This post has been looming over me for the past few days. I had decided I would write this sometime last week, and after reading these posts my Jocelyn Baucham ( "I realize you're just parrotting what you've been taught." and The Harsh Truth ), I was even more inspired to do so.Yet it's a hard topic to start off on, how am I supposed to introduce this? How do I present it without getting all tongue-tied and making my words unintelligible (which I tend to do when talking, thus the beauty of writing and editing :)?
I suppose I'll start out by agreeing with the words of Jasmine in saying that I don't believe that public school is a viable option for Christians.
Everyone gasp, faint, or otherwise react negatively to what I've just announced.
Just kidding... I hope. :D
I understand that in today's culture, public schooling is quite the popular choice in raising the next generation. While Mommy and Daddy are at work, we drop the kids off at the nearest school and leave them there for 8+ hours a day, five days a week.
My question is "When did our children become wards of the government, rather than our own blessings to teach and raise up?"
We send our kids to a school that has curricula that is decided on by the state and government- teaching them whatever they believe. First of all, I think we've all become aware of the fact that America is no longer a fully Bible-believing nation. It's ridiculous to think that they're going to get a Biblical education in a secular school. I hope you're not expecting that.
Yet that's where the problem lies. We're subjecting our children and teenagers to hours of indoctrination in an institution that teaches evolution, feminism, and socialism in many different forms. How do we expect the young people of this generation to see things from a Biblical standpoint when their constantly being spoonfed the opposite by the local school system?
"If we continue to send our children to Caesar for their education, we need to stop being surprised when they come home as Romans." -Dr. Voddie Baucham
I'm not saying that Christians can't rise up out of the public school system. I happen to know some fantastic public schoolers who are strong Christians in spite of the constant opposition. But this is the exception, not the rule.
If we don't give our children strong Biblical foundations, then we are letting them slip through the cracks. By sending them to public school, parents are spending more time having to unravel the lies that their children are being taught than they are teaching them more about God's word. If they're spending all their time fixing what they've been taught, when will they have the time to build on true biblical foundations.
This is why I'm a strong advocate for homeschool. Yahweh put parents as the head of families so that they could oversee the education of their children and that's what we should be doing, not sending them off to get an indifferent education that would much rather teach them lies than Truth.
He has ordained parents for this task. It's not a monumental hardship. Yes, I'm sure it's hard to be a homeschool parent, but it's worth it in the end.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Have a blessed day!
9 responses:
Being homeschooled then private Christian schooled all my life, I've found that I am severely lacking in the education provided by the public school system. Terms, culture, secular ideas and thoughts, all were left unknown to me, which often left me at a disadvantage, and, because of the shielded environment I was raised in, I would be much more prone toward legalism than coming to an understanding of the culture.
Having come from a largely homeschooled background, however, has left me unable to understand various aspects of my culture that may have benefited me and made me into a more effective minister.
In conclusion, neither public, nor private, nor home schooling is bad.
I still disagree, but that's your opinion and I respect that. I do, however, suggest that an alternative is to put these things in homeschool curricula- but with the oversight of a parent who can help the student sort through the ideas and see it from a Biblical standpoint.
I'm not gonna lie, i am more with london on this.
I think it's a little close minded to say that public school isn't a viable option for Christians. If you think about it, how much worse off would it be if we didn't have those small groups of teenagers that actually stand for purity and righteousness in the public schools? Think about Kelli and Kerri. The impact that they are making in their school is amazing. They are the real thing. And they're showing their school friends/students what real Christianity is. They're giving this generation a view of what it means to live out Christianity, showing them it's a lifestyle not a religion. And they're just a couple of people i know who are being a light in the dark places.
One thing i find while being homeschooled myself, is that it's easy to get into a Christian sub-culture, or my own bubble of Christianity. If i were just homeschooled and went to church that would be my only outlet to minister. What's the point of being poured into if you're not pouring back out? And luckily i go to a dance studio to where there are a lot of people that i can reach out to.
It's wherever God has called you. And God will call Christians to public schools cause there are people who need God there just as much as anywhere else. And if God calls a Christian there, then it most definately should be a "viable option".
Danae,
I do agree with some of what you said. I believe that Kerri and Kelli are making a huge impact on their school (duh! It's the Guinn Twins! :). I also agree that if you're in public school that you should shine your light there.
What I disagree with you on is that parents should send there children there- to be taught non-biblical concepts from K-12, 5 days a week, 8 hours a day (14,000 hours according to Dr. Voddie Baucham) that has often caused believers to turn away from their faith.
I agree that it's easy to get in your own Christian bubble. But you talk about only going to church and homeschooling- if we only did that then we truly wouldn't be following God's call in sharing the gospel.
This is why we have outreach. That's why I think it's awesome that you're in dance. God does place us in different enviroments for us to shed light, but should we be sending our children to be indoctrinated by things that counter the Truth instead of teaching them how to truly live biblically?
You know I love you, Danae. :D So don't think I'm upset or anything. You know how I love to argue and debate. :P
London, this is exactly why we homeschool our children...to protect them from the "terms, culture, secular ideas and thoughts" or at least protect them until a more mature age. You said you would be more prone to legalism than to understand the culture. Please do not get "understand the culture" confused with "acceptance and toleration" and afraid to call sin..sin.
