NOTICE
The first book to tell the story of the protest from the words of the protesters is PROTESTER VOICES--The 1974 Textbook Tea Party. For purchasing information CLICK HERE.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
1974 Textbook War
I asked each key protest leader to provide a few paragraphs of what they would say if FOX News interviewed them and gave them only a couple of minutes to say what they felt was the most important things the world should remember about the protest. What follows, with one exception, are their own words with only obvious typo editing.
Karl C. Priest, M.A. June 1, 2009
Alice Moore
President Jimmy Carter promised the far-left National Education Association, if they would support him for president, he would establish a federal Department of Education and appoint only NEA members to run it. He was elected because he presented himself as a devout Christian. That was the beginning of the end of local control of education.
Instead of passing on our heritage which originated from our Christian philosophy, the goals became the destruction of nationalism and the merging of our country into the global community. No longer were children to be taught national pride and loyalty. They were to be taught we were just one of many nations with many different ideas and certainly in no way superior. There is no right. There is no wrong. There is no Shining City on a Hill showing the rest of the world what could be.
The battle we are in will never end. It has gone on since the beginning of time. It can't be won by bullets. It is a battle for the mind. Every disagreement we have originates from our view of the world and its origin and until the war of ideas has finally played itself out completely with no options left except total conquest and defeat of one side or the other through war or surrender, we will be fighting this war. I am not bitter against anyone. We will continue to fight the war of ideas, not just against those who don't recognize there is a greater authority than their own reasoning, but also to show those who basically agree with us (as far as the desired outcome), but who do not understand that the philosophy behind what is creating all this turmoil in our country is coming from our own government run public school system. We are paying with our taxes for the support of our own destruction.
Ezra Graley
(The following was transcribed from a conversation with Ezra Graley on May 23, 2009. It was presented to Ezra for his approval for accuracy.)
I was arrested three times and spent a total of eleven days in jail. I feel like I was arrested for nothing. I did not break the law and even a judge told me so. While in jail I was held with the federal prisoners and there were some politicians who were there for vote buying. I witnessed to those men and there were eights souls saved while I was in jail. I did not mind being in jail and have no regrets about my time there.
I spent a lot of my own money and every penny that was donated from across the nation went to the ministry. I had a real good roofing company that suffered some, but what we were doing was more important than money
After the protest I toured 16 states and appeared on a couple of talk shows. Some Catholics paid my way to New York to give me an award for standing up for God and country. I had more invitations to other states, but I did all I could and got tired so I quit.
They framed Marvin Horan. I went to every part of his trial. All they had was a gas can that he admitted was his that he had loaned to someone.
I want to thank the coal miners and other unions for their help. They wanted to see their kids to come up right.
We were good Christian people. There were infiltrators from the other side.
The battle is evil against the good. The books now would make the ones we fought look like Sunday school literature. We are so far away from God and I believe that this is God’s wrath on our nation.
I still would like to see those people, who were for those filthy books, to get born again. Their good works—no matter what they do to help the poor—are to no avail. I told Jim Lewis I’d like to see him get saved.
I regret that I only have one life to give. I am 80 years old, still a pastor, and still stand firm.
Phyllis Harmon
(Mrs. Harmon (now Higgenbotham) was one of the leaders of the mothers. Mrs. Higgenbotham told me to post some comments she wrote in 1974. KCP)
It seems today, in this time of turmoil and trouble, too many people are depending upon someone else to do the battling for them. Too many church members and ministers are lying down on their jobs as Christians, and expecting a handful of people to solve all the problems.
But then, on the other hand, we have the faithful few, who have tarried long days and hours with no rest, little food, and a very slim pocket book. It is these people who have stood in the rain and snow, and have spent many sleepless nights, just to see to it that the freedom of this nation is preserved. Not all of them are Christians. Oh, no! they are people with a conscience. They are people that know right from wrong, and aren’t afraid to stand up for it.
(In 2009 she said the following.) It caused me to realize that I had to really to stand guard on my children and watch everything knowing that Satan is a roaring lion and he is out to steal, kill, and destroy our children.
Avis Hill
As I sit in the sweet quietness of the late night, pondering about one of the most, if not the most important battle's of the 20th Century--the battle for the Mind's and Souls our greatest living resource, our Children, the Textbook War of Kanawha County, in “them thar Hills” of Ole West Virginia, determining our heritage and the legacy we leave behind for future generations--I can't keep from thinking back 30 some years, with the long 18 and sometimes 20 hour days, that we labored doing whatever we could to awaken the moral consciences of the fathers and mothers in the mountains of "Almost Heaven West Virginia". I, and a few ministers along with many parents, perceived to be nothing more than, some crazed few people who were hell bent on trying to destroy the moral fiber of this great nation, and all that has made this nation one of the most envied nation on the face of this earth since the beginning of civilization, or at least in modern times.
Well, after these many years, we see the product of this massive onslaught by the Secular Humanists--not educators, but social change agents--those who we knew were trying to destroy the only thing that keeps a nation great and its people together: The Family!
