Whether in education, or which state I want to live, the merits of choice are self evident in a free society. "One size fits all" was Karl Marx's idea.

Susan Aud, "Education by the Numbers: The Fiscal Effect of School Choice Programs, 1990-2006," found that no school choice program had a negative overall fiscal impact, and most of them saved significant amounts of money. Currently 17 states have accepted choice. Why?

After many years of misconstruing the framers' desire in the First Amendment, the courts have finally won the day. The vile consequence is the deliberate disparaging of our Founders intent as evidenced by the courts misleading of Janet Callen and others about what was written over 200 years ago in the establishment clause. Only by taking the documents out of context will it fit their presuppositions.

This misunderstanding finds its beginning in Thomas Jefferson's supposed clarification of the First Amendment in his letter in 1802 to the Danbury Baptist Association of Danbury, Conn. "They had heard a rumor that the Congregationalist denomination was about to be made the national denomination. That rumor distressed the Danbury Baptists, as it should have. Consequently, they fired off a letter to President Thomas Jefferson voicing their concern. On Jan. 1, 1802, Jefferson wrote the Danbury Baptists, assuring them that "the First Amendment has erected a wall of separation between church and state." He went on to say, "there always would be open and free religious expression of all orthodox religious practices, for true religious duties would never threaten the purpose of government. Without either the context, or the explanation given in the letter." All that is left of Jefferson's letter today are eight words, "A wall of separation between church and state."

"Jefferson's letter remained unused up until the 1870s when challenges of Christian principles in government arrived at the Supreme Court - in Reynolds vs. The United States. In that case, the Court printed a lengthy segment of Jefferson's letter and then used his letter on "separation of church and state" to again prove that it was permissible to maintain Christian values, principles, and practices in official policy. For the next 15 years during that legal controversy, the Supreme Court utilized Jefferson's letter to ensure that Christian principles remained a part of government."

"Following this controversy, Jefferson's letter again fell into disuse. It then remained silent for the next 70 years until 1947, when, in Everson v. Board of Education, the Court, for the first time, did not cite Jefferson's entire letter, but selected only eight words from it. The Court now announced: "The First Amendment has erected 'a wall of separation between church and state.' That wall must be kept high and impregnable." Why would the Court take Jefferson's letter completely out of context and cite only eight of its words? Dr. William James, the Father of modern Psychology - and a strong opponent of religious principles in government and education - perhaps explained the Court's new strategy when he stated: "There is nothing so absurd but if you repeat it often enough people will believe it."

It is worthy of considering Ms. Callen's suggestion of taking public funds and "borrowing the curriculum of cute little Alex's private school to help all children be better educated." This would produce better educated children, the problem with this idea is that the private school curriculum she is considering is Bible based and God centered; blasphemy in the state school which has taken God out of education. What is most alarming though is her inference when she wrote, "borrow it from Cute little Alex's private school?" Is this intentionally disparaging the choice of private school parents? That is the greatness of choice, you choose.

Bob Holliday is a Post Falls resident.