POTUS: Educator-in-Chief?

I think most Americans would be hard pressed to know the party affiliation of our founding fathers and early presidents. Why? We don’t think of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the like, as “partisan presidents” but simply as patriots. Although most all of our presidents had strong party affiliations, it was the 20th Century that homogenized and then galvanized political parties into the extremes they are today. Parties and their platforms are diverse and legion, but our two-party dominated system has polarized the population today–not so much over the philosophical differences but the pragmatic ones. What works, not what is right or consistent with our constitution, is the theme of the day. Why do I share this historical observation? The presidency today is a totally partisan position. It is all about agenda, whether republican, democrat, or even a maverick version of either. However magnanimous or aloof it may wish to appear, the Office of the President always has an agenda and a portable partisan “bully pulpit” carried into any and every venue. Because of this reality, one cannot see or hear the President of the United States (POTUS) without a blue or red tint. In fact, for most Americans, our eyes may see a black, brown, yellow, red, or white president, but our ears hear red or blue. Partisanship has grown steroidal.

It is for this reason (and others) that I am not in favor of this president, or any seated president, addressing all the public school students of America. No matter what the topic, it will be viewed as red or blue, especially amidst today’s socialistic decrials (which connote an entirely different “red” hue). Actually, I believe there is an even more important reason than one of partisanship. Family and parental rights are totally undermined and misunderstood in our culture today. Parents have the inalienable responsibility of nurturing, protecting, and teaching their young. The laws of nature, and nature’s God are adamant in this regard. Suffice it to say that education is ultimately a parental duty and parents should never be bypassed for any reason and should always be notified and offered options. We won’t even get into any of the educational administration questions this whole issue raises. As far as I am concerned, parental rights and presidential politics are the “one-two” knock-out punch for any nationwide school address. POTUS or not, it is inappropriate as well as unprecedented.

The POTUS and his office staff should understand these ramifications. Inexperience is one thing and indoctrination is quite another. Let the reader decide which is the more accurate description.

Daniel Hite is president of FreeWay Foundation, parent organization of Christian Civic Foundation.  The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer, and not necessarily the position of the foundation.