This is an abbreviated rant that I’ve been storing up for a while. (It was rekindled in a grad school class last week.)
The idea that Christian parents have a responsibility to hide their children from the world and worldly ideas permeates evangelicalism. In actuality, it is a dead and rotting fish at most churches. To say that the homeschool movement among evangelicals is interesting is completely misrepresenting a fact. Homeschooling, and it’s twisted sister Christian schooling are a cancer that we call “good.”
Despite the rhetoric of the past 25 years in the evangelical church, it is not good to separate from the world. It is good to raise up a child in the way that they should go. It is good that education does not end at the stoop of the door. It is bad that undereducated parents think that a few books published by fundamentalist are equal to a professionally trained and licensed teacher. To think that these two “alternatives” is better for children is simply a lie. Let’s quickly expose some myths.
A parent should be the primary teacher, and is equally capable of instruction on all levels. Even in biblical times, there were extra-family teachers. Jesus was found at the temple with Rabbi’s and teachers. Certainly a large part of education starts and ends with family… But the bulk of education in the 21st century is rightly done in an educational institution. The thought of parents teaching high school students should make all of us shudder.
Parents have a responsibility to protect their children from non-scriptural teachings. True. But what then is the point of entry into the real world? Junior high? High school? College? The parental argument stems from “they are too immature to handle pressures.” Again, a lie not back by scripture. The best place for students to enter the world is under the care and direction of parents… Do it early while they are still engaged in life with you. It’s terrible to see these homely children on college campuses.
Parents have a right to withdraw their children from public school. This is a shortsided and faithless front. True, you have the right… But is it right? What about removing Christian parents from the local schools? What about all the Christians who aren’t on local school boards, PTAs… nevermind the billions of dollars that these “cults” take away from public schools. No where in the Bible are we commanded to withdraw from the public arena. Those dollars, those hours, those fights belong in the public arena! How dare some selfish, seflrighteous parent withdraw for the greater good of their children when God has placed them in their communities as salt and light!
Christian education is on par with public education. This is a terrible myth. Most evangelical school teachers are not certified to teach the subjects they have to instruct on. At the secondary level this is devastating. We are raising a generation of numb-skulled Christian students who have no chance of competeing with their public school peers.
Repent, withdraw you child from homeschooling and private education and enroll in your neighborhood school. Volunteer at your local school. Take the $5000 you are giving to some church run, half baked school and invest it in your public school. Shut down all Christian schools and donate the money to build better classrooms, libraries and gymnasiums. The greater good needs Christian parents to get their heads out of their little holes and get to work.
This is only the infancy of my rant. I wish I could continue, but alas I have to go and volunteer in place of some parent who refused. (I do so gleefully and with honor!)
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