Principled Discovery

Jun. 8, 2006

Solutions in Education

I actually am a long-standing supporter of American public education, because I adhere strongly to the founding visions which lay at its beginnings. Our citizens cannot remain free if not educated. But as many have noticed recently, our public schools are failing and all the solutions seem to be bringing it further from the founding vision that united Americans behind the idea of public education. Sheryl comments on Spunky's blog:

I (and I thnk you probably feel this way too) feel the [public school] system is based on a faulty foundation and can't be fixed.

An anonymous commentor responds with a bit of realism:

I would love to see everyone homeschool, but it's not gonna happen. Some parents, for financial reasons, or out of laziness or ignorance, will never homeschool their children.

What's wrong with encouraging adults to do what they can to improve the public schools, for the sake of those children who will not be given any other choice but to attend them?

Is there a solution? It seems to me that all the solutions offered really only equate to holding your finger in the dike. The leak may slow, but until foundational repairs are made, the eventual erosion is inevitable. Homeschooling is, in one respect, only a temporary fix, an emergency meausre, as Anne Coulter says in the quote Spunky shared. Why would I, as a homeschooler myself, say this? Because it only shields my children from the problem. It does not solve it. There are millions of children in the public schools today who have no other option but to remain in a failing, godless system.

Do we, as Christians, have a responsibility to these children? Their parents hold the authority for the education of their own children. It isn't "my job." Or is it? Many homeschoolers seek to educate these parents who feel trapped in the system about a better way. How a person can budget and make do and scrimp a bit and usually afford to live on a single income. That's great for those who can, but what about the single woman living on welfare and her children?

Does the church not have a responsibility in this? I'm glad even those pastors against the homeschooling movement recognize that the schools are "pagan to the core" but what is the church's answer? Keep Christian children there and pray for their souls to be spared? Lead a nationwide exodus to remove Christian children from the school system? Put another way, why are private, Christian schools cost prohibitive?

I believe there is a solution, and it does not necessitate doing anything with the current public education system. Yes, I wish the structure would return to what it once was. The central government has no constitutional authority in education. But that is a huge monster we cannot hope to dismantle any time soon.

Instead, I think it is time that the church answer its call to equip and prepare all its members, including its children. What if our churches, and not just rich basketball players, shared this vision:

The Carver Academy offers elementary-age children a challenging academic program featuring small classes, leadership opportunities, and a nurturing family-like environment based upon the foundation of Judeo-Christian scripture. Graduates of The Carver Academy will be prepared for success in the nation's most competitive high schools and will display the highest levels of leadership, discipline, initiative and integrity. The Carver Academy welcomes children regardless of race, creed or financial status.

The Carver Academy was begun by former San Antonio Spurs player David Robinson. It was begun by what is believed to be the largest private donation of any NBA player in history. His vision was to begin a school with rigorous academic standard based on the Word of God for low income families. He desired to give these families a true choice in education. He also hoped that communities across the nation would recognize the need for similar schools and copy this model.

What if we, as the church in America, started our own free and public education system?

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Comments

Jun. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by gottsegnet

Why does my type change on its own from white to black? I know how to make it go white, but then it is white in my entry field...and I can't proofread white on white so very well. Or I could make it black, but I like the white better. Decisions, decisions....

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Jun. 8, 2006 - American churches will never build such an educational system!

Posted by Anonymous

The churches of America will never build such an educational system. The churches of America are the synagouges of Israel at the exile, the parliament of Rome at its fall and smoothered with the utter godlessness embodied in all anti-christs summed together from Nimrod to now, from Shatan to eternity.

The churches of America are the root and sole cause of America's demize. A country given so rich a foundation upon the Word of Yahweh, when it departs from which (as it has), will become most despotic indeed, above all nations that have previously been known in history.

The churches of America have departed Yahweh;

1. They build useless 50,000 square foot colosseums where the dead gather and the schrewd fleecing of the flock (tithes) pay for the heating/cooling systems, the sound/light systems, salaries for godless pastors/preachers/clergy;

* Instead of providing for the widow, the fatherless and the stranger in the land as scripture calls us too.

2. They commercialize Yahushua with idolatrous trinkets, incenses, wayward literature and meaningless tibits so one can eat the Jesus Bar, while holding one of 80 versions of the bible in a nice pretty carrying case and listening to CCM that one with discernment can notice; if it sounds like the world, if it looks like the world, if it acts like the world, then it is the world.

3. They disregard sound theology departing from the Hebrew thought and relying on Roman philosophy. No longer do the churches believe that God exists (Hebrew thought) but debate whether there is even a God (Roman Thought).

* And you question why children lose their faith at the high school/college age. It's obvious Veggie Tales, Hermie, DC Talk, Michael W. Smith and the ilk will not provide an educational foundation built upon the rock but a shallow, amusement filled and pleasure seeking faith that will be swayed by the world's allure.

Oh chruches of America, I lament, how you dumb down your children deliberately in order to keep them in bondage to your man centered gospel.

And that is the endgame. Bondage. As the American church continues to fall;

* Illiteracy of the Word
* Controlled by government for precieved tax benefits
* Homosexual abominations marriage/ordination
* Lack of will/concern for social issues (abortion/education0

America will fall into bondage and the land of sweet liberty will be the land of bitter judgement.

Yahweh did not spare His choosen (Yisrael OT). Why would he spare His choosen (Yisrael NT) and fail to judge us also. Into exile America will go and the church will lead the way.

Oh your religious arrogance America, I lament for thee.

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Jun. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by gottsegnet

Anonymous,

You forget that it takes only one. As death entered the world by one man, so did life. Ezra stood alone in the courts, teaching the law to the people, preparing them for liberty.

How "likely" is any proposal to fix public education? The government isn't getting out of education any time soon. I doubt there is going to be a rush of churches opening schools to serve the needy. The rates of increase in homeschooling have slowed.

But there are individuals answering the call to return to God.

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Jun. 8, 2006 - I did not deny!

Posted by Anonymous

I did not deny that a remnant will be preserved (saved) but remember at the re-building of the temple. The elders of Yisrael who had seen the first building thereof mourned for the state of the latter.

It is true America will fall largely because of the educational system and the absence of the church and there will be those few who mourn because they remember the founding. But with each succeeding generation it will fade.

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Jun. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by gottsegnet

hmmm...are you a prophet, now? The nation of Israel/church of Christ will be preserved. Not just a remnant. If and how America plays into that, I don't pretend to know. The end will come, and it will be in the Lord's timing, not our own. But that does not mean that we exit society and sit in our homes lamenting the fall of America. Just as Ezra stood in a public place proclaiming the law to educate the people, we are called to publicly proclaim Christ to educate the people.

Perhaps we shall see a regeneration. Perhaps we shall see a complete slide into depravity. Perhaps we will all be taken before such time. I am not one to say. But that does not preclude our responsibility to live according to Christ, spreading the gospel and educating by His word. Whether in our homes or in our institutions.

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About Me

"Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude."--Alexis de Toqueville