Presidential lessons in education as a civil right - by Kathryn Baron
President Barack Obama’s second term officially began yesterday when he took the oath of office in a private ceremony surrounded by his family, using a Bible given to First Lady Michelle Obama’s grandmother by her father. Today, as he is publicly sworn in on the day the nation also celebrates the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the president will place his hand on a Bible that belonged to Dr. King, which itself will be stacked atop President Lincoln’s inaugural Bible.
President Barack Obama takes the official Oath of Office, Jan. 20, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The symbolism of this act goes beyond the obvious. For all three leaders, public education has been one of the leading civil rights issues of their time.
President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act of 1862, establishing the framework for the nation’s public universities and colleges. In 1890, a second law, the Morrill Land Grant Act, extended accessibility to African Americans.
Lincoln’s views on public education were formed early in his life. At age 23, when running (unsuccessfully) for his first political office in Illinois, the Sangamo Journal published hiscampaign statement, which included the