I have been part of the patriot movement well before tea parties came into existence – doing my best to educate the public about the unpublicized assaults against our Constitution. Unfortunately, all our noble attempts have not been able to stay the successful coup de tat that has gone nearly unnoticed by the general public.
The saddest thing about the situation is that we as a people continue to look to government to solve the problems government has created. Not only is this heartbreaking; it is completely solvable if we will start standing on our own two feet. A few weeks back I wrote a commentary in Conservative News and Views entitled Slay the Beast ( http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2012/11/30/accountability/news-media/slay-the-beast/). In this article I identified what I consider to be the primary causes that impacted our last election. These causes have also produced an electorate that would re-elect the most egregious president this writer could ever envision. They are:
Identifying the problem:
On Sunday I attended a statewide school choice event hosted by inarguably the most sincere and committed people you could imagine – people who are wholeheartedly doing their best to rescue a failing school system in New Jersey. Unfortunately, these people are also relying on government to solve this problem.
Here’s why I believe they are barking up the wrong tree. The whole agenda revolved around proposed school choice legislation. You may be thinking that’s not a bad agenda. I would have to agree to some degree – a very limited degree. During the entire five-hour program – not one person mentioned anything about establishing private schools – just moving money around to schools that comply with government standards – standards that have failed our kids and misspent our money.
The main problem with the proposed legislation is that many of the religiously-based private schools simply would not “participate” in the State’s program. In other words, they would not jump through the hoops the State created to make them eligible to receive tuition monies for their students. For instance, the way the legislation is written, a participating Jewish school would have to accept Muslim teachers or be charged with discrimination – or a Christian school would have to accept practicing homosexuals in order to qualify for state funds. That’s one part of the problem. Another part of the problem deals with creating more financial hoops for schools to jump through – especially those that are already 501 C-3s and have to jump through enough hoops at the moment. Still another problem exists regarding the accreditation process participating schools would have to submit to – which process would be created by the State and would not defer to the many accreditation institutions that have earned their worldwide and national respect. In essence you are allowing parents to choose schools that are different but never-the-less regulated to be the same. Therefore, you can expect results that may be slightly different – but never-the-less the same.
What’s the solution?
Answer: America, start standing on your own two feet!
How?
Create alternative choices for students that really are alternative choices. This means taking your kids out of government-run schools and establishing private schools. Before you tell me that is impractical, let me tell you that I’ve heard that argument before. And…it doesn’t hold water as far as I’m concerned. Before I explain what I mean, let me ask you a few questions?
When did you accept the premise that the government is qualified to educate our kids?
If you accept the above premises, how do you think that’s working out for this country?
Do you know that IRS allows you to deduct all contributions made to schools that are organized as federal non-profits?
Do you realize that many churches only use their buildings to their fullest on Sundays while they remain nearly dormant for the rest of the week?
Do you know that Association of Christian Schools International (http://www.acsiglobal.org/), a globally-respected accreditation agency, will help you in establishing a Christian school in your community?
Do you realize that homeschoolers in most states can pool their resources and create co-ops?
Hopefully these questions have spurred you on to thinking in a new way. You may have guessed that my suggestion for standing on your own two feet when it comes to education means taking kids out of government-run schools and creating alternative schools for them to attend. And just in case you think I’m talking out of a pipe filled with something other than tobacco, let me tell you that I’ve already done this successfully. Sure, I had to deal with the naysayers – the “What makes you think you can start a private school – ha ha?” crowd. Just for the record, our school is about to graduate our sixth senior class this June, and as for the naysayers – some of them have applied for jobs. One more thing you need to know – I have a high school diploma with a business school certificate – that’s it. I also had the determination, the vision and the passion to make it happen.
In conclusion I would also like to remind you that there are a multitude of churches that would be open to have someone use their facility during the week. If the school is for the children of members of their congregation, they may allow you to use it free of charge. If the school is for the community at large, they may charge a small fee – which would also help the church – a real win/win situation. The church may even consider helping with the finances of the school – especially urban churches that are very well aware of how the educational system has failed their congregants. And I can assure you that there is no shortage of donors who would gladly contribute tax-deductible funds for a venture such as this.
Another alternative may be to create a co-op of homeschoolers. Of course, you would have to check on the laws of your state before embarking on such a course. This could work in a number of ways. Parents could be responsible for some of the basics and the co-op could pick up the slack for subjects like math, science, and the arts. Many co-ops exist around the country today. If you have school age kids, you may want to find out where they are and how they are structured. If none exist in your area, you may want to consider starting one. If you don’t have school age children and are retired and have skills, perhaps you can serve your community and your country by offering to teach at a reasonable rate – you would be serving your country well in this case.
