Kowabunga

Egads! What a turnout. I believe we have set a new record for attendance, with several new faces, and a few who have shown up once or twice in the past and finally made a happy return. Over twenty people in attendance, and our infiltrator failed to make a encore appearance. :-( He was so much FUN!

Topics this month ranged from Bosnia Conflict (special request from one of the group members), where the consensus seemed to be that none of us really fully understands 1) what the origins of the conflict are; 2) what the you-know-what are we doing there, aside form NATO and the UN saying it's okay. This is a very complex topic, with a great deal of history, a lot of it not very pleasant at that. One thing that is plainly obvious to me is: I have so little clue as to what that conflict is all about, it isn't even funny! At least I wasn't the only one in that position.

We then stepped on to a topic sent forth by townhall.com, our proud sponsors, and a project of the Heritage Foundation. This was about indoctrination of children in the public schools. The driving force on this issue was the recent incident where a soldier received a number of letters from school kids asking why he was destroying mosques (the mildest), and other derogatory messages. Reports indicate that the children were encouraged to write such letters by their teacher.

Although outraged (several of us, including myself, are former servicemen), we quickly moved to other points in education: the need for school vouchers; how to regain control of our education system; the power of the NEA; and so on. One person even brought up a bill recently put forth in the Minnesota House of Representatives: H.F. 1079.

Short Description: Nonpublic schools subjected to the pupil fair dismissal law and other requirements if families of students attending claim a tax credit for education-related expenses.

Okay, before I go off on a rant on this, it is better to know what the heck it is all about. It makes reference that any private school wishing to accept students whose family intends to accept certain education related tax credits must comply with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, whatever that is.

(a) A nonpublic school that provides or contracts for an education-related course, program, or activity for a student in kindergarten through grade 12 must elect whether or not to admit students whose families intend to claim a tax credit under section 290.0674 for education expenses related to the course, program, or activity. If a nonpublic school elects to admit into an education-related course, program, or activity those students whose families intend to claim a tax credit under section 290.0674 for education expenses related to the course, program, or activity, then the nonpublic school is subject to the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act under sections 121A.40 to 121A.56 and, notwithstanding section 363A.23, subdivision 1, may not limit a student's admission to an education-related course, program, or activity based on the student's academic qualifications or achievement, religion, gender, athletic or other extracurricular ability, disabling condition, proficiency in the English language, or previous disciplinary proceeding.

If a private school has set fairly high standards for admission, say academic qualifications, then they would not be able to accept any students whose parents wish to claim the tax credit for education expenses. This hurts poor families the most, as the tax credit is reduced for households whose incomes exceed $33,500, and is eliminated for those with incomes exceeding $37,500. Instead of helping poor families achieve a better education for their children thru the use of secular private schools and/or parochial schools, it is a blatant attempt to lock them into the public school system, thus stifling the potential of their children and the hopes of reducing/eliminating multi-generational poverty.

Enough! Time to move on!

Another report was made that there is now a move to make all our public school teachers "International Baccalaureates", and pushing an agenda that the U.S. is wrong and the rest of the world is right. Go figure! We must be the only country in the world that teaches our children that our country is a villain while the rest of the world is full of good guys making a difference. The person making this report said that when she expressed interest in presenting a Western European outlook, the reaction was one of stunned silence, as in "You're kidding, right?"

How to take back our education system: general consensus was to begin with running for school board, where you'll have to fight virtually daily with the NEA. Joy. That is one place to start, however, we also need to gain and retain control of our State Representatives, and let those in office know that this kind of socialist indoctrination is not acceptable.

Alternatively, put our children in private schools that reflect our values and beliefs. Or, for those with the means and know how, home school.

There is no doubt that we have our work cut out for us in regaining control of our education system, and the Feds aren't of any help in this (actually, they help make matters worse with under/nonfunded mandates), and it is past time we start.

I think this is a wrap for this month on the Townhall meetup group. Until next time, when we may yet see, "Return of the Left-Wingnut."