Patrick Henry in Chatham County Schools

This past summer, rising Chatham County 12th grade honors english students were required to read Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly. Here is a link to the requirements: http://bit.ly/ChathamSummerReading2017.

Students had to take notes regarding quotes from the book, and then give their own commentary on those quotes. So far, so good (although Frankenstein seems a weird choice for a summer honors reading course).

The course materials provided an example for student commentary. For a 'quote', the example uses 'Give me liberty or give me death'.

Now, dear readers, do you remember the full quote from Patrick Henry, one of our nation's founding fathers? The final paragraph from his speech to the Second Virginia Convention in March of 1775 was a rallying cry to raise a militia in response to King George III's military threats against the colonists. Here is the full quote:

"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

The Chatham County school instructions then give a suggested interpretation of this founding fathers quote:

'Patrick Henry really was an extremist. I can’t believe he really wanted to die if the Colonies didn’t declare a revolution. There was no negotiating with him. He was a warmonger!'

I am disgusted with that example. Examples are meant to instruct, and this example instructs disrespect for our nation's founding.

Is this REALLY what our Chatham County schools think of Patrick Henry? Is this what WE as Chatham County taxpayers think of our founding fathers and the War for Independence?

If so, we as a County, and we as a Nation, are in trouble.