The point is – if we really want change in America, we need to start standing on our own two feet and stop begging an incompetent and misguided government for the crumbs off our own table. Where’s that good old American ingenuity we’ve grown up knowing? If it’s still out there – and I believe it is – stop complaining and start doing something. I’ll end with another quote from Lincoln:
RoseAnn Salanitri is an average citizen who embraces the title of “Community Organizer” in her rural New Jersey community. In the spring of 2009, she volunteered to organize a TEA Party for Sussex County. Little did she know that a few months later she would be spearheading a recall movement against Senator Robert Menendez that would gain national attention. RoseAnn’s most recent tea party endeavors include founding The NJ TEA Party Caucus, which she now presides over as president and her charter membership in the American Tea Party Congress. Although RoseAnn is a housewife living in the hills of New Jersey, she became active in the political and social realms when she realized the country she loved was on a downward spiral. She first became active at the organizational level through the New Jersey Family Policy, an affiliate of Focus on the Family. From 2005 through 2011, she had been the contributing and acquisitions editor for their yearly flagship publication, Family Magazine, and previously worked in various other capacities for them since the year 2000. RoseAnn is also a published author of “GUTs All Tied Up With Strings,” a creation science book in theoretical physics, and is currently working on a novel, which she anticipates self-publishing and releasing in the near future. She has also just released a children’s’ Christmas story entitled “The First Christmas Tree.” RoseAnn is Co-Founder of Creation Science Alive, a creation science ministry and a speaker at the annual Creation Evidence Expo in Indianapolis. Recently she was awarded “honorable mention” in the Creation Science Hall of Fame for her many years of dedication to telling the truths that have been censored by evolutionists. RoseAnn co-founded Conservative News and Views, a conservative online newspaper, with Dr. Terry Hurlbut, an Examiner journalist. Perhaps one of the most significant efforts RoseAnn can be credited with is that she is Founder of a Christian high school now up and running in Sussex County, New Jersey. She has also served as Chairwoman of the Sussex County Christian Women’s Club and along with the Rev. Dr. Gloria Harris co-hosted a local tv/radio show entitled “Truth or Consequences”. She also co-hosted R&R, a radio show with former state senator, Richard LaRossa.
The saddest thing about the situation is that we as a people continue to look to government to solve the problems government has created. Not only is this heartbreaking; it is completely solvable if we will start standing on our own two feet. A few weeks back I wrote a commentary in Conservative News and Views entitled Slay the Beast ( http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2012/11/30/accountability/news-media/slay-the-beast/). In this article I identified what I consider to be the primary causes that impacted our last election. These causes have also produced an electorate that would re-elect the most egregious president this writer could ever envision. They are:
- A complicit and ideologically driven media;
- Judges that legislate from the bench and ignore Constitutional mandates;
- Crippling taxation that steals the fruits of one’s labors to give to others;
- Schools that indoctrinate students into secular hedonism instead of teaching academics;
- Political cabals that exercise cronyism and nepotism;
- Ineffective churches that are politically correct but biblically bankrupt.
Identifying the problem:
On Sunday I attended a statewide school choice event hosted by inarguably the most sincere and committed people you could imagine – people who are wholeheartedly doing their best to rescue a failing school system in New Jersey. Unfortunately, these people are also relying on government to solve this problem.
Here’s why I believe they are barking up the wrong tree. The whole agenda revolved around proposed school choice legislation. You may be thinking that’s not a bad agenda. I would have to agree to some degree – a very limited degree. During the entire five-hour program – not one person mentioned anything about establishing private schools – just moving money around to schools that comply with government standards – standards that have failed our kids and misspent our money.
The main problem with the proposed legislation is that many of the religiously-based private schools simply would not “participate” in the State’s program. In other words, they would not jump through the hoops the State created to make them eligible to receive tuition monies for their students. For instance, the way the legislation is written, a participating Jewish school would have to accept Muslim teachers or be charged with discrimination – or a Christian school would have to accept practicing homosexuals in order to qualify for state funds. That’s one part of the problem. Another part of the problem deals with creating more financial hoops for schools to jump through – especially those that are already 501 C-3s and have to jump through enough hoops at the moment. Still another problem exists regarding the accreditation process participating schools would have to submit to – which process would be created by the State and would not defer to the many accreditation institutions that have earned their worldwide and national respect. In essence you are allowing parents to choose schools that are different but never-the-less regulated to be the same. Therefore, you can expect results that may be slightly different – but never-the-less the same.
What’s the solution?
Answer: America, start standing on your own two feet!
How?
Create alternative choices for students that really are alternative choices. This means taking your kids out of government-run schools and establishing private schools. Before you tell me that is impractical, let me tell you that I’ve heard that argument before. And…it doesn’t hold water as far as I’m concerned. Before I explain what I mean, let me ask you a few questions?
