Schools, county no role in TPUSA chap.

The uproar that should never have occurred burst into full voice last week as parents, students, political party faithful, government officials and other opinionators weighed in on the appropriateness of having a Turning Point USA chapter at Stephen Decatur High School.

They should keep quiet, because it’s no more inappropriate legally than having a chapter of the High School Republicans or Young Democrats of America or, for that matter, the Young Democratic Socialists of America.

If a student has an interest in a philosophy or any academic or non-academic pursuit, there’s a national organization for it, and, as long as these organizations are student-initiated, student-led and not sponsored or endorsed by the schools or government itself, no one can stop it.

That’s the law. In the meantime, parents, administrators and government officials are free not to like it or not. They  have no license to force the kids to think or do anything in the free time after school.

Time was the battle for the hearts and minds of high school kids was being fought over whether JROTC programs should be permitted on campus. Critics argued these programs led students into a militaristic way of thinking, while organizations such as the Heritage Foundation said JROTC helped teach leadership skills. Who can say?

Unfortunately, in this instance, County Commissioner Caryn Abbott used a recent commissioners’ meeting to note the Turning Point chapter’s arrival by recognizing the group after leading the commissioners to proclaim Charlie Kirk Day.  Although it’s her right to do that, she did the kids no favors by interjecting the party’s national platform into the local discussion, since it’s doubtful she would have been equally supportive of the formation of a local Muslim Students Association chapter.

The best course of action in this situation is not to beat on the board of education, or by railing at the county commissioners. The best option may be to follow the advice of of the rock group Pink Floyd, who, in its album, “Another Brick in the Wall,” sang, “…leave them kids alone.”