We remember then, when neighbors were neighbors and churches and religious institutions were the center of the social gatherings in the community. When a simple hand shake was a bond between two men. When the word "trust" had real meaning. When local government was concerned about the better welfare of the community. When ministers were well respected in the local community. When you still could leave your car unlocked and the keys in the switch or laying on the floorboard over night. When you could leave home and not lock the door. When people worked and felt good about giving a hard day’s work for a day’s pay. When you knew your local banker by his first name and his sons and daughters attended the same school as your children and you and their parents attended. When we took pride in the work place and were proud to see the stamp, "Made in the USA". When we could still prayer in school. When we recited The Pledge of Allegiance and did not worry about saying, "One Nation Under God". When we placed our right hand on the Holy Bible and someone said, "Do you swear, or affirm, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
Well my friends I could go on and on, but let me stop and say to all those, GREAT, God fearing, family loving patriots called "PROTESTERS". We were right and they were wrong. That is not a statement that I take pride in saying or boasting in that fact. As time has proven, as I mentioned the things as they were, and the many things I do not have time and space to write.
Take a long hard look and ask yourself, "Wwhat about NOW?" Ask yourself the question, "Are we better off today?" As an old country fundamentalist, Bible believing preacher (of who I am one) would say, "My friends, the proof is in the poodin!" "The Dye has been cast! The Word tells us, “Be not deceived, for God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap!" But be of good cheer, I have read the back of The Book and WE WIN! Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death and I Regret, that I have but one life to give for my God, my family and my country. "I Am Proud To Be A Protester! God Bless and Keep You, till we meet again.
Marvin Horan
In the early days of the protest I met with a federal judge in Charleston, WV. In the course of our conversation I relayed the following to the judge.
Teachers cannot teach and children cannot learn in an atmosphere of fear. The judge agreed. Prior to 1974 our nation’s schools had never witnessed police officers walking the halls to keep the peace, dogs searching for drugs, our children carrying guns and killing other students, and there was never a sports event canceled for fear of violence. Also, at that time for a teacher to have an affair with a student would have been the most heinous crime.
There was a time before 1974 when the leaders of our country, our states and our communities were revered. This respect was earned by the example our nation's leaders, teachers and parents set before our children. I wonder what has changed. Everything that we loved, cherished and held dear to us is gone. Could it be as Avis Hill, Ezra Graley and Henry Thaxton has said: We reap what we sow? We also find these words written in God's word. Could it be that God is still trying to speak to the people of our nation? Please read Matthew 11:15.
Charles Quigley
Getting a good education for their children was the only goal for the protesters.
I, along with the protesters, love American and know that our children have the greatest hope and best opportunity to be successful in this country.
We keep pumping more money into the “education system”. That is the name of the “game”. When in reality we are pumping more money into our schools, but no one is getting a decent education. Three school generations and we have better and more state-of-the-art equipment, higher standards, the best of the teacher pools, better transportation, more sports, new techniques, and smaller classes. Still, we cannot do any better than a woefully low graduation rate? And, those that go on to college cannot meet the standards for college and most are required to take remedial courses.
Thank God for the alternative. Yes, private Christian schools and homeschooling are filling the void. I feel so sorry for my Christian friends who are teaching in the public school system. They continue to work extremely hard to help their students to succeed.
Henry Thaxton
When the issue of the adoption of the new text books arose, I was a member of the Kanawha County Parent Teachers Association (P.T.A.) Council. When the selection committee heard that the Council was opposed to the books, the committee scheduled a special meeting with us to convince us of the unfounded accusations. A female from Herbert Hoover high school and a member of the selection committee, was my guide and mentor for the evening. Time was limited, but I saw enough in a short time, to see why they were not acceptable. After reading where Bible stories were classified as myths and fables, I said to my guide for the evening, "I and my family believe the Bible is the Word of God and that you do not have the right to ridicule what we believe." I then said, “You have convinced me that I must stand with the thousands who believe as I do against you and your kind as long as I live."
I never promoted or suggested violence of any kind. I still think the speakers or leaders of the varied segments of the protest were honest, honorable and good people. I wish we could have all worked more closely together and been more effective. This is not a complaint, but hindsight. There is strength in unity. The treachery, the snobbishness and the arrogance of the so called educational system and their supporters fanned the fires of frustration. Their uncompromising stand behind their so called "professionals" mask built the wall of frustration. However, their attitudes opened the eyes of many. The growth of Christian schools and home schooling stands to testify of the rightness of our cause. I would not hesitate to do it again if the need arose, but I would want to do it better.
Eternal gains are far beyond the personal costs. I encourage Christian Ed and Home Schooling. I will be 81 on June 30. My health is good, but for my Parkinson. God is good all the time.
To all who stood, to all who marched, to all who prayed, and to all who pulled their children from the pagan anti-Judeo-Christian environment and took them home or to a private Christian school, I salute you and say God bless you, everyone.
Carol Graley
I think we were a wonderful bunch of people fighting for something clean and right and legal.
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For more from the protesters themselves
see
the soon to be publshed book:
VOICES
The 1974 Textbook Tea Party
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A first time first-hand protester account
of the
event that launched the fight
for the
heart and soul of America
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