The Unconstitutional Founding Fathers
It seems absurd to think of our Founding Fathers as being unconstitutional. After all, they wrote the Constitution, called for its ratification and began to administer the government based upon it. But, if we look at recent Supreme Court decisions and the beliefs of liberal politicians, the conclusion can only be that the Founders were unconstitutional.
I make this point because of what is happening in our public education system. Court decisions have expelled God from school and forbid any teachings of morality based on religion. Today, our public schools are used to indoctrinate our children to a liberal viewpoint. Some curriculum is blatantly biased to this end. History is rewritten to ignore the religious faith of the Pilgrims as the story of Thanksgiving is told. The Indians are the heroes and God is nowhere to be found. This was not the original intent of the Founders.
As the nation began to expand westward, the Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance in 1787 and renewed it after the Constitution was ratified. It contained these words: “Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
Gouverneur Morris, one of the Founders who drafted the Constitution said, “Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God.” (Life of Gouverneur Morris, Vol. III) It appears that those who framed the Constitution had no problem with religion and morality being taught in our schools. They actually felt it was essential if we were to continue to have good government.
The intent that the Founding Fathers had for Christianity and morality to be a part of public education was clear. The New England Primer was a textbook used in the early American public schools. It taught children morality through Bible stories and lessons in virtue. It basically was a catechism of Christianity. It was used by some states into the 1900s.