Mission Impossible Desp i te protests, the state Board of Education "The sad part is that the board refused to allow more hearings to allow people in other parts of the state ... to offer their opin- ions," said Mr. Durant. Numer- ous citizens and Republican state legislators — led by Rep. Ken Sikkema (R-Grandville) — at- tended the June 19 public hear- ing. Although the majority voiced support for the mission, a num- rescinds a controversial mission statement. JULIE WIENER STAFF WRITER /-' 66 ision: We, the Michi- gan State Board of Education, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, do earnestly desire to secure these blessings undiminished for our children. A blessing of freedom is to reaffirm an important truth. Religion, morality and knowl- edge are necessary to good gov- ernment and the happiness of mankind, so therefore schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. Good government entrusts citizens to conduct a great ex- periment in freedom to seek ex- cellence in providing a quality education for their own fami- lies and other children in their communities. "Philosophy: We, the Michi- gan State Board of Education, believe that to teach a child cre- ated by God is a noble calling; that throughout life, parents are a child's first teachers with the primary right and respon- sibility for their child's educa- tion. A quality education is root- ed in character and academic excellence. It seeks to help a child develop to his or her fullest potential in heart, mind and body. It encourages a child always and everywhere to seek truth, to know what is good, to develop a disciplined mind and a wise, kind and discerning PHOTO BY G LENN TRIEST S upporters said it provided ed the statement, argued it was important guidance to the necessary because the state con- state Board of Education. stitution does not provide a spe- Opponents felt it was un- cific enough mission for the necessary and infringed upon the board. separation of church and state. Mr. Durant added that the re- "It" was a mission state- ment adopted two years ago in a 7-1 vote by the then mostly Republican state Board of Education. At 2:30 last Friday morn- ing, following a 12-hour pub- lic hearing, the board voted 5-3 to rescind the statement and to end further discussion of the matter. "My feeling was from the beginning that [the mission] was unnecessary. Our mis- sion is clearly stated in the [Michigan] constitution," said state board president Kath- leen Straus, the lone board member who voted against the statement in 1995. She added that the lan- Cindy Hughey: Out of context. guage and tone of the state- ment — which makes repeated references to God and ligious language under attack the importance of religion — was merely language lifted from overstep the line between church the Michigan constitution, and and state. he accused the state board of sti- But Clark Durant, the former fling future debate on the mis- state board president who draft- sion. Disputed Statement Kathleen Straus: Sees no need. ber of people, including Michigan Jewish Conference director Cindy Hughey, spoke out against it. `The problem is that when you take a mission statement like that ... and it filters down to school districts, how is it going to be interpreted?" said Ms. MISSION page 26 heart and to be a self responsi- ble citizen who leads a full and good life as a productive and contributing member of a free society. "Mission: We, the Michigan State Board of Education, unit- ed in vision and philosophy, empowered by our Constitution to respond with leadership, humbly serve to enable, pro- mote and inspire a new spirit and birth of freedom, self gov- ernment, excellence and ac- countability in our local communities for all who are there involved in the lifelong education of students. In working to achieve this mission, we recognize that a quality education is first the re- sponsibility of parents and stu- dents, then of teachers, administrators, school boards and others in the local com- munity; we support public ed- ucation; we support school choices for parents; we encour- age the development, support and recognition of quality teachers; we support local ac- countability that enhances ex- cellence in education; we advocate for the removal of bar- riers that constrain efforts to open, sustain and/or expand quality schools and other qual- ity educational opportunities in the marketplace of a free so- ciety; and we pray for wisdom in all decisions that impact the lives of the students we serve." 6PITZER '6 HEBREW BOOK and GIFT CENTER, INC. Looking For Summer Fun? NEW '96 900CS CONVERTIBLE MAH JONGG GAMES reg. $125.00 SPECIAL PRICE $ 99.00 New Book Arrivals: The Bible Code by Michael Drosnin The Genesis of Ethics by Burton L. 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