When did you accept the premise that the government is qualified to educate our kids?
If you accept the above premises, how do you think that’s working out for this country?
Do you know that IRS allows you to deduct all contributions made to schools that are organized as federal non-profits?
Do you realize that many churches only use their buildings to their fullest on Sundays while they remain nearly dormant for the rest of the week?
Do you know that Association of Christian Schools International (http://www.acsiglobal.org/), a globally-respected accreditation agency, will help you in establishing a Christian school in your community?
Do you realize that homeschoolers in most states can pool their resources and create co-ops?
Hopefully these questions have spurred you on to thinking in a new way. You may have guessed that my suggestion for standing on your own two feet when it comes to education means taking kids out of government-run schools and creating alternative schools for them to attend. And just in case you think I’m talking out of a pipe filled with something other than tobacco, let me tell you that I’ve already done this successfully. Sure, I had to deal with the naysayers – the “What makes you think you can start a private school – ha ha?” crowd. Just for the record, our school is about to graduate our sixth senior class this June, and as for the naysayers – some of them have applied for jobs. One more thing you need to know – I have a high school diploma with a business school certificate – that’s it. I also had the determination, the vision and the passion to make it happen.
In conclusion I would also like to remind you that there are a multitude of churches that would be open to have someone use their facility during the week. If the school is for the children of members of their congregation, they may allow you to use it free of charge. If the school is for the community at large, they may charge a small fee – which would also help the church – a real win/win situation. The church may even consider helping with the finances of the school – especially urban churches that are very well aware of how the educational system has failed their congregants. And I can assure you that there is no shortage of donors who would gladly contribute tax-deductible funds for a venture such as this.
Another alternative may be to create a co-op of homeschoolers. Of course, you would have to check on the laws of your state before embarking on such a course. This could work in a number of ways. Parents could be responsible for some of the basics and the co-op could pick up the slack for subjects like math, science, and the arts. Many co-ops exist around the country today. If you have school age kids, you may want to find out where they are and how they are structured. If none exist in your area, you may want to consider starting one. If you don’t have school age children and are retired and have skills, perhaps you can serve your community and your country by offering to teach at a reasonable rate – you would be serving your country well in this case.
The point is – if we really want change in America, we need to start standing on our own two feet and stop begging an incompetent and misguided government for the crumbs off our own table. Where’s that good old American ingenuity we’ve grown up knowing? If it’s still out there – and I believe it is – stop complaining and start doing something. I’ll end with another quote from Lincoln:
“…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom…”
Lincoln was right about education. I pray that he was right about our ability to stay a free and liberty-loving people. But I’m worried because I know that a free and liberty-loving people can only survive if they are willing to stand on their own two feet. May God have mercy on America!
By on January 30, 2013
About Roseann Salanitri
RoseAnn Salanitri is an average citizen who embraces the title of “Community Organizer” in her rural New Jersey community. In the spring of 2009, she volunteered to organize a TEA Party for Sussex County. Little did she know that a few months later she would be spearheading a recall movement against Senator Robert Menendez that would gain national attention. RoseAnn’s most recent tea party endeavors include founding The NJ TEA Party Caucus, which she now presides over as president and her charter membership in the American Tea Party Congress. Although RoseAnn is a housewife living in the hills of New Jersey, she became active in the political and social realms when she realized the country she loved was on a downward spiral. She first became active at the organizational level through the New Jersey Family Policy, an affiliate of Focus on the Family. From 2005 through 2011, she had been the contributing and acquisitions editor for their yearly flagship publication, Family Magazine, and previously worked in various other capacities for them since the year 2000. RoseAnn is also a published author of “GUTs All Tied Up With Strings,” a creation science book in theoretical physics, and is currently working on a novel, which she anticipates self-publishing and releasing in the near future. She has also just released a children’s’ Christmas story entitled “The First Christmas Tree.” RoseAnn is Co-Founder of Creation Science Alive, a creation science ministry and a speaker at the annual Creation Evidence Expo in Indianapolis. Recently she was awarded “honorable mention” in the Creation Science Hall of Fame for her many years of dedication to telling the truths that have been censored by evolutionists. RoseAnn co-founded Conservative News and Views, a conservative online newspaper, with Dr. Terry Hurlbut, an Examiner journalist. Perhaps one of the most significant efforts RoseAnn can be credited with is that she is Founder of a Christian high school now up and running in Sussex County, New Jersey. She has also served as Chairwoman of the Sussex County Christian Women’s Club and along with the Rev. Dr. Gloria Harris co-hosted a local tv/radio show entitled “Truth or Consequences”. She also co-hosted R&R, a radio show with former state senator, Richard LaRossa. 
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