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RenewingMinds
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- The view that religious expression should be banned from
- the public square is as fully sectarian as any other,
- and by default, grants all power to the advocates
- of atheism, agnosticism, naturalism, secular humanism, and nihilism.
- ...it is not a matter of whether our children will be taught religion in school;
- it's only a matter of which religion (worldview) they will be taught.
Public Education
Incorrigible Disaster
Rather than the inevitable outcome of modernization, the secularization of American public life and declining authority of religion began over 140 years ago from the intentional strategies of cultural and intellectual elites seeking to gain control of social and professional institutions (public education, science, law, etc.) and increase their own cultural authority. See The Secular Revolution: Power, Interests, and Conflict in the Secularization of American Public Life; Christian Smith, Editor; 2003. Also, Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism in Science, Law, and Education, Phillip E. Johnson, 1995.
Few understand, that the idea of government-sponsored and controlled public education began in America in the late 1800's and that numbers of citizens were not in favor of such a system. It was the Obamacare of that day. Public education's proponents were liberal in their view of religion and socialistic in their politics. Back then, conservatives/traditionalists believed the negatives far outweighed the positives, and that in time, public education would not only fail in its pedagogic mission, but it would create a 'gulag' for brainwashing the public. Another example of good intentions with disastrous consequences.
One critic, Professor A. A. Hodge of Princeton (1823-1886), saw the government's drive for power and self-preservation behind its efforts to deny and undermine the competence of other non-government agencies (homeschooling and school choice) in education. Further, he labored to expose the radically false idea--that secular opinions and approaches to education were religiously ‘neutral', while religious approaches were partial and prejudiced. Under this erroneous assumption, Professor Hodge insisted that government-funded approaches were as fully committed and sectarian as any other and he foresaw a day in which all religious expression would be banned from the public school classroom. How so?
Hodge maintained that the absence of religious expression granted, by default, all power to the advocates of secularism or modernism: e.g. atheism, agnosticism, naturalism, humanism, and nihilism. He perceived, as basic to the whole concept of public education and its hostility to traditional religions, an alarming principle in operation...the supremacy of the lowest common denominator. In a series of lectures to several women's groups in the 1880's he stated:
I am as sure as I am of Christ's reign that a comprehensive and centralized system of national education, separated from religion, as is now commonly proposed, will prove the most appalling enginery for the propagation of anti-Christian and atheistic unbelief, and of anti-social nihilistic ethics, individual, social and political, which this sin-rent world has ever seen.
The tendency [of those who promote public education] is to hold that this system must be altogether secular. The atheistic doctrine is gaining currency, even among professed Christians and even among some bewildered Christian ministers, that an education provided by the common government should be entirely emptied of all religious character. The Protestants object to the government schools being used for the purpose of inculcating the doctrines of the Catholic Church, and the Romanists object to the use of the Protestant version of the Bible and to the inculcation of the peculiar doctrines of the Protestant churches. The Jews protest against the schools being used to inculcate Christianity in any form, and the atheists and agnostics protest against any teaching that implies the existence and moral government of God.
It is capable of exact demonstration that if every party in the State has the right of excluding from the public schools whatever he does not believe to be true, then he that believes most must give way to him that believes least, and then he that believes least must give way to him that believes absolutely nothing, no matter in how small a minority the atheists or the agnostics may be. It is self-evident that on this scheme, if it is consistently and persistently carried out in all parts of the country, the United States system of national popular education will be the most efficient and widespread instrument for the propagation of Atheism [naturalism, humanism, etc.] which the world has ever seen.
The government-supported educational system in America is morally bankrupt and hemorrhaging. The philosophy of nihilism (Hodges' reference to "him that believes absolutely nothing") has spread at a cancerous rate. Witness the recent shooting sprees by students. Is this but the ultimate bitter expression of the unconscious and deep-seated frustration of a system gone awry? In spite of the severe problems, public educators, together with their unions and lobbyists, are intensely hostile to traditional religions (primarily Christianity), and all in the name of so-called religious neutrality. Modernism and now postmodernism reign supreme, holding intellectual dictatorships (hegemony) in nearly all public schools.