Rebekah, I feel God has outlined exactly what we should do in the scripture and not left it to our debate. Men should leave the home and work. More than one job if need be. The wife should be working in the home, being a helpmeet and mother. Part of those roles include educating their children. Educating them biblically as well and reading, writing, and arithmetic. This family will have many opportunities to spread the gospel such as extracurricular activities, job, outings, volunteering, and in our own families. One of the most needed places for the gospel is in some of our own families. Lost aunts, uncles, neices, and nephews for example. (Here is something else for you to think about. If women were at home instead of the workplace look at all the available jobs there would be for our men! Just a thought.)
jennalavender,
Where in the Bible? Please don't think i am doubting you as to weather or not it's there, i am not. I am just wanting to look it up.
Not all families are able to have the dad work more than one job, if needed. My dad works a 7-5 job, and if he took on another job to help with the finances then he would never be home. What kind of a family is that? The dad plays a huge part in the lives of the children, and for them to never see him because he is working 2 jobs isn't right, in my opinion. It is better for them to go to a school than to be home all day and night with no father at home because he is off working more than one job so that they can stay home and be homeschooled. When those kids grow up don't you think that they would have rather gone to public school to be able to see their dad more often, instead of having him work all the time? I know i would.
Even with the children in public school families will still have all of those opportunities to share the gospel. God using a family to reach out and be a light isn't hindered by the children being in public school. God will always find a way to use you and your family, we all just have to be willing. I don't see how going to a public school will hinder reaching out to our distant family members and our friends.
Public school isn't going to be the only source of learning for the children. Your children aren't going to only listen to what school teachers say and then ignore you and what your husband will say.
The parents are going to teach them the difference between right and wrong no matter where they are. And then it's left up to them to take what their parents tell them and apply it to the rest of their lives. I believe that the parents are supposed to give them their good judgment and teach them the Truth and how to live Biblically, but going to a public school doesn't deny what the parents have taught their children already. It doesn't make everything that they've been told or shown void simply by going to a public school.
There are many places listed in the scripture to outline our roles. I think the best place would be in the very beginnning in the garden. Gen 2: 16-19. Men will sweat and toil, women will suffer in childbirth. Pretty plain and simple. We were made to be our husbands helpmeet. (Gen 2:18) This is our primary purpose. Titus 2 describes the married woman as "keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands". I believe there are times when married women will help their husbands with their work. There will be times when women may help to bring in a little extra income by babysitting, quilt making, cleaning, ect. But it seems according to the description of our roles in the scripture that we are not to be the bread winners. Here are some other important scriptures in this regard: I Cor 11:7-9, Tit 2:4, Prov 12:4, 18:22, 31:10-12,23)
One of the central purposes for marriage is to bear and nurture children. (Gen 1:28, I Tim 5:14-15) We are also to manage our home (I Tim 5:14, Prov 31:27, Prov 14:1) Sounds like wives if doing what they are commanded to do, probably doesn't really have time for a 9 to 5 job. Doesn't it make logical sense for one to be dedicated to having a job and making ends meet while the other is dedicated to a smooth running house instead of both trying to do their own things and both come home tired to a house full of kids which is job of its own?? That is crazy. You are correct that due to the fall the world is not perfect. There are unique circumstances that would force a change in what I said before. But that is an exception not the rule. Sometimes there are sacrifices that have to made to do what is right. I assume it would be very hard on one income to pay for the nice brick home in a great neighborhood, the new minivan and SUV, brand name school clothes, school sports, school clubs, restaurant dinners and such. But it might be possible in some cases to sell the brick home and get a cheaper mortgage out of town, buy gently used vehicles, homeschool in your sweats, and enjoy crock pot meals so that mom could stay home and dad only work 1 job. There are a lot of sacrificing we could do. Here are some scriptures on educating our children ourselves: Eph 6:4, Prov 23:7, 2 Cor 10:5, Is 54:13, Jer 10:2, Rom 12:2, Prov 22:6, Prov 13:20, I Cor 15:33) Here is my point: As christian our lives and what we teach our children should be Christ centered. Everything should revolve around the one true and living God. My wish for my children is to know Christ. They could have no education as long as they know Christ. (Yes, they do have an education). But my point is that we are training our children and pointing them to the one true God. What good is there in sending them somewhere else for godless indoctrination? Yes, they are being indoctrinated there. There is no such thing as neutrality. It is never a question of whether or not beliefs are being pushed; but a question of what beliefs! Unless we want to think it doesn't matter that our worldviews contradict each other, we have to make a decision as to what beliefs are superior and thus more beneficial for our children. No one really sits on the fence. By homeschooling, we have the freedom to fully monitor the worldview behind the curriculum and adjust when needed. We are able to spend less time trying to correct erroneous and harmful thinking learned at school 5 days a week and more time teaching Godly lessons. There are reasons to attend public school but again I feel these are the exceptions and not the rules. In those cases we pray that those students would be salt and light. It is hard for adult christian public school teachers to truly be salt and light in the system today. How much harder it must be for a child! Here are a few more scripture to take with you: Col 3:2, Col 2:8, I Thess5:22, Rom 12:9, Eph 5:11, I Pet 3:11, Rom 12:2.
I strongly agree with jennlavender!! My only concern is, mothers that decide to home school are truly teaching their children, especially their daughters how to help their future husband and keep a house! It's not easy to keep a house, children educated and dinner on the table for her husband who works hard all day, and have an open ear to hear all her husbands stress of the day! Women tend to talk to much and never give their husband the floor!
Although my children are not school age yet, my husband wants me to home school. I just hope I can give them the education they need!
I will say that I have pride in my house, husband and children! I take great care of all three and love being a house wife! ~Val~
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