 Do you know what the Northwest Ordinance said? Now, I want you to understand how the framers must have looked on the First Amendment. Here's what the Northwest Ordinance said, among other things, religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind. Schools and means of education shall forever be encouraged. Why shall we have schools? Why shall we have means of education? Because religion, morality, and knowledge are necessary to good government.