2 profiles in courage

Often I am critical on my broadcast when it comes to the quality of education the public educators believe themselves to be giving our children today. In large part, the teachers unions of our nation have become elitist snobs that seek to wreck the value system of our children and undermine the stability, authority and provision of the parents. It is the parents' God-given responsibility to give guidance to, teach and train these young ones to eventually become men and women.

It is hard. Many times it is painful. But it is the God-sanctioned job of the parent, not the public educator, to take on the moral training for the next generation.

TRENDING: Caught red-handed

It is the disdain that some of these public educators have for parents and family that has caused me to develop this somewhat suspicious and some would say cynical view of those who are in control of the agenda for public education.

Having said that, let me rush to quickly add that there are thousands of dedicated teachers who serve in public education that do not fit that stereotype. And when they get it right, I want to be at the front of the line applauding.

One such person is Marcus Borden, formerly of East Brunswick High School, in East Brunswick, N.J. For the past 23 years, Marcus has taught classes but he has also served as the head football coach. And for the duration of those 23 years he has compiled a 116-100-1 record. In 2004, his team won the Group IV State Championship. He is also founder of the "Snapple Bowl," a charity all-star football game that has raised about $150,000 for physically and mentally impaired children.

Marcus is no longer employed by the school system. He resigned over a major principle that he was asked to compromise, and in good conscience he acknowledges his God before his paycheck.

What was the big offense? Coach Borden had led his team in prayer before games, asking the God who made each of his kids to protect them, cause them to play with excellence and to be shining examples to the teams they played in how young men should conduct themselves.

When the school laid down the law and told him that the practice he had employed for 23 years had to end, he decided it was time for his association with that school to end instead. Some of his best players and their parents even staged a "get coach to come back" visit to his home but to no avail.

Meanwhile, across New York harbor at Kellenberg Memorial High School, another educator came to a moment of conscience.

Principal Kenneth M. Hoagland came to the awareness that it was his high school that was creating an environment around the prom each fall that was encouraging loose sexual behavior and dangerous combinations of alcohol that was leading his community into an annual rite of debauchery. He also realized he had little control to change the direction of the majority of the activity surrounding the event.

In a sharply worded letter to parents, who in large part were footing the bills for the "Hampton houses of orgy," "liquor loaded limos" and "booze cruises," Hoagland stated, "We are withdrawing from the battle and allowing the parents full responsibility. Kellenberg is willing to sponsor a prom, not an orgy."

And then he canceled the prom.

Neither of these men are nearly as popular with their bosses or the student body of their respective schools as they were before their courageous decisions to stand for what was right. They could've said, "It's not my problem." They could've shrugged their shoulders and said, "Oh well, that's the way the system works." Instead, they chose to speak up, be bold, even a little hardheaded – some would say hardnosed – in their positions.

But their stands are to be honored, recognized, applauded and imitated.

And we would do well to begin today!