Article viii, section 1 of the constitution of the state of Michigan states, “Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”  This is a direct quote from the northwest ordinance. 

The founders of our great state and country were very much aware that good government and happiness is dependant on the education of the Christian religion and morality, as well as knowledge.  Man cannot be ignorant of biblical principles of life and civil government and be free.  Benjamin Franklin said, “a nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which god has given to them cannot be enslaved.  It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins”

Education is never neutral.  It is always taught from a religious foundation of presuppositions. Our founding fathers realized the necessity of teaching from biblical principles.  John Adams stated that “the way to renovate our country is to teach youth biblical.”  The first schools and colleges established, therefore, were for the purpose of aiding families in the education of their children to be biblically literate.  Our founding fathers also knew Satan wants to keep men ignorant; and therefore, in bondage.  The Massachusetts’ colony acknowledged, “it being on chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of scripture.” The holy scriptures were used as a textbook to learn not only reading, but the knowledge of god.

For this reason early colonists taught their children at home so that they understood the principles of liberty.  When the English crown began taking away their god-given rights, they understood it to be their duty before god to protect those rights.  The war for independence could be fought because that people were educated in biblical principles of liberty.

We call therefore, for the federal government to adhere to its constitution and immediately cease all involvement in education, including funding, regulation and mandates for state or local schools, colleges and universities.  We also call for the state of Michigan to adhere to its constitution and immediately revoke any censoring bans on prayer, religious teaching and use of the Holy Scriptures as curriculum.  All curriculums contradictory to traditional American religious teaching or undermining the morality thereof should be forbidden in public education.