National Education Reform

Tonight at our meeting we introduced Common Core.  We discussed how the Government has been implementing this “National Education Reform” and how by doing so, they have been acting contrary to what was written in the Constitution.  As Ezra Taft Benson, Secretary of Education under President Eisenhower pointed out,

“There is absolutely nothing in the Constitution which authorizes the federal government to enter in the field of education.  Furthermore, the Tenth Amendment says: “The powers not delegated to the United States Government are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Nothing could be more clear.  It is unconstitutional for the federal government to exercise any powers over education.” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 298)

We discussed this and other points of concern including taking the responsibility of raising children from the parents and placing it on the “community,” UNESCO and their involvement, and data collection.

Here are a few more quotes from tonight’s discussion:

“All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind, have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.” (Aristotle, as quoted in The Public Speakers Treasure Chest, p. 318)

“Should the educational system ever fall into the hands of the in-power political faction or into the hands of an obscure but tightly-knit group of professional social reformers, it could be used, not to educate, but to indoctrinate. (Ezra Taft Benson, An Enemy Hath Done This, p. 229)

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”(Thomas Jefferson)

“Knowledge is the surest basis of public happiness.” (George Washington)

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

“I believe in standardizing automobiles. I do not believe in standardizing human beings. Standardization is a great peril which threatens American culture.” (Albert Einstein)

We also went through this presentation done by Pamela Smith. She lives in Utah, so she refers to it often, but these same things are taking place in our city as well.

Data Collection, Your School, and You

Lastly, this audio of Ezra Taft Benson regarding an encounter he had with Nikita Khrushchev while working as the Secretary of Agriculture. This audio is a clip from a speech he gave at Brigham Young University in 1966.  Find the whole speech here.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ7LcplfkgY

Our next meeting will be held on April 19 at 5pm. The location will be given once it is solidified.