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Originally posted by Scott
"So it's not an 'excuse' that some aren't able to afford to homeschool - it's reality."
Kerry: I think you are right. Some options just do not work for some people, as good as they might otherwise be.
Brother, thank you for addressing this matter. Having had two children in public, private and home school, I must admit there are no guarantees in any of these situations. My kids have suffered in each circumstance and continue to feel the effects of associations with "less than desirable" friends in all three scenarios. (You say, how can they have less than desirable friends in home school? In a home school association that meets regularly to teach subjects to many homeschoolers in the area.)
Regardless of which school situation works best for any individual family, our lives are never exempt from the snares of a fallen world. But some choices are obviously better than others. Generally speaking, government controlled, atheistic, evolutionary, anti-intelligent design public schools are at least a waste of time, and at worst a breeding ground for insolence and stupidity among young children who are depraved and drawn toward such rebellion anyway. Almost any alternative is a move in the right direction, in the vast majority of cases.
But you also mention the spiritual education of our children. You are absolutely correct that a church cannot be held responsible for this by parents who think it is not primarily their own responsibility to educate their children in spiritual matters. Parents need to see the church SS and youth programs as supplemental at best. The real education must be (and by default, is) done in the home.
Originally posted by Scott
"Give me a true life example, using someone who REALLY DESIRES to homeschool...(betcha I could find a way for that person...or at least possiblities for them to check out)."
Colleen: Well, one example is the child whose parents don't want to homeschool and, not only that, are abusive. In some circumstances, as bad as public schools can be (and they vary in quality), sometimes it is a better environment than with abusive (drunk, etc.) parents. I think Kerry had mentioned something like this.
Originally posted by Theological Books
Nobody is saying sending children to public school is a sin, or that sending your children to a public school is disobedience to raising your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord is equal to, are they?
[Edited on 6-21-2005 by Theological Books]
Originally posted by lwadkins
A simple way to see which system is prefered:
Let parents keep their tax monies and use it to educate their children as they would (Christian School, Homeschool, Public, Private) and see where the majority of people place their children. Of course the government will never allow this as it detracts from their abiblity to teach children not to think, but to blindly follow government dictates. This is not freedom but tyrany. Also the Public School system has become a political institution used to garner power for a specific political ideology. In public schools indoctrination not education is the order of the day. And yes this is generalization and not universaly true, but it is by far generally truy.
Originally posted by RAS
Thanks Chris. Just noticed that. Could we move mine to your thread?
Originally posted by LadyFlynt
1)Could we start defining what "christian "education actually is?
The raising and training of our children to become active, useful members of society with a scriptural worldview.
2) When God commands parents to raise their kids in the fear and admonition of the Lord does this included 2+2=4, or is it referring to spiritual matters (i.e. prayer, theology, bible knowledge, churchmanship, character in all spheres of life, etc.).
Mainly the latter part, added in the former...the former however can be many time affected by the latter.
3) hypothetically, if public schools did not indoctrinate a philosophy, a psychology, a worldview, etc., but only taught the facts of each discipline (i.e. 2+2=4, 2 hydrogen molecules + 1 oxygen molecule = water, etc.) would public schools still be "of the devil"? Can a heathen still teach facts about God's creation? Can we learn the alphabet from a non-christian, or does the alphabet have christian only undertones to it?
This can't be done. A teacher will ALWAYS instill some of his belief system into his student. Where do you place science? Psychology? History? Are there not worldviews played out when presenting such subjects? Aren't some subjects (like Psychology) based upon a worldview apart from Christ? Can you truely present these in an unbiased manner?
4)Is it right for christians, in reaction to the secularist agenda of separating the disciplines into contradictory spheres, to overreact and tie up all disciplines into a "christian" education? Shouldn't we distinguish without confusing or separating?
I think you state your own worldview when you refer to it as overreacting. It is NOT overreacting to tie up all disciplines and teach them within a scriptural/christian context. How are we "confusing"? How is it wrong to teach about cultures (understanding their worldview) and compare it to our worldview? How is it wrong to teach history and show God's hand in it all? How is is wrong to teach science and show God's wonders?
5)If public schools are sinful simply because they are state sponsored, then to be consistent shouldn't we abandon all organizations or groups that are related to the state? (military, police, road construction etc.) Public schools might be wrong for other reasons, but the argument that they are wrong because they are state sponsored seems like we would have to tear Romans 13 out of our bibles.
Due to the responsibility of teaching and training children is specifically given by God to the parents not the government. The military is ceasar's, not God's. The road construction is ceasar's, not God's. The children are covenanted and are God's.
6)even if we all came to a consensus that public school is wrong, does this mean it should be denominationally legislated or confessionaly mandated?
Do not the ppl on this board believe in ecclesiastical authority? Aren't we to be held accountable to (and justly disciplined if neccessary by) the authorities within our churches?
7)is public school inherently wrong or is it just wrong today seeing what it has become?
Depends...if you are refering to "government" schools...then for a christian, yes. However, public schools started as church schools within the communities. If everyone within the community attended the same church, so did the children attend the same school. If there were two different denominations within the same community and the community was big enough, they had two different schools (ie catholic school and baptist school). However, the schools were offered money by the state...but in exchange that they make changes...until they became state schools.
Originally posted by WrittenFromUtopia
It's not sin to support atheism being taught to children of the covenant?
Resolution No. 1 on Educating Children.
WHEREAS, Children have been entrusted to parents by the Lord and represent our nation's future and our spiritual legacy; and
WHEREAS, God has given parents the responsibility for the upbringing and
education of our children (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6-7); and
WHEREAS, Many negative influences are attempting to transform the moral
foundation of the culture by reshaping the core values of our children,
undermining historical truth, and promoting promiscuity, violence, and other
immoral behaviors; and
WHEREAS, Children are vulnerable to marketing and entertainment campaigns that redefine truth, morality , and family relationships; and
WHEREAS, Homosexual activists and their allies are devoting substantial
resources and using political power to promote the acceptance among
schoolchildren of homosexuality as a morally legitimate lifestyle; and
WHEREAS, Educational institutions are often an effective gateway to
children's hearts and minds; and
WHEREAS, Parents have access to textbooks, curricula, special programs,
teachers, and other school personnel, giving them tremendous power to effect change in schools; and
WHEREAS, All citizens have the right and responsibility to participate in
local, state, and national elections and to use their influence to effect
change; and
WHEREAS, Involved parents are the ultimate influence in the lives of their
children; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, June 21-22, 2005, urge parents and churches to research and monitor the entertainment and educational influences on children; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge parents and churches to exercise their rights to
investigate diligently the curricula, textbooks, and programs in our
community schools and to demand discontinuation of offensive material and
programs; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge our churches to assist and support parents as they investigate community schools and as they train and disciple their own
children; and be it further
RESOLVED, That as citizen Christians we commit to hold accountable schools, institutions, and industries for their moral influence on our children; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we urge Christian parents to fully embrace their
responsibility to make prayerful and informed decisions regarding where and how they educate their children, whether they choose public, private, or home schooling, to ensure their physical, moral, emotional, and spiritual
well-being, with a goal of raising godly men and women who are thoroughly
equipped to live as fully devoted followers of Christ.
Originally posted by pastorway
A definite step in the right direction!!
Phillip
Originally posted by RAS
Until homeschoolers start speaking out for those who are less able than they are, are giving all they can to assist those who can't homeschool for providential reasons, then I will continue to look at the homeschool movement as an ironic elitism.