Posted on 03/14/2005 2:54:06 AM PST by JohnHuang2
On the 'sin' of sending kids to public school Author shares harsh campus realities, urges parents to pull children Posted: February 7, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
The man who helped push the issue of public education onto the national agenda of the Southern Baptist Convention has written a new book that blows the lid off government schools, showing parents the kind of worldview and values their children are influenced by 180 days a year.
Bruce Shortt, author of "The Harsh Truth About Public Schools," presents myriad reasons why government institutions are failing America's children and thumbing their noses at parents with a religious worldview.
As WorldNetDaily reported, last year Shortt helped spearhead an unsuccessful effort to have the Southern Baptist Convention pass a resolution urging its members to remove their children from public school.
In "The Harsh Truth About Public Schools," Shortt, writing from a biblical perspective, presents rigorous research about the agenda and effect of government schooling on the nation's young people.
Shortt especially wants to educate Christian parents, millions of whom send their kids off to public school every day.
"Contrary to what many Christians have been led to believe, there is no such thing as a 'neutral' education," Shortt writes. "All education is religious and conveys a worldview, and there is no more important decision that we make as parents than how we educate our children."
Continues Shortt: "Unfortunately, Christian parents allow an aggressively anti-Christian institution to form the minds of their children, and the fruit of that choice is bitter. The overwhelming majority of children from evangelical families leave the church within two years after they graduate from high school; only 9 percent of evangelical teens believe that there is any such thing as absolute moral truth; and, our children are being forcibly indoctrinated to believe that homosexual behavior is acceptable."
While Shortt wants Christian parents who use the government schools to read the book, he also encourages homeschooling parents to read it.
"Homeschool parents must have this book to minister to their Christian friends and neighbors, pastors and skeptical relatives. Our government-school habit is sowing the wind, and unless Christians turn from this gross sin we will reap a whirlwind that is unimaginable," Shortt says.
In the book, Shortt documents the pitfalls of public schools, saying the anti-Christian thrust of the governmental school system produces inevitable results: "moral relativism (no fixed standards), academic dumbing down, far-left programs, near absence of discipline and the persistent but pitiable rationalizations offered by government education professionals."
Shortt also urges pastors to read the book so they might "understand why the church can no longer abdicate its historic role in the education of our children."
Says Short: "'The Harsh Truth About Public Schools' makes it clear why no Christian child should be left behind in government schools. Our Christian children are perishing because parents and pastors lack knowledge. The information in this book exposes the 'salt and light' and the 'our schools are different' rationalizations for educating Christian children in pagan schools for the contemptible falsehoods they are.
"Any parent or pastor who genuinely desires to be faithful in the education of Christian children needs to find out what the public schools are actually doing, rather than relying on what they are saying they are doing or on memories of the public schools as they may have existed 10, 20 or 30 years ago."
Shortt makes his argument by citing a school district in Texas.
"There is no public school district in the country that has more Christians in the community or in the schools than that of Plano, Texas," he said. "In fact, the largest and most powerful church in the state of Texas, Prestonwood Baptist, is located in Plano. Yet, it took a court order to force the Plano schools to allow Christian school children to privately give classmates Christmas gifts that had a Christian message. Moreover, the school district had even prohibited schoolchildren from bringing red and green napkins to the school 'holiday' parties for fear the colors might remind someone of Christmas.
"The truth is that the public school policy and curriculum decisions that matter to Christians are not made locally. They are largely dictated by federal and state court decisions, federal and state legislation and regulations, and the teachers' union and other professional associations connected with the public schools."
But what about reforming the public schools? Isn't that a solution?
Responds Shortt: "Public schools cannot be reformed to provide a Christian education, and the evidence is overwhelming that even conventional secular reforms to reinstate traditional academic and moral standards will continue to fail. But even if you think that we should nevertheless try to reinstate traditional academic and moral standards in the schools, taking your children out is the most effective thing you can do to help the children whose parents have left them behind in the public schools. Only the threat of a collapse of the entire public school system offers even the remotest prospect of positive change. Traditional reform efforts are a waste of time.
