A Word Edgewise
by
Mary Joe Clendenin

BORROWED THOUGHTS

          As you know, a big hunk of my life has been spent in public schools. I’m concerned about what happens to students and teachers, and about the public image of our schools. Often, the ones most critical have little first-hand knowledge and little evidence to support their pronouncements.

            A former student and colleague of mine, Dr. Gonzalo Rameriz, an administrator in the Farmers’ Branch school sent me an article  written by Frosty Troy, 12/7/99, that voices my opinion. Frost Troy is editor of the Oklahoma Observer. The article originally appeared in Church and State, published by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. I shall paraphrase his thoughts.

            From Phyllis Schlafly, and William Bennett to Pat Robertson, D. James Kennedy, James Dobson, and Jerry Falwell, education has been called “godless” institutions of secular humanism. Such statements hurt.

            The Constitution requires that public education be neutral in the area of sectarian religion, the criticism goes far beyong that. Abuse after the Columbine H.S. incident: If only the Ten Commandments had been posted---If only prayer had been permitted---If only school teachers were not void of values---

            It is ironic that the religious and political critics bring no facts to the table. Columbine High School had many, permitted practices: Bible clubs, a religious organization for athletes, “prayer at the pole,” and a largely Christian faculty. Rush Limbaugh, New Gingrich, Cal Thomas and others wage a partisan attack promoting vouchers and charter schools—which would bring about resegregation along party lines.

            No other public institution in America, including churches, promotes biblical injunctions more than do public schools. To name a few:

            Feeding the hungry? Last year, for nearly 30 percent of public school children, a school lunch was the only hot meal they got.

            Clothing the Naked? Practically every elementary school in poor neighborhoods has a clothing closet stuffed with underwear, socks, etc. for poor children.

            Widow’s mite? The average teacher spent more than $400 out of pocket for workbooks and pencils for poor children.

            Visiting the prisoners? Public educators man the GED, vocational-tech and literacy programs, redeeming tens of thousands of lost lives.

            No greater love? The Littleton teacher who herded children into a room and shielded them with his own body, gave his life.

            Role Models? No other profession provides a higher percentage of Sunday school teachers.

            Suffer the little ones? Many weekends, nights and other times teachers sponsor non-academic class activities—while attempting to deal with the most undisciplined generation ever to enter public education.

            Because teachers can’t pin on a church label and baptize students doesn’t make public education any less spiritual.

            Look who comes to public school among the 46.5 million enrolled this year:

• Six million for whom English is a second language.
•  Six million special education children.
• More than two million abused children.
• Nearly 500,000from no permanent address
• One out of four from extreme poverty, often born out of wedlock, many neglected, unwashed, unwanted, and unloved.

 Public school teachers are scorned on editorial pages and maligned from ignorant poorest salaries among all the industrial nations, yet a new study shows they are among the brightest college students, and nearly half hold master’s degrees.  With all its warts, public education produces more math and science brains than all of private education combined. From astronauts to Pulitzer prize winners, from Nobel laureates to the clergy, public school graduates are in the front rank.

 The public school day may not start with a Hail Mary or an Our Father, a mantra, or a blood sacrifice, but public education does more of God’s work for children every day than any other institution in America.