Federal government attempts to bully our public schools with unconstitutional meddling

Two interesting actions have come to light this week in which our overlords in Washington D.C. are attempting to use the power of the federal government to intervene in something that should have nothing to do with the federal government.

First action: Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA - surprise, surprise), wants a law passed that would require local schools to report to the federal government incidents of bullying involving students with disabilities. Speier says this law is necessary because, “What I want to do is create an environment where there is zero tolerance. I think that starts first with education and awareness. Then, when behavior is egregious, then people have to be called out on that.”

While I agree with Rep. Speier that bullying should be addressed, this issue is none of the federal government's business. This is a local issue, pure and simple. The article doesn't mention it, but I am sure Speier and other supporters would justify this proposed bullying law under either the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or even more likely, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Of course, since these two laws are also unconstitutional, piling more unconstitutional law on top of those doesn't change anything.

Second Action: As impressively moronic and disturbing as the first item, this one is even more astonishing, and it comes right out of the White House. In a gross violation of privacy, President Obama, through his Department of Education, has threatened school principals with lawsuits if these principals do not set up a system for monitoring their students' Facebook activity, even if that activity is taking place during non-school hours! Something like this is always painted with a noble purpose; in this case to curb online harassment and bullying. The problem with this whole endeavor is two-fold. First, once again, this is not within the constitutional jurisdiction of the federal government. Second, since when is a school responsible for what its students do when they are not at school? It is terrible that online bullying occurs, however it is not the job of the principal to enforce student behavior when those students are at home. Once the student is home from school, the students' actions are now the province of parents and law enforcement. To expect school principals to take up this job is beyond ridiculous; it is downright Orwellian.

Yet another action by our federal government to assume total control of our lives.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never was, and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson