PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE N0T FOR CHRISTIANS

A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

Warning! It will take courage for those committed to public schools to read this because many have made public (government) schools their ‘sacred cow.’  As you read this pray that God will open your eyes.  If you are a parent and use any of the following six reasons for placing your children in a government school, than this short article is a “must” read.

1. We can’t afford to send our child to a Christian school.
2. My children need to learn how to get along with all types of people.
3. I want my children to be salt & light.
4. I send my children to public schools because they have good sports programs.
5. I don’t feel qualified to teach my children. 
6. I made it through public school & turned out O.K. 

Parents who enroll their children in government schools are placing them in harm’s way  Secular education turns children away from God and tells them to look to man for his salvation.  Jesus challenged those committed to Him to walk in faith in all areas of life. Parents are either willfully sinning or sadly misled in allowing government to educate their children.  Ignorance is not bliss - it comes at a very high price. The average Christian parent doesn’t understand the damage a government school inflicts spiritually, morally and academically on their child.   Some children survive, but for every success story there are countless children who lose their faith.  Realize that although your child may have a Christian teacher in a government school, the teacher’s hands are largely tied. The environment, textbooks and peers exert a far greater influence on your child than does the Christian teacher, and church doesn’t make up for 35 hrs/week in a pagan school.

Understand, government schools aren’t a failure, They are doing exactly what they were designed to do.  What would you call a system:

• That deliberately dumb down children -  Among industrialized nations, America is nearly dead last academically, but we lead the world in spending on education. Approximately 40% of graduates are functionally illiterate, and of those who go to college approximately 42% have to take remedial courses.
• That indoctrinates children into accepting homosexuality as a normal alternative lifestyle -  Bob Chase, head of the National Education Association said In April of 2002, “Acceptance of homosexuality should be the goal for educators.”  There are now 4,00 homosexual clubs in schools in all 50 states.
• That destroys children’s Christian belief -  88 - 96% of children from Christian homes who attend public schools leave the church shortly after graduation and many never return.
• That increases children’s sexual behavior - Sex-ed has resulted in a 500% increase in pregnancy to unmarried girls 10 - 15 years old since 1968.   
• That sexually molests children - The U.S. Department of Education said that 10% of students are victims of sexual misconduct by teachers or school employees.
• That leads to increased illegal drug use by children - A study in Illinois showed that Dare leads to increased drug use.  Since 1965 illegal drug use among youth is up 6,000 percent. 
• That drugs children to make them easier to handle - 6 million children are being given Ritalin or other psychotropic drugs.
• That places children in physical danger - Nationwide, there were approximately 1,466,000 violent incidents that occurred in public schools in the1999-2000 school year. 
• That teaches children there are no absolutes -  Values clarification and situational ethics are presented in many various ways.
• That promotes New Age philosophy -   Meditation, Buddhism, and other eastern religions are promoted.
• That indoctrinates children with the philosophy of socialism - Globalism, environmentalism, revisionist history are all used to indoctrinate children to believe in socialism and other collectivist philosophies.
• That indoctrinates children with the religion of Secular Humanism.

I don’t know what you would call such a system, but I would call it EVIL. 

Thomas Jefferson said, “Anyone who thinks a nation can be ignorant and free thinks something that never was and never will be.”  We are not only dissipating our wealth supporting public schools, but more importantly, we are devastating our children spiritually, morally and academically if you send them to a government school.  Osama bin Laden is not America’s greatest enemy.  America’s greatest enemy is the government school.

There are many Godly Christian schools throughout America that offer a biblical worldview and superior academics in a safe environment.  If you decide to send your child to a Christian school rather than homeschool them, make sure that your children’s teachers are godly and that the curriculum is Christ-centered.  Frankly, most who have studied the alternatives to government schools favor homeschooling.  I encourage you to attend a homeschool fair or convention before deciding how to educate your child.

One very important goal of education is to instill a love of learning.  Education should be a lifelong endeavor.  Think of the people you know, and consider what they studied.  How often is the education they majored in the source of their current livelihood?  In most instances the majority of people enter completely different vocations from that which they pursued in school.  Education is not an end in itself – Christ is!  Our goal as parents is not only to produce educated children, but children who will gain favor with God first, and man second.  What good is success and money if you lose your soul? 

Tragically, the church has been largely silent on this issue due to fear of creating offense and use salt & light argument as an excuse, but we don’t send defenseless children into the mission field.  Should the church be fearful of creating offense perhaps they should not speak out on other issues such as: adultery, homosexuality, abortion, evangelism, pornography, drinking, drugs and cursing? What hypocrisy See James 4:17. Christians need to realize that a godless education is abhorrent to the will of God.  I challenge you to study and try to disprove the biblical command to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Deut. 6:1-9, 11:16-23, II Cor 6:14-18,  Prov. 22:6, 1:8-9, 13:13,20, 9:10, 3:1-7, Ps. 1:1-6, 144:11-12, 111:10, Phil 4:8-9, Rom. 1:18, Isaiah 5:20, Matt. 28:19-20, 6:33, 5:13-16,  7:6, Eph. 5:6-7, Col. 2:6-8.

Dr. Bruce Shortt asks, “If you have placed your children, God’s gift to you, under the authority of pagans and the godless during their most vulnerable and impressionable years, do you truly expect to be told at the end of your race, “Well done, good and faithful servant?”

I encourage you to investigate this issue.  Several sites that will provide information are:  http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com/articles_for_parents.html, 

www.Considerhomeschooling.com

www.HSLDA.org

http://mwhodges.home.att.net/education.htm                      Or call Freedom Center @  352-216-1703