RESTORING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ADVANTAGE



The Claremont crisis can be resolved by restoring Art. 6 , Pt. I of the N.H. Constitution.

In 1968 Art. 6, Pt. I of the N.H. Constitution was amended to "remove obsolete sectarian references." Only 1 word, the term "protestant", was sectarian in nature, yet 145 words were removed. Why was this done? Was it done to undermine the intent of this article -- which is to constitutionally guarantee the political independence of all towns from the State with respect to electing and contracting with teachers for the purpose of public instruction?

It can be argued that school districts are "bodies corporate" [Wooster v. Plymouth (1882)] and therefore still retain constitutional protection under Art. 6. But given the controversy created by the Court, it is only prudent that the people act to clarify their right to local control. We must "Restore the N.H. Advantage" by making explicit our constitutional guarantee, protecting local control in each and every school as was the intention of our founders when they drafted our constitution in 1784. This will not prevent the State from "cherishing" the interests of education as required under Art. 83 of the constitution. It will only prevent the State from taking control of our schools and selling out to federal programs in exchange for a few pieces of silver. Local control is what made N.H. what it is today. Let us not lose our Advantage.

Restore Article 6, Pt. I [Morality and Piety] to read:

As morality and piety will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay in the hearts of the strongest obligations to live together peacefully under the law, and as the knowledge of these is most likely to be propagated through a society by institutions of public instruction, therefore, to promote this important purpose the people of this state have a right to empower, and do hereby fully empower the legislature to authorize from time to time the several towns, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies within this state to make adequate provision at their own expense for the support and maintenance of public teachers.

[Exclusive Right clause] Provided, notwithstanding, that the several towns, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies, shall, at all times, have the exclusive right of electing their own public teachers, and of contracting with them for their support and maintenance, and complete discretion in all matters pertaining to the manner, content and cost of instruction.

[Free Toleration clause] And no person of any one particular persuasion, sect or denomination shall ever be compelled to pay towards the support of the teacher or teachers of another persuasion, sect, or denomination. Every person, sect or denomination demeaning themselves quietly, and as good subjects of the State, shall be equally under the protection of the law. And no subordination of any one persuasion, sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law.




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