On the surface, these programs are like many other government programs; they have nice-sounding names, but they will destroy America as we know and cherish it.
Last week, on 9/21/2010 at the East Valley TEA Party Patriots meeting, Eddie Farnsworth, Shane Stapley, and Barbara Parker engaged the public in a fascinating question and answer session regarding two federal programs: Race to the Top and the International Baccalaureate (IB).
As you read this, remember: There are two constitutional conservative candidates running for local school board positions: Shane Stapley in Gilbert, and Merrianne Geisdorf in Mesa. Support them; help them; vote for them.
As Barbara Parker stated, “The philosophy of today is the government of tomorrow.”
RACE TO THE TOP
Undaunted by a track record of failed federal education programs, President Obama is pushing this top-down federal program that will undermine the states’ rights to determine their own educational programs, and parents’ rights to have a say in their own children’s education. The Federal Government’s Marketing Team (aka the unconstitutional U.S. Department of Education) is dangling a carrot ($4.35 billion in tax dollars) under the noses of the states to get them to apply for Race to the Top funds. There are, of course, strings.
It is “federal control on steroids” according to Barbara Parker. Its real purpose is for the federal government to take control of the entire school system, its curriculum and administration. There will be national standards and national textbooks. Beneath the surface of the hype, consider that one of the “invitational” priorities of RTTT is “enhancing the quality of preschool programs.” The US Dept of Education information states that there is particular priority on “practices that improve school readiness (including social, emotional, and cognitive)…” Social? Emotional? Look no further than Head Start and the indoctrination that turns impressionable children into activists for the radical environmental and homosexual agendas.
Several states have applied and been approved for federal tax dollars to “bolster student achievement.” Alaska responded, “Thanks, but no thanks,” because they do not want to give up state sovereignty to an inflexible program. Texas Governor Rick Perry stated, “We would be foolish and irresponsible to place our children’s future in the hands of unelected bureaucrats and special interest groups thousands of miles away in Washington.”
Think of it. There is nothing in the US Constitution giving the federal government the power to determine the curriculum in our local schools. Yet, the federal government is getting away with it. More government equals less liberty. Be glad that Arizona did not receive this funding.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)
This program grew out of a legitimate need for educating the children of people whose employment takes them all over the world. The curriculum was developed in Switzerland and standards are very rigorous and challenging. Even US children in American gifted programs have trouble competing with kids who have been trained in the IB program. The IBO ((International Baccalaureate Organization) will train and certify teachers for IB at the expense of the local school district.
What’s so bad about that? According to Allen Quist, author of AMERICA’S SCHOOLS: THE BATTLEGROUND FOR FREEDOM, IB is “Un-American.”
The IBO promotes world citizenship and encourages students to think globally. It endorses the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In doing this, IBO has agreed to promote the United Nations along with the actions and treaties of the UN. Thus the UN is the highest court of appeals on issues of human rights.
By endorsing UDHR, the IBO “undermines the foundation principle of the United States that human rights, such as the rights to life, liberty and property, are inherent and inalienable, and must be protected by government, as is stated in our Declaration of Independence.”
IBO endorses the Earth Charter, which is housed in the Arc of Hope and is identified by the World Pantheist Association as a Pantheistic document. The Earth Charter advocates:
1) The redistribution of wealth between nations and within nations;
2) Same-sex marriage;
3) Spiritual education (Pantheism);
4) Military disarmament;
5) Creation of an international agency to make the Earth Charter binding on all nations.
Many of the IBO instructional materials are now being written, or overseen by the UN.
This is an international curriculum and it is controlled by the international community. Nothing is taught here about the US Constitution or the founding of America. Nothing is taught about American free enterprise or American exceptionalism.
In May 2008, Senator Margaret Dayton, Utah, objected to the program, stating, “I don’t want ‘world citizens’ nearly as much as I want to help cultivate American citizens who function well in the world.”
For more information, go to www.edwatch.org