Today, eastern, New-Age religions, Islam, and various secular philosophies are all allowed a voice in the public classroom under the banner of 'cultural diversity'. But Christian views are barred at the door. For an in-depth introduction to the forces of change in public education as well as various other segments of society, see the book, THE DEATH OF TRUTH, What's Wrong with Multiculturalism, The Rejection of Reason, and the New Postmodern Diversity.
Years ago, when faced with educating my three sons, I saw the futility of short-term reform and abandoned public education. While I was unwilling to expose my children to the system, I held to the belief that the problem could be addressed by restructuring how public education was funded. The use of federal, state and county taxes could be modified to allow for exemption in the form of substantial tax credits to those who participate in home-schooling or non-public schools. Performance accountability could be maintained through independent competence testing in the core fundamentals of language and mathematics. If parents were given choice in the education of their children, market forces would bring the badly-needed educational reform.
However, I now see that public educators, their unions, and other liberal forces will never let this happen. Consequently, we direct you to the fine website -- the Separation of School & State Alliance. We strongly endorse their Practical Plan. In addition, we offer the following suggestion on how to PROTECT your children from the present educational crisis.
- Currently, not all public school districts are equally hostile to those with theistic viewpoints or unable to provide training in basic skills. In small more isolated communities, a more Judeo-Christian consensus may prevail. However, these islands of sanity are becoming few and far between. Take time to research and investigate where your local teachers and administrators stand philosophically. Identify yourself as being Christian or Jewish and don't hesitate to ask direct questions regarding how they feel about "religion" in the classroom. While this will make them uncomfortable, their response will speak volumes. Until the supremacy of the lowest common denominator becomes unbearable, there may be an opportunity for a workable situation. If modernism and postmodernism are in control [most often the case], then you will need to consider some form of alternative education. Remember, the typical public educator has an agenda for your child, and it involves far more than the three Rs! For a number of years now, public school students have been given a steady diet of "multicultural diversity" and the new view of tolerance all under the guise of religious 'neutrality'. However, with the increasing number of school shootings, I believe the situation has substantially changed. For me, the decision would be obvious.
- Teachers are 'surrogate' parents, and most often command greater influence than either Mom or Dad. For this reason, it is critical that the teacher support and NOT undermine your worldview and values during your child's formative years (grades K-6). Keep in mind that neither home-schooling nor non-public schools are free of problems; in fact, each realm contains its own challenges to your child's educational success. Contrary to common criticism, your home-schoolers will get ample socialization mixing with others on the block, at church, etc. Further, you will personally want to take an active role in cultivating a positive attitude toward reading and homework during these early years. It is not necessary to banish the television, computer, or Internet, but you must maintain control over both the quantity and quality of viewing. Your children do know who's in control, don't they?
- Unless you're independently wealthy and live on an island or see no problems to living isolated within some subculture, you'll need to allow your adolescent son or daughter to learn about America's tragic problems and culture wars. This may be something of a shock, but better now than later...or never! With a sound grasp of academic basics, your child should be able to enter the public educational system (grades 9-12) and rank near the top of the grading curve based on the above-average performance you've come to expect. Hopefully, you have been providing religious training as well as guiding your child's theological development at home. The goal is to provide them with enough sound biblical doctrine adequate to prevent them from being swept away by either modernism, postmodernism, cult, or secular ideology. Carefully consider whether you wish to delegate this task to some local church or Sunday school program. The outcome is not always favorable. [This comment was written before the rash of school shootings had begun. I cannot now recommend that parents re-introduce their children to public education.]
