Why do Tennessee government schools refuse to teach civics?

Civics classes were all the rage once upon a time; we wanted our general population to be appraised and informed as to the function of a republic, if one had to put life and limb in jeopardy to protect and defend it, they should understand they why and how.

We seem to have, as a state, backslidden from that intention. We were warned about this early on in our history by very intelligent men who risked all to give birth to this exercise in Liberty; a case in point:

Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country.

Noah Webster, On the Education of Youth in America, 1788

My favorite scholar on all things constitutional, Thomas Jefferson, eloquently stated this:

I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power.

Thomas Jefferson

I present that there should be a test for candidates who seek to occupy seats of power, (here we see the failings of our society at this point, these Representatives, Senators, County Commissioners, City Councilpersons etc. now believe they are elected to be rulers instead of servants as intended). That test should include a requirement of being 95% proficient in knowledge of the Constitutions, both state and union. Failing that should preclude their ability to serve.

Today the first test for candidacy is, can one raise enough money to pay the Republican Party to even give you a shot. It runs on a sliding scale from $25.00 for their perception of low level functionaries such as constables and county commissioners to $5,000.00 to enter the Governor’s race. (Funny that Leader Jack Johnson and House member Lee Reeves forced through legislation that takes away from the non-governmental state executive committee, a private entity supposedly in charge of the Republican Party, the ability to hold caucuses at the whim of the General Assembly, but they were accepting of the imposition of a “tax” to seek office…)

The reason the Few, the Proud, the Controllers of your life, both elected or appointed are able to order every facet of your existence (and charge you taxes to do so at their desire with no input form you) is simply the effect of dumbing down the general population with respect to their rights and responsibilities laid out in the contract that is our state constitution.

If the average man (or woman) on the street is educated to this set of written in blood facts, somebody might be held to account:

Article 1 §1That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; for the advancement of those ends they have at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.

The General Assembly is solely responsible under Article 11 § 12 for educating the public; (see how that works), if they can keep you dumb, you can be lead like sheep to the slaughter.

Be wary of the promises of candidates for public office they will say anything to achieve their goals, of recent vintage I can offer proof of that from a letter received from candidate for Governor Bill Lee to the Tennessee Firearms Association in 2018, where his promise if elected:

Provides for the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the State Constitution to be taught in our public schools, including the requirement of passage of a civics exam prior to graduation from high school.

Bill Lee, Candidate for Governor 2018

Sounded great, but it did not happen, we gifted as taxpayers, a private football team millions of dollars for a new stadium, but no money in his budget (any year) for civics classes.

Educate yourself, they do not intend you to be aware of the rules of the road that is our constitution, and they may know what it requires or not, but they certainly do not want you to!