Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/88

Contributor - Evert Ten Bruggencate

Title - Who Is Forming Your Child's Mind?

Topic - Education

Growing up in the Reformed Church, and graduating from public universities, it amazes me how much faith Christians place in the public school system. Do you, as responsible parents, know what curriculum is being taught or who develops the various programs? When was the last time you observed a class in progress or read a recent health test? Does it concern you that for over one thousand hours a year, these local schools are for-ming the minds of your precious children?

Bob Andrews, London Board of Education Superintendent of Program, claims that the public school may take the place of family and church as the main institution for teaching societal values in the future. (London Free Press - Friday, January 1, 1988)

Now a statement such as this would not bother me if these schools were based on Christian principles and followed the ordinances of God; but they don't.

It should interest you to find out more about the educational philosophy of the public school system. Public schools are quickly adopting the "student first" principle in education. Secular educators are predicting that students will have even more say in what they study and how they learn it. The teachers role, in the years to come will drift away from directing learning, to one of a resource person. Already teachers are being taught to form contingency contracts with students, setting both behavioral and educational goals. Being a contract, it needs to satisfy the needs of both the teacher and the student, and hence, can be rejected by either. No longer will the emphasis be placed on knowing a specific multiplication table, but rather on knowing what to do with that information.

In the primary grades, parents are already complaining about this new "flexible" system. They say that their children cannot properly write, their sentences resemble one large nonsensical word having omitted capitals, periods, and spaces. They also complain that spelling . not being corrected and guidance is lacking.

The reasons for these modem teaching techniques simply is this: structure limits creativity and once creativity has been hampered, it is irreparably damaged. Structure should come only after the student can freely express oneself. Later, in order to communicate effectively, the student will want grammar instruction. Then, and only then, will the teacher direct learning.

Now what would happen if we used this same educational philosophy in teaching a child to eat balanced, nutritional meals. The parent as a resource person places a variety of foods before their child. The child then chooses which food to eat. Let's say ice cream is chosen. Next is jello, then chocolate cake, and so on. Eventually as the theory assumes, the child will realize the need for more nutritional foods and will select broccoli, brussell sprouts, and cabbage.

As a resource parent you no longer know what is best for your children, they will tell you! The children will find out for themselves what is nutritious and what will make them grow.

The problem with the secular model of education is that they assume too much. They assume that the student needs to direct their own education. They also assume that the child is ultimately responsible to no one else but themself and society.

Do you agree with this philosophy? Are these the educators you want to "guide" the minds of your children? Is this a Christian model for education?

If not, what can you as public school supporters do?

Parents are losing the role of governing the quickly growing bureaucracy of public education. To cite a recent example from eastern Canada: Only a few months ago a gay teacher infected with the A.I.D.S. virus, after much parental lobbying, was finally removed from the classroom. The school system, not wishing to be judgmental promoted this man into an administrative position!

Unfortunately the public school system will never become Christian. In fact it is quickly drifting to a humanistic directive.

To fulfill our baptismal vows, to instruct our children in the truth of God's Word, we must make a stand. Parents have a legitimate right to determine the form and content of their child's education. These rights are even recognized in international law! 'ne Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Parents have prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their child." (Article 26(3))

'Beefing up' our Sunday School program is not the answer. Our children need to be taught in and through scripture.

I encourage you to take a closer look at Christian schools. Schools based solely on God's word, which do not deny Him as Lord of all creation.

Granted, a student-centered education is the best you can do without the Lord. With Him, a Christ-centered education is ultimately superior.

This claim is confirmed not only in the Christian schools philosophy but also in the students. Recent studies have shown that Christian schools outshine secular schools academically. The Coleman Report noted that a grade seven student in Christian school is one full year ahead of his secular school counterpart. I have observed the same results in six years of administering the Canadian Test of Basic Skills. Christian schools score significantly above the national average for public schools. In fact, more and more parents are selecting Christian schools for its open teaching of Christian morals and high academic reputation.

As a Christian I believe that Christ is part of every aspect of my life. I want Christ to shine in every aspect of my children's lives as well. I desire the minds of my children to be formed by Christian teachers in a Christian school, one thousand hours a year. In this way they will be prepared and equipped for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. In Proverbs 22:6 it states "train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

I firmly believe that this is the key to building a strong Reformed Church in America. Do you?

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