Michele Bachmann In 2002: Education Reform And Another Holocaust?

A 2002 film that focuses on Michele Bachmann's education activism alludes to her support for filming partner Michael Chapman and his message that state and federal education reform could lead to another Holocaust.

In the film, which Mother Jones discovered and has posted clips from, Bachmann said Minnesota's curriculum policies at the time would "undermine our freedom and undermine our national sovereignty."

Chapman is on the Board of Directors of EdWatch, "the premier 'Education Watchdog' in America, according to an iScribers profile. EdWatch, according to the Minnesota Independent, is the new name for the Maple River Education Coalition, a conservative education watchdog group that Bachmann did work with alongside Chapman.

Their work is seen through this film, Guinea Pig Kids II, as Chapman and Bachmann spoke to church groups across Minnesota, warning of the "dire consequences of state and federal education reform," and aimed to inform, not terrify, according to Mother Jones.

Chapman quotes Hitler in one portion of the film: "When an opponent declares I will not come over to your side, I calmly say: 'Your child belongs to us already.'" He argues that America's education programs, like school-to-work, are similar to Nazi concentration camps and threaten the country's morality.

This threat to America's moral foundation, and its push toward totalitarianism is "already here, and it's something that we have to deal with," Bachmann says.

In another segment, Bachmann worries that education reform would even affect how students understand mathematics, and that standards in education are another vehicle by which bureaucrats can control people. See two of the clips below, from several posted by Mother Jones.

Since stepping into the spotlight for her presidential campaign, Bachmann has been a point of controversial stances on education policy. At the Republican Leadership Conference in June, the candidate said the federal government should be hands-off and let districts decide whether to teach intelligent design in schools.

She also signed a pledge last month stating that homosexuality is a choice, while the district she represents is facing lawsuits against its schools for alleged gay bullying resulting in several student suicides over the last two years.

 

 

Comments

[Thom Jefferson]

09:22 PM on 08/15/2011

Can anyone imagine the misinformation if this women was in charge?

[fredpa]

09:15 AM on 08/16/2011

I attended a conference once, and a speaker read the earthquake survival instructions she found in her hotel room. She then read them again, only substituting "education reform" for the word earthquake. Very funny. Good natured humor. Now imagine substituting "Bachman presidency" for the word earthquake. So not funny.

[Chembug602]

10:03 AM on 08/15/2011

What is her IQ? She does not understand that the standard is related to Mathematics being a human endeavor. Is she saying that the standard implies we can reinvent math at a whim when purchasing things? Who is sitting in the audience who can't see she does not understand the standard herself? wow

[James Lestat Buynar]

10:38 PM on 08/14/2011

god, i hope this is the best that the republicans have to offer. it it is, say hello to a two term president obama.

[sophiajim]

06:53 PM on 08/14/2011

Even while the S&p said that one of the main reasons for lowering our credit raring was the house right fighting to cause and most wanting to default she still brags about being the leader to not raise the debt and it was Obama's fault.Wake up America she is bad news for America. She fights government hand outs while asking for them at the same time for her district and her personal bussines

[Richard Genco]

06:06 PM on 08/14/2011

“http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=Yi4VhcjY2­rE” This is the kind of stuff that creates another holocaust

[Sean Taylor Teacher]

01:56 AM on 08/14/2011

Michele Bachmann is the "Winnebago women" Do me a kindness and forget your intelligence at the polls! Thank you Iowa for voting for kooks!

[stacknef]

12:35 PM on 08/13/2011

Bachmann actually said she lives in the real world! funny.... no she doesn't.....Math is math and nothing changes the equations (no pun intended).

[fredpa]

07:26 AM on 08/13/2011

Every time this woman speaks, I'm reminded of the consequences of an inadequate education.

[mp60mp32]

05:56 PM on 08/12/2011

Maybe its time that we get off Bachmann. She's not going to win another seat in politics after her current term is up because of how she has been exposed like a centerfold model...just there to look at and has limited substance or use after a couple more peeks!

The left needs to concern themselves with the other GOP contenders who WILL be major contestants for the White House. Even Republicans know that she would be a canker sore if she made it any further in the race.

[fredpa]

07:28 AM on 08/13/2011

Y'know, you could be right. She may be useful in keeping the Tea Party thinking they are viable, while the majority of the country is growing more and more disenfranchised with them. She may be hastening the end of their influence.

[mp60mp32]

09:16 AM on 08/13/2011

What kills me is that there are people of political power and influence who think her way. And those people refuse to learn about society outside of the scope of their own past.

[TeraWatt60]

05:54 PM on 08/12/2011

Typical right wing bug-eyed crazy...anyone who believes this bunk should be declared mentally incompetent and force medicated for serious delusions

[rah138]

03:45 PM on 08/12/2011

So with all the loonies running for president, I've decided to run. Here are my positions: Flat tax, everyone pays the same percentage of their income. No Loopholes, no exemptions. Bring the troops back home. We got Bin Laden, which was our goal in the first place (lets fly that Mission Accomplished banner again), so we should be done over there. End the war on drugs. It's the longest, costliest war we've been in, and we are NOT winning. Give gays the right to marry in any state. To deny someone their basic rights because it conflicts with your religious beliefs is unconstitutional. Fix America's infrastructure, which is suffering greatly, instead of bailing out corporations, banks, and lenders that preyed on the American public. Reform immigration policies to give people who came here illegally a chance to become a citizen. They would have to pay a fee, take a test, and pass a background check. Make it mandatory for anyone on government assistance to take and pass a drug test to make sure those resources are going to people who need them and will benefit from them. Not to people who can't keep a job or feed their families because they have a drug habit. Clean up, then we'll help you. Make a clear separation of church and state, because this country was founded on religious freedom and somehow we've lost that. Banning Slaughterhouse Five because it conflicts with your christian beliefs is ridiculous.
Rah138 in 20??

[fredpa]

07:31 AM on 08/13/2011

Sounds good to me. Now go raise a billion dollars by getting in bed with oil, auto, pharma, and especially banking.

[rah138]

10:02 AM on 08/13/2011

Is that the next step? I wasn't sure what to do next...thanks!

[stacknef]

12:37 PM on 08/13/2011

youve got my vote

[elamatt]

01:20 PM on 08/12/2011

Ms Bachmann's "reform" concerns might begin in her own school district of Anoka MN, where high incidences of bulling-related suicides have occurred. Just read of another filed lawsuit this am. Those with no experience in the classroom as a teacher (or who've attended a "real" school) should leave policy-making to those with the subject knowledge. We've gone from NO testing to OVER testing, with virtually no improvement in scores. Shut up, Michele and let the people do their jobs.

[Rolio]

01:13 PM on 08/12/2011

Is it possible that Michele Bachmann and Glenn Beck secretly and initially met on E-Harmony?

[nostrodamusc]

12:48 PM on 08/12/2011

And this creature thinks she is Presidential material, I guess she represents the tea baggers and so they must all think that way, too bad for this country if they stay in power in Congress another day longer then the next election.

[bradenton]

12:38 PM on 08/12/2011

What would Bachmann know about education?