RIGHT or WRONG? Take my child out of public school

Posted: 11/03/06

RIGHT or WRONG?
Take my child out of public school

I’m hearing a great deal of sentiment toward Christians taking their children out of public school and supporting different forms of private education. How should I respond to such a movement?

Because free public education has been a reality in the United States for more than 160 years, we sometimes forget it has not always been so. In the earliest days of this country, no state-sponsored public schools existed. The only schools were religious schools. Most of these soon gave way to private schools, which continued to dominate until the 1840s, when reformers began to demand that states offer free, nonsectarian, public education. The first state to implement a compulsory attendance law for children of elementary-school age was Massachusetts in 1852.

From that time forward, every state in the nation accepted its responsibility to provide free public education to its children. By the end of the 19th century, it was available for all American children. Many have called America’s public school system a foundation stone of our democracy. Establishing public schools is one of the first things we attempt to do in supporting new democracies. Our public schools are the envy of most nations, despite the fact some nations seem to have improved upon our system, according to recent student achievement rankings.

Christians were very active in establishing public schools in this country. In every city where I have lived, some of the most ardent supporters of the public schools were found in the Christian community.

However, there always have been Christians who did not support the public schools—many because they opposed racial integration. In more recent years, an anti-public-school ideological movement has developed within fundamentalist and evangelical Christianity. These public-school critics contend the public schools are anti-Christian and are corrupting our children. Some prominent Christians have encouraged Christian parents to take their children out of the public schools. Some Southern Baptists in this movement have submitted resolutions advocating such action at recent Southern Baptist Convention annual meetings.

How should Christian parents respond to those who encourage them to take their children out of the public schools? My wife and I attended public schools and sent our children to public schools. This does not mean we believe it is wrong for a parent to educate his/her child in a private school. Each parent must make that determination.

There are, however, some important issues that Christians should consider before making that choice. Would Jesus want us to isolate our children from children who come from different racial, social and religious backgrounds? Although that may not be the parents’ intent, it is one effect of educating one’s children in a private school. Related to this question is a concern about what happens to the public schools if Christian parents withdraw their children. Are we relegating these schools to mediocrity or worse? Also, if we remove our children from the public schools, are we limiting their ability to be witnesses for Christ in a place where they can make an important difference?

One of the best ways we can make a difference in our communities and in the lives of children is by supporting the local public schools. They are some of the best places in the world to put our faith into action.

Philip Wise, pastor

Second Baptist Church

Lubbock

Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to btillman@hsutx.edu.