Your Feb. 12 editorial regarding the governor’s education proposals focused on the governor, rather than the core issue — that being the constitutional separation of church and state. Realizing that other educational “reforms” are being offered, they are — in my view — camouflage for the true intent of this set of proposals.

The right wing, conservative, fundamentalist theists have been etching away at a basic premise of the Constitution, the separation of church and state. This has been occurring nationwide and state educational systems are viable paths for these attempts.

When the Constitution was drafted, the “separation” was a well-debated issue. But the reason for its ultimate inclusion was that there should be a democracy, not a theocracy.

There should be one system of governance “by the people,” not by authoritarian edicts. The drafters of the Constitution wanted to avoid what had been seen and experienced in England’s hierarchical church-based system of governance. So, the governor and the education commissioner (don’t ignore his Heritage Foundation roots) are part of a movement to weaken democracy by proposing funding of religious institutions. It’s a subtle, yet effective disguise.

Let me be clear: I’m an educator and have seen this cycle before. But this moment in the cycle seems to be more visible and stronger. Somehow, what seems to be a plus for a segment of the population — religious schools — is nothing more than the proverbial nose of the camel under the tent. I think it’s time to check our tent’s anchor ropes, or more directly, the separation clause of the Constitution which anchors our democracy.

Mark Schwartz is a resident of South Portland.

 

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