海角大神

If an Idaho state senator has his way, high school students in the Potato State will have to read Ayn Rand鈥檚 鈥淎tlas Shrugged鈥� and pass a written exam on the conservative political novel in order to graduate.

Sen. John Goedde (R), chairman of the Idaho Senate鈥檚 Education Committee, introduced legislation earlier this week that, if passed, would require every Idaho high school student to read Rand, reported the Spokane, Wash. Spokesman-Review.

When asked why he chose 鈥淎tlas Shrugged,鈥� Goedde responded, 鈥淭hat book made my son a Republican,鈥� according to the paper.

The 1957 novel has recently been the center of much attention and controversy. A book that can be described as 鈥渆qual parts philosophy, manifesto, and political satire,鈥� 鈥淎tlas Shrugged鈥� is considered Russian 茅migr茅 Rand鈥檚 magnum opus. It promotes the philosophy of objectivism, the idea that people should pursue their own self-interest rather than the good of others. The book champions laissez-faire capitalism and rails against government taxation and regulation.

鈥淎tlas Shrugged鈥� today forms part of the modern conservative canon, a book embraced by the Tea Party for its anti-big government message. It鈥檚 also loved by such conservatives as Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Paul Ryan, who came under fire during the 2012 presidential race for once citing Ayn Rand as his inspiration for entering public service and the philosophical basis for his economic vision for America.

It鈥檚 no surprise then that Goedde鈥檚 bill has stirred a pot of contention in Idaho 鈥� and beyond.

But it turns out Goedde doesn鈥檛 plan to pursue the legislation; he introduced it to make a point. The state senator told fellow Education Committee members the bill was introduced to send a message over recent Education Committee decisions he disagreed with.

鈥淚t was a shot over the bow just to let them know that there鈥檚 another way to adopt high school graduation requirements,鈥� he said, according to the Spokesman. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 intend to schedule a hearing on it.鈥�

Apparently Goedde was unhappy with the Idaho State Board of Education鈥檚 decision to repeal a rule requiring two online courses to graduate from high school, as well as its decision to retreat from another planned rule on principal evaluations.

An odd way to send a message, we think. Books, it turns out, are a potent weapon in state education politics.

Husna Haq is a Monitor correspondent.