Editor:

It’s back to school month and the age old question is heard again every morning.

“Mom, why do we have to go to school?”

There are many reasons but the best answerer is found in American History.

In 1647 the colony of Massachusetts passed a law called the Ole Satan Deluder Act which read; “It being one chief project of ye old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures”... that every township of 50 householders shall appoint a teacher to teach not only reading and writing, but the Bible as well.

It’s ironic that students don’t read the Bible in schools anymore, because that was the original reason for establishing public schools in America.

On August 4, 1789, the very first U.S. Congress passed a law known as the Northwest Ordinance. In order for additional states to join the original 13, future states (Vermont, Kentucky, Ohio, etc.) were required to start public schools. The law read as follows: “Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary for good government and the happiness of mankind. Schools and means of education shall be forever encouraged.”

Did you catch that? The No. 1 purpose for public schools in America is to teach religion. (aka faith in God.) We must remember that our Founding Fathers were all Christians and as our first President George Washington said, “ It is impossible to govern without God and the Bible.”

Notice, the No. 2 purpose of public schools was to teach morality. John Adams, our second president, explained the rationale when he stated, “The constitution was made only for a moral and religious people, it is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”

According to U.S. National Law, teaching knowledge is relegated to third place in priority, behind teaching Religion and Morality.

So, when your students ask you, “Why do we have to go to school?” Be sure to tell them “So you can learn to “Trust in God” and know the difference between right & wrong.”

Oh, and learn reading, writing, math, science and history as well.

In God we Trust, 

Professor M. Thomas Seaman, Richmond Hill