duties as free people. European settlers killed Native Americans with blankets infected with smallpox, they found out. That allegation upstaged the stories of courage, perseverance, and curiosity that defined the pioneers. My children knew that more than a hundred thousand people died when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, but they were not made to understand the moral context and the enormous scale of the conflict called World War II in which the atomic bomb story fit.

With a curriculum seemingly designed to instill guilt and shame, I wondered, how will my kids ever discover the lessons of history that inspire greatness and noble aspirations? Will they ever believe that they can make a difference? Will they have any heroes left at all? Then, I wondered: What would the heroes of America’s past say to the children of today?

I wrote, photographed, and published a book designed to set the record straight, to properly prepare our children for the future. My book is called Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame. 

If anyone knows where I can reach 10th-grader Sean Allen, I will gladly send him a FREE copy of my book. He did the right thing.

My book specifically rebuts the positions taken by teacher Jay Bennish - because I have heard his arguments so many times before. My book tells the truth about capitalism, the War on Terror, and places them in historical perspective.

In the book, my real-life son, twelve-year-old Anthony, time-travels into the great events of the 20th century. Digital photographic “magic” places Anthony in the cockpit of the Spirit of St. Louis with Charles Lindbergh, on the moon with Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, in the laboratories of Thomas Edison and Jonas Salk, and on Normandy beach on D-Day. It looks as though Anthony really did meet Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk, FDR, Lou Gehrig, Charles Lindbergh, and Audie Murphy. And it’s all historically accurate: Even Anthony’s conversations with America’s heroes are based on things they really said. (See the photos: www.MagicPictureFrame.com)

While writing and photographing the book, I spoke with relatives of famous scientists and inventors, Holocaust survivors, award-winning biographers, and others who could help me ensure that the facts of the book were both accurate and vivid. 

But the book goes beyond a simple recitation of historical facts: the book presents the moral lessons of American history. The chapter about Lindbergh’s flight is really about choosing one’s destiny. The story of Lou Gehrig is one of a virtuous life. The chapter about Thomas Edison is really about business. The story of Apollo 11 is about wonder, taking risks, and courage. The story of Dr. Jonas Salk and the cure for polio is really about dedicating one’s life to a higher purpose. When Anthony “meets” his immigrant great-grandfather at Ellis Island in 1907, it’s really a story about what it means to be an American. Anthony’s observation of D-Day and the liberation of the death camps during the Holocaust is a testament to the reality of evil and the need to fight it.

The book is meant to challenge the young reader. Many adults will find the book challenging, too. Anthony COMPARES the people and events of the past with the people and events of his own time. Anthony discusses the nature of good and evil, right and wrong, war and peace, what it means to be an American, honor and discipline, success and achievement, courage and destiny, marriage and family, God and purpose. Anthony’s observations prompt serious discussion of timeless moral questions. Anthony challenges the reader to think critically - to see the modern world in the light of the lessons of the past. 

We can't afford to raise a generation of Americans who do not value their country, their heritage, and their place in the world. As Abraham Lincoln said: America is the "last best hope of earth."

Thank you.

Michael S. Class
Author / Photographer / Publisher

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame: An American History Book for Right-Thinking Parents and Their Children

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E-Mail: class@MagicPictureFrame.com
Web site: www.MagicPictureFrame.com