"Even if you believe that there is nothing wrong with institutionalizing Christian children in public schools, you need to read this book because you may be wrong. Remember, you only get one chance to educate your children. There are no do-overs."
I send my child to public school in rural Virginia, and I am far, far from a child abuser and resent the implication that I am.
Thank you.
While I agree everyone is entitled to their opinion - sweeping broad brush statements are not conducive to intelligent discourse.
I am the first to admit there are problems within the system, hwoever not all public schools are the dens of evil some wish others to believe.
"I never said that you personally was a child abuser, this is my personal opinion"
Judge not, least yee be judged?
Ping for later reading.
"however not all public schools are the dens of evil some wish others to believe."
I think the 20 or so ladies that I know, that attended a Catholic college, who are still devout Catholics and are public school teachers would probably agree.
Of course, Catholics aren't seen as Christian by some. :-)
Unless you mean that anyone not in the public school system is an "evangelical nut"---but I assume you are smarter than that.
I didn't attend Catholic College, but did spend 12 years in Catholic Schools, and understand exactly what you mean that some do not believe Catholics are Christians.
No one system is or can be perfect, public, private, Christian, non-Christian, homeschool, etc. We all have to make our own choices as to what we believe is best for our families. Others may not agree with our decisions, but it is not up to others to decide what is best for someone else.
Actually, I have a teacher to deal with today regarding her teaching of liberal policy. Not looking forward to it but it has to be addressed. I will be kind but must hold my ground.
In the past, I have had the privilege to work with some wonderful people fighting some of the problems of our district here. I'm happy to see that people are working hard to fight the problems that exist here in my district. It's making a difference.
One thing I've noticed is we have the constitution seperating religion and the federal government. Which I believe makes sense in the context of the limited government it was designed to be.
But with the government taking over nearly every aspect of our lives, including the most important like educating the next generation.. Seperating the government and religion effectively enforces secularism on the society.
I'm with you, I have all the respect in the world for Home Schoolers.
What I like most about the district I am in is that they not only encourage parental participation, they practically demand it........and it's obvious parents do participate. I have yet to be called as a volunteer for something, or chaperone for a field trip.........and my name is on both lists - the school tends to have more volunteers than it needs.
"Others may not agree with our decisions, but it is not up to others to decide what is best for someone else."
I find it most ironic that so many who profess to be Christians are the first to judge others and call people names rather than address the issues....That so many don't want their kids "indoctrinated" by public schools are more than willing to indoctrinate others in what they believe and their way is the only way.
Everyone else is an idiot and, in the current topic, a child abuser!
Just the title of this article is inflammatory, IMO.
I'm a "sinner" because my child attends public school and I do not agree with wholesale abandonment of the system?
"I'm a "sinner" because my child attends public school and I do not agree with wholesale abandonment of the system?"
That's the implication which some would deny when confronted. :-)
I don't think the problem of suicide is public schools. IT has more to do with the overall culture. My son attended a Christian School during his attendance, two students committed suicide. Christian School attendees. These are handpicked students. Christian (supposedly) homes. Christian values. Public Schools don't have that luxury to handpick who attends.
We spent a long time researching all avenues of education for our daughter...........including moving, which we did. I realize that is not something everyone is capable of doing. We would have been moving had we not had a child that we needed to consider the education of, but because we do, that became the top priority for where we would be moving.
I have no intention of getting complacent, and will continue to pay attention and participate, but it is a nice feeling to know I am not constantly banging my head against a wall. It is also comforting to know that the school is not being run by godless heathens, as was again shown to me a few weeks back at a morning parent function, when we were all asked to add someone to our prayer lists and circles.......and during morning announcements, the children were asked the same thing.
I'm glad your kids are doing well, much of that is always going to come from their home life, regardless of what type of school they attend. I have a ways to go before I start looking toward college, my daughter is only in 1st grade....but I do (sort of) understand your question about the time :)
Of course that is the implication, and of course it will be denied, with the standard "I wasn't talking about you specifically" type whitewash.
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