I often hear it claimed that formal education is a “right.” If, however, one seldom reads a book, how is that so? That’s like calling health care a “right,” even if one smokes two packs a day or eats as much junk food as I do.
In fact, a few years ago I read a headline in the Charleston (SC) Post and Courier declaring that in America today–according to the National Library Association–only 31% of college graduates are “functionally literate.”
My mother never went to high school, and my dad attended for only a few years; consequently, growing up in a family where education was so valued because–of economic necessity–it had been denied to my parents, I’ve ended up being educated quite beyond my intelligence. So I’ve always thought of education as a “privilege.”
In a democratic society, however, I consider education a “necessity.” Hence, the crucial role of public schools.
As president of the local chapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, I also endorse “freedom from religion,” which is essential to its corollary, “freedom of religion.” The latter being, of course, my priority. Put simply: if Christianity, at least, flourishes in America in ways it doesn’t in nations that promote a “state church,” it’s because of a “wall of separation” between religion and what is publicly sanctioned (according to the likes of Roger Williams and Thomas Jefferson; the former being a conventional Christian; the latter, hardly). In other words, America is not–in any authorized sense–a “Christian nation.” And anyone who doesn’t understand that irony apparently missed school the day they taught history.
Indeed, the tension involving religion and public education has become a pressing matter of late, particularly as it involves the teaching of science and history, the issuing of tax-supported vouchers for private schools, not to mention the role of prayer in public settings. Or as one kid put it: “As long as they keep giving math tests, I’m going to keep praying.”
So I was intrigued by two recent short pieces in the latest issue of The Christian Century (9-6-11).
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Considerable media attention was given to Texas Governor, Rick Perry, hosting a right-wing (so-called “Christian”) religious/political prayer meeting in Houston, back in August, prior to announcing his intention to run for the Republican nomination for President. Attendance at this unmitigated civil-religion gathering was estimated at some 30,000.
What got little national media attention, however, was another event in Houston on the same day which drew an attendance of 100,000 and had to turn others away. It was the city’s first ever back-to-public-school rally, at which children were given free school supplies–even haircuts and immunizations. According to The Houston Chronicle (8-7-11), “Planners who expected only 25,000 were overwhelmed at the the response.”
[Of particular interest to Charleston, South Carolina, readers: the mayor of Houston, Anise Parker, is a local Stall High School graduate.]
In the same Christian Century issue, Sandy Webb, of Roanoke, Virginia, writes this “Letter to the Editor”:
” . . . For too long, a “separation of church and state” mentality has kept churches and municipalities from becoming partners, making our public schools ‘no go’ areas for congregational ministry. This needs to stop. Jefferson penned his immortal words to protect liberty, not to promote illiteracy.
We can find ecumenical agreement on helping children learn to read. And surely we can do more than that: [by] putting nutritious food in hungry kids’ stomachs, providing learning supplies and thanking and encouraging teachers. A local ecumenical and interreligious partnership in my city has done these things in five of our public schools.”
[Again, I would add–of particular Charleston, South Carolina, interest–the same has been true, in recent years, of various local congregations and church-related coalitions.]
