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1994-12-18
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ESSAY 22
THE
"PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DO NOT PROMOTE RELIGION"
MYTH
The term, "public schools" is a misnomer. Since the
national school system is controlled by government the term,
"government schools," is more accurate. Parents and the
public no longer control the schools their children attend.
Government control also includes selecting the religion
our children are taught during school hours. "A very serious
charge," you may be thinking. It is a serious charge and it
is true!
As every philosophy teacher knows, every philosophy has
basic assumptions that lie in the area of metaphysics.
Metaphysics is outside the scientific realm. Metaphysics
is in the realm of the religious. The United States govern-
ment schools have replaced Judeo-Christian metaphysics with
secular or atheistic metaphysics. The word "secular" in this
context means "without God." As one has said, "If it walks
like a duck, and looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck,
it is a duck."
The Supreme Court identified secular humanism as a
religion in TORCASO V. WATKINS, 367 U S 488 (1961). The
secular humanists also state that they are a religion:
. . .the AHA [American Humanist Association]
accredits ministers and counselors who can conduct
weddings and funerals, develops Humanist litera-
ture, proselytizes (only those in agreement with
the doctrines are eligible to join) and raises
money as a tax-exempt `religious' organization.
. . . . Paul Kurtz, drafter of Humanist Manifesto
II and leading Humanist spokesman admits, "There
are no Humanist membership organizations that are
non-religious in legal status." (Robert K.
Skolrood, "Evangelism in the Classroom--Humanist
Style," KAPPA DELTA PI RECORD. P O Box A, West
Lafayette, IN 47906, Winter 1988, pp. 46-48).
John Dewey, an atheist, was the chief writer of the 1933
HUMANIST MANIFESTO. In 1932, he was elected honorary presi-
dent of the National Education Association. Dewey's "pro-
gressive" education was a reaction to the disciplined teach-
ing of basic subjects and established rules (ENCYCLOPAEDIA
BRITANNICA, 15th ed., s.v. "Dewey, John").
Charles Francis Potter, another honorary president of
the National Education Association, prophesied what has now
come into being:
Education is thus a most powerful ally of Humanism,
and every American public school is a school of
Humanism. (Charles Francis Potter, HUMANISM: A NEW
RELIGION. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1930, p.
128).
(This essay was based on the classic work of Bill
Gothard and Dr. Donald Howard)
END