South Carolina Republican government overreach, design curriculum their way for schools.

While Republicans whine and complain about liberal indoctrination in our public schools and government overreach with Common Core, they’re busy at work dictating and politicizing what and what can’t be taught in our schools...in South Carolina anyway. 

Republican “local control” of education means shaping curriculum to their world view. Check out this outrageous set of events now getting national attention:  

Fox News: The South Carolina legislature has rankled liberal groups after requiring that a pair of public schools use state funds to teach the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Federalist Papers, including the study of and devotion to American institutions and ideals." State House lawmakers previously had cut funds from two public universities in retaliation for required-reading material containing homosexual themes. A revised budget passed restored the money but dictated that exact amount be spent "for instruction in the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution.

Breathtaking. That’s not all. Republicans also insist on offering “opposing” courses for those who object to what might be considered a liberal agenda. 

The legislation also says that any school that conducts a mandatory reading program must provide an alternative in case the chosen book conflicts with any students’ moral or religious beliefs. 

WTF Moment: Gov. Nikki Haley didn't like the GOP manipulating public education, but said, oh, what the heck:

Gov. Nikki Haley went along with the Constitution requirement on Thursday, saying she did not agree with it but kept it in because lawmakers spent so much time on the bill. She said her office "didn't want to interject ourselves into that." "I don't believe legislators should micromanage our boards," she said, according to The Associated Press. "They elect board members, so if they want to beat up on them, go for it... but to go in there and micromanage books being read, I think that's out of our purview."

The saner side of the debate:

The National Coalition Against Censorship, ACLU of South Carolina and other groups said “It represents unwarranted political interference with academic freedom and undermines the integrity of the higher education system in South Carolina,” the groups said.

Here’s the conservative idiot at the center of this fiasco. His objective is to prevent people from learning about other different people in required reading assignments:

Republican state Rep. Garry Smith, who introduced the cuts in the House, told FoxNews.com in March he received complaints from constituents who have children at both schools. He said when they or their students objected to the books' content, they were told they could not read an alternative book. “I appreciate the issue of freedom and academic freedom and very much support that, but in this case it was very irresponsibly exercised,” he said.

But he really doesn't.