Grate!
Here is a press release from the Eagle Forum of California State President
Press Release: Santa Rosa, CA January 12, 2004
Update on Conservative Club of Rancho Cotate High School, Phyllis Schlafly Challenges Liberal Teachers to Debate; the Superintendent Faults the Principal
By Orlean Koehle, Eagle Forum of California State President
Phyllis Schlafly's name appeared on the front page of the Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, CA, Friday, January 9, with the heading "Phyllis Schlafly Joins Controversy," telling of Phyllis' challenge to debate the liberal teachers who have been giving seventeen-year old Tim Bueler, President and founder of the Conservative Club, the most criticism and opposition.
Phyllis will be coming to Santa Rosa to speak at a state all-day Eagle Forum Conference on February 7. She will arrive the afternoon of the 6th and would be willing to debate that evening. (If a teacher can be found to rise to the challenge.)
The article states that (because of national news coverage that Tim and the Conservative Club has received on talk shows and even an article in the Washington Times) thousands of e-mails from conservatives across the nation have been sent to the principal of Rancho Cotate's e-mail address offering support and aid for Tim but expressing outrage over the principal and two other teachers who refused to give Tim protection when he asked for their help when Latino students were threatening Tim.
The students were upset with an article that Tim had written against illegal aliens coming into our country and hurting the economy and health system of our own state and nation.
Even the superintendent of the Cotati-Rohnert Park School District, Michael Watenpaugh, agreed with the e-mails that the principal, Mitchell Carter, was wrong telling Tim to go home instead of offering him protection at the school.
The article goes on to say that the teachers and administrators at the school (in spite of all the opposition Tim has received) continue to say that there is no liberal bias at the school. I beg to differ.
As a conservative substitute teacher who has taught school throughout Sonoma County and as the State President of Eagle Forum of California, I was asked to come and speak for Tim's club last November on the very subject of "Bias in Our Schools."
For any teacher or administrator to deny that such a bias exists shows that they either have blinders on or the liberal viewpoint has so permeated public school and college campuses, it is no longer recognized as a bias.
Many fellow teachers have told me that they have to be "closet Republicans." If they ever dare to express their conservative views, they come under attack by fellow teachers or administrators or are given the cold shoulder and silent treatment.
They are no longer regarded as "team players or consensus builders." Some are afraid of even losing their jobs.
The fact that it is considered so unusual to have a conservative club on a high school campus shows there is a bias. The fact that Tim Bueler has been threatened by fellow students and granted no protection by the principal and teachers whom he asked for assistance shows there is a bias.
However, the greatest evidence of that bias is a three-page article written by a science teacher, Mark Alton, who came to hear my presentation and then wrote a "rebuttal" of my talk, which he gave to every teacher on campus.
(A teacher gave a copy to Tim Bueler who gave it to me.) Mr. Alton stated that "Eagle Forum is a vestige of the old Cold War right-wing - a God-fearing, anti-communist crowd," (which is actually all true) but then he insinuates that we are so outmoded, we just don't know what is going on today.
He said, "Historical scholarship and research has determined that quite a lot of what used to be 'facts' about American history just did not happen, e.g. Patrick Henry never said, 'Give me liberty or give me death.'" He goes on to say, "The Eagle Forum does not want to admit any of these real facts - just more liberal, anti-patriotic bias to them. She wants you to learn (memorize) these myths so you will be educated (indoctrinated) with her jingoistic flag-waving, then accept it without question as the truth."
Wow! Thank you for saying that, Mr. Alton. That was exactly one of the points I made in my talk about how some teachers today are using their classrooms to teach a biased, revised history that puts down our founding fathers, our form of government, our president (if he is a Republican). Even waving the flag and patriotism are considered old-fashioned and something to scoff at.
While I found Tim Bueler and the students of the Conservative Club to be polite, courteous, clean-cut, refreshing youth who share my same passion and love for our country, Mr. Alton labels the Conservative Club as "reactionary" and insinuates that it is similar to Hitler's Nazism.
He also attacks radio talk show hosts Michael Savage and Rush Limbaugh as the source of where the Conservative Club is getting their "mistruths."
I am actually thankful for Mr. Alton's essay for it is more evidence of the liberal bias that does exist in our public schools and gives more reason to believe in the need for a conservative club on every campus so another viewpoint can be expressed.
Mr. Alton states in his essay that he believes in "the freedom to debate." That is why we are specifically asking for him to rise to the challenge to debate Phyllis Schlafly. So far we have received no reply from him or any other teacher.
Perhaps he is just a little intimidated by Phyllis and the fact that she has a masters in political science from Harvard, is an attorney, writes a weekly syndicated column, has a weekly radio show, has written many historical books, and has actually helped create American history by leading the defeat of the ERA back in the 1970's.
Mr. Alton or any teacher at Rancho Cotati High School, who think you really know the facts of true American history, will you rise to the challenge to debate Mrs. Schlafly?
Thanks spitfire for the new post.
Do you know how FR mail works?
I will send you another message and you will see at the top of your screen in blue "you have mail"
Click on that. I'll see you soon