Beware 'Blaine' amendments
Letters
The Christian Science Monitor
August 19, 2002

As the Monitor noted in "School's out, but fight over school choice is
in" (Aug. 13), one of the main impediments to school choice is the
presence of "Blaine Amendments" in a number of state constitutions.

These amendments are named after an anti-Catholic legislator in the
19th century, James Blaine, who was concerned that members of Christian
sects he didn't care for might gain sway in public schools. It's
something members of all religions should keep in mind as they listen
to forthcoming debates about ostensible First Amendment arguments
against letting parents have, well, a First Amendment right to choose.

Keith Sheets
Washington, Alexis de Tocqueville Institution