I have been known to have some rather unpopular beliefs although I tend to believe that more people will agree with me then want to add their name to the list. Which is fine I understand the climate of the world we live, So here is my rant on the state of education in our state, Alaska if you didn't already know that.
We live in the last frontier, it still has an old west kind of vibe that is slowly moving towards modernism, yet it sees to be kicking and screaming along the way. Which is how it should be. I would hate to be in a state that just let things happen and be bowled over by the robber barons of our day. So now we come to a particular subject that is close to my heart. Education.
Our governor, for lack of a better word, Sean Parnell whom I believe to be in deep pockets with the big oil companies, which is nothing new and don't blame him for his short sightedness in that aspect they have an impressive lobby and lots of money. No big secret their. But in the mot wealthiest state of the union there is no need to be cutting education budget for the largest districts in the state. And then to corner the market into a debate on vouchers and forcing through a bible belt agenda.
I am a strong advocate for seperation of church and state. I think that there should bee no involvement of religious beliefs in an institution that is supposed to represent all of those beliefs. Is it alright to keep "God" in the pledge of allegiance, yes that is fine albeit a fine line but I accept that. I teach evolution as a theory for human development on this planet, I also show creationism, and alien seeding as other theories for how life developed. Why, it is simple we don't have a 100% understanding of how it all came together. What I do know is that our forefathers had the good sense to create a system that is allowed to breathe and not be confined to it's own borders.
If we don't have a place that is publicly funded that represents all beliefs then we have factions that will cause greater dis-stability. Vouchers for parents who want to send their children to private institutions will on exacerbate the instability leading t widespread distrust and unease. Religious bodies already enjoy tax free operation within our country, we will have public school turning into bastions of religious beliefs just to get the benefits from the state. Bad juju if you ask me. What I see it all coming don to is a christian based movement to disrupt the educational system in this nation. Which is unfortunate, we don't see such an outright outpouring from other religions but it has something to do with christian belief organizations. To have a church-state will lead us backwards into something that Europe dealt with ages ago.
Can't we as one of the last free thinking nations break free from this debate and fund our schools as they should where we favour the bright over the brawn. But until we have a "Superbowl" for the minds over the pigskin I fear we never will. Sorry to be a downer but it is the truth of the matter.
Now feel free to throw as much rotten fruit as you can find my way, I am after all a starving college student and I an eat around the rotten bits
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