Burlington, N.J. School District Doubles Down on Stupid

The school superintendent claims that the teaching of the infamous "Mmm...mmm...mmm" song does not constitute political indoctrination. This Christopher Menno creature states :"There was no intention to indoctrinate children. [Your alleged "intentions" doesn't alter the facts.] There was no political agenda underlying the activity. [Clearly, this tool thinks the American people have no more mental capacity than the six-year-olds he attempted to indoctrinate.] The teacher's intention was to engage the children in an activity to recognize famous and accomplished African Americans during Black History Month. [To quote an illustrious American, 'you lie.']"

During a time of declared war, the child of Walter Barnette was expelled from school for refusing to salute the flag or say the Pledge of Allegiance. The Barnette's were Jehovah Witnesses and doing so was against their religious beliefs. When the case went to the Supreme Court in 1943 a six-to-three majority ruled thus in West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette:

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us.
We think the action of the local authorities in compelling the flag salute and pledge transcends constitutional limitations on their power and invades the sphere of intellect and spirit which it is the purpose of the First Amendment to our Constitution to reserve from all official control.

This is why that tool Menno is denying that there was political indoctrination. The school district's actions are both morally and legally indefensible. I really hope this case gets into a court room.

Update, 9/26/09: The tool Dr. Christopher Menno (he has a Ed.D, so it's not like he is a real Ph.D) has released a statement to "Burlington Township Families." As is to be expected from a such a dishonest person, he attempts to spin the incident as being about the students privacy. He writes that the now infamous "Mmm...mmm...mmm" song was just an innocuous part of the school's February program: "The song was one of eight skits performed during a February 2009 program that included second grade classes." He continues by trying to place the blame for his school's illegal brainwashing activities on the parents for not reading their mail: "We have been informed that the lyrics of the song were sent home with the children in advance of the assembly, which was the teacher's normal procedure. There were no concerns or complaints prior to, during, or after the program." Well pal, you're now getting complaints for your school's despicable actions.

As is typical with a cornered educrat who has no way to defend the indefensible, he blames the messenger: "We have learned that the video was posted on the author's website without district approval or knowledge. It appears that another party copied the video from the author's website and placed it on YouTube." This is truly pathetic. As if the outrage pouring in from throughout the country is about the privacy of the children (which is important, but is not the subject at hand). A more important issue is the children's right not to be politically indoctrinated by the likes of Herr Doktor Christopher Menno. On that the district has a big "no comment." But the good Doktor has this to say, "We wish to assure our community that the administration and Board of Education will carefully study this matter." Clearly, they want to bury this without having to take any action with some whitewash of a "study." After all, it's not like they have violated both the students and their parent's basic civil rights. No doubt, the Menno's of the Burlington School District consider freedom of thought and conscience as old fashion and no longer necessary in the Age of Ozero.

Crossposted at The Dougout