Tuesday, November 6, 2012, was a huge victory for education in this country. Say what you will about the lousy job the public school system is doing, you have to hand it to them for what happened on election day. I’m not talking about various millage proposals that won around the country. While that may be true as well, I am specifically referring to the social agenda initiatives that made their way to the ballots in several states.
They educated America that homophobia is wrong and that same-sex marriage is absolutely fine. As a result, two states, Maryland and Maine, approved gay marriage. In addition, the first openly gay Senator was elected from the state of Minnesota.
They educated America that the use of Marijuana was okay. “In a historic move, voters in Colorado and Washington have legalized marijuana for recreational use, becoming the first states to do so.” Democracy Now!
They educated America that illegal immigrants (aka “undocumented immigrants) have every right to a taxpayer-funded education. To deny them this right is bigotry and discrimination. As a consequence, Maryland voters also affirmed the DREAM Act, allowing undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition. Democracy Now!
They educated America that women have a fundamental right to taxpayer-funded abortion and free contraceptives. This successful teaching drove many women to the polls to vote to preserve these rights.
Other measures that are gaining ground and will most likely become law at some point are a ban on voter ID, a ban on firearms except for the police and the military, enforced “card check” laws for unions, a ban on coal and select forms of fossil fuels, enforced use of green energy sources, and a constitutional amendment to approve same-sex marriage. The reason these issues—and many more— will undoubtedly find their way to acceptance is a testimony to the fabulous job the public educational system is doing.
Teachers DO know how to teach. Their expertise is unquestioned, make no mistake about it. The only question one may have involves the subject matter. Math, English, Science, History? Nah. Those are all electives, more or less. Liberal social behavior leads the list of required subjects. What happened November 6 is living proof.