- During the high school years, you'll need to regularly and gently suggest to your young adult that their stellar grades may be more a reflection of 'grade inflation' and the bankruptcy of the public system rather than any proof of their academic and intellectual prowess. While there is no guarantee, there's a high probability that your son or daughter is now a leading candidate for college scholarships. [Again, because of the serious risks, I cannot now recommend that parents re-introduce their children to public education.]
DanS, 26 Jul 1997, updated 24 April 1999
Quotes of Note
The High Price of Moral Anarchy: Most people have no idea what an all-out war against morality has been conducted in our public schools over the past generation. "Values clarification" programs under a variety of names encourage children to create their own personal [individual] rules of conduct, independent of the traditional morality taught to them by their families, churches and other social institutions. -- black conservative THOMAS SOWELL.
American Poison--The Littleton massacre is horrifying proof of our society's spiritual emptiness: For me, the lesson of Columbine is that primary and secondary education, as it gradually expanded over the past century, has massive systemic problems. -- erudite lesbian journalist CAMILLE PAGLIAPROTESTANTS [a.k.a.
RELIGIOUS LEFT] TAKE AIM AT SCHOOL
VOUCHER PROGRAMS
By Steve Kloehn
Tribune Religion Writer
November 11, 1998
This webcurator's comments are inserted and in green italic text.
In the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that opens the door to school voucher programs, the council that represents the nation’s mainline Protestant churches will make a forceful argument in Chicago Wednesday that public money should go only to public schools.
What most Americans fail to keep in mind is that all "public" money was originally private -- in OUR pockets and purses. When it comes to education, we would prefer that a portion of it remain there when we choose not to use state-run schools.
The National Council of Churches, opening its annual general assembly in Rosemont, will consider a new policy that supports public schools and opposes vouchers. The document argues that conservative Christian groups have commandeered the school voucher debate and created the public impression that most religious groups want vouchers.
Baloney. The Religious Left is simply INTOLERANT toward those who disagree with them. They are scared-to-death that citizens will vote with their feet and consequently their power base will shrink.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Francis George announced Tuesday that the Roman Catholic bishops of Illinois will renew their campaign to lobby the General Assembly for a system of vouchers or tax credits.
George praised Monday’s Supreme Court ruling, which let stand a program in Milwaukee that provides private -- or parochial -- school tuition for needy students, as "encouraging for parents who want to choose non-government schools."
The cardinal’s statement and the National Council of Churches’ proposed policy highlight the growing debate within the religious community about how to educate children and who should pay for it.
Representing about 52 million Christians, the liberal National Council of Churches has long declared itself a supporter of public schools.
In opposing vouchers, the council is aligning itself with secular groups such as Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and People for the American Way, as well as with a growing number of African-American churches and liberal Jewish groups that want to see funding for public schools boosted.
The NCC is the haunt of all variety of ultra-liberalism and radical thinking. It has long ceased to represent historical Protestantism, as well as Christianity.
"Public consciousness has been dominated by religious and political groups whose view of public schools is largely negative," the proposed policy states. "Because we have been silent, many, even in our own communions, are ignorant of our historical ties to and support for public education."
The policy will be introduced and discussed Wednesday, though it will not be voted on until next year. The 270 delegates also will hear an address Wednesday by Philadelphia public school Supt. David Hornbeck, who has called school funding "the next major civil rights battle."
"I think there is a new urgency to this issue," said Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, general secretary of the council. "It certainly should be one of our top priorities."
The policy document argues that Christians have a moral responsibility to support public schools because they provide the primary route for poor children to receive an education.
Under the current socialistic system, what "poor children" receive is NOT an education, as the parents are painfully aware.
The policy would encourage churches to cooperate locally with public schools in after-school and vacation programs, as well as advocating academic freedom, multicultural curricula and sex education.
This "policy" is simply another tool for modernists to maintain their monopolistic death grip on the educational system and further the evolving postmodernist agenda.
It also would promote a national lobby in favor of equalized funding for public schools and increased federal funds for school building and repair.
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