Notes on Education: Public Schools

I am part of a denomination that treasures Christian education (see CREC Memorial in the bottom). I don’t think we win the cultural and ideological wars by allowing unbelievers to indoctrinate our children. Not only is this clearly commanded in the Scriptures, but a consistent view of the world demands it. After all, neutrality is a myth.

While our children find themselves in a position of receiving education under parents, tutors, and teachers, they are to receive an education that comports with the general principles and ideals of an explicitly Christian education. Worldview training requires nothing less.

CREC Memorial on Education:
All things are to be considered and conducted under the Lordship of
Jesus Christ, including education, and especially the education of our
covenant children. God has not charged the state to educate children
but has explicitly commanded parents to bring up their children in the
education and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4, Deut. 6:7). Given the
importance and enormity of the task (Ps. 127:3-5, Deut. 6:7-9), and
the impossibility of neutrality in education (Prov. 1:7, Matt. 12:30,
Luke 6:40, Col. 2:1-10, 2 Cor. 10:3-5), we do heartily affirm the
necessity of educating our children in a manner that is explicitly
Christian in content and rigor. Government schools tend to be, by
decree and design, explicitly godless, and therefore normally should
not be considered a legitimate means of inculcating true faith, holy
living and a decidedly Christian worldview in the children of Christian
parents. Therefore, we strongly encourage Christian parents to seek
alternative ways of educating their children, whether by means of
Christian schools or homeschooling. In cases, where Christian
education is an impossibility, parents must be active and diligent in
overseeing the education of their children.
Parents who do not fully understand the indispensability of Christian
education should be warmly received into membership. However, the
leaders of Christ’s church must thoroughly understand and plainly
teach the divine imperative to disciple our children, the divine
prohibition of rendering unto Caesar those who bear God’s image
(Matt. 22:20-21), the divine warning to those who cause their little
ones to stumble (Matt. 18:6) and the divine promises to those who
raise their children in faith (Deut. 7:9, Ps.102:5-7, Ps. 103:17-18,
Prov. 22:6, Luke 1:48-50, Acts 2:39).