Article about Christians students in Public Schools

So what do you think of this? Truth? Some truth? Exaggeration?

Someone posted it on FB and I thought I'd share:

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48001

 

That was heavy!

I'd have to say I agree. I would be inclined to agree 100%, but I wonder about parents who pray about public school and decide that God wants their children there. I can't argue with that, and I won't.

 

I would be inclined to agree 100% as well. I've been experiencing this many of my friends and family for years....so, I would agree.

 

I'm afraid you're preaching to the choir. Absolutely true, but how many of my Christian friends, with kids in PS, would respond with, "MY school isn't like THAT!!!" My saying anything to them would not go over well at all. The fact that it came from me, a hs'er, would prejudice them against it.

 

Just curious what thoughts were on this. I saw some commented where it was shared elsewhere that it was silly or an exaggeration...and those were Christians. lol.

 

Probably for the same reasons given in the article. To admit that it's truth means you have to be willing to do something drastic and out of your comfort zone.

 

Yeah...that was my thought as well. I pray the Lord keeps my kids out of public school. This virtual academy is enough. But...they are home and the curriculum so far is not an issue. When it becomes one or if we stick with it long enough I am sure there will be a clash and a time to rumble. lol

 

That was a very good article. I have several friends struggling with this right now. Recently a very good friend began asking me questions about homeschooling because she is becoming very uncomfortable with what is being taught in her son's school, but the Christian school in town costs around $600.00 per month and they don't think they can afford it. I can see how hard it is for her to acknowledge that they may have to change their lifestyle soon in order to change what their son is being taught.

 

I have been noticing a very heart-breaking trend this last year:

As I'm finding friends from college, a Christian college, mind you, I can't believe how many of them are no longer living for the Lord! Several are outright atheists, others are pagan, and still others simply no longer have a desire for Him in their lives. I have to wonder if their former public school background had a hand in that. The Bible says to train up our children and when they are old they will not depart from it. From that point of view, it seems that even a sudden burst of Christ-based education in the late teens/early 20s does not negate 12 years of training up in unGodly education resulting in them not departing from that unGodly education as adults. (Wow.. that was a long sentence. lol)

I'm, of course, using anectodal evidence that may or may not have anything to do with what this article is saying. But since I've been so burdened with prayer for these friends lately, it's really on my mind.

 

Amie...I have heard from many preachers and those attending many bible colleges that they do more harm spiritually than good. Now not all schools...but it is a growing trend.

 

This article articulates my feelings much better than I can. I think I am going to print it out and make a couple hundred copies to hand out when I am confronted with the question, "Why in the world would you want to homeschool your kids?" Thanks for sharing!

 

WOW! I have read things like this before. I can say that I see a lot of truth in that. I can also see where parents could feel at a total loss as to how to change their whole lifestyle and homeschool. I have seen how hard it has been for me and I made the decision willingly.

I also read an article from a woman who said she was too lazy NOT to homeschool. She was addressing how much stuff you have to counteract when your kids go to public school.

Then I think of a wonderful Christian family I knowm whose kids go to a charter school. I believe the kids are Christians, although the real young one may not be yet. The mother is so on fire for God, I can't help but think that they have some pretty deep discussions and prayer times as a family. Of course, I don't know it for a fact. So, will her kids grow up and leave the faith? Is it enough to have a solid family serving God to counteract the school's lies? I don't know, but I know that statistics can be overcome. (oh, and most of the school is on church grounds and the church prays for the school, this must help).

I don't know what the answer is. I really and truly wish that ALL kids could homeschool or go to a SMALL community school with a Christian worldview. I wish all kids could spend the greatest part of their day with their parents or at least one of them.

 

Statistics can absolutely be overcome. I think many of are examples of that. I went to public school most of the time. My mom wasn't the greatest of examples, but she was a Christian who was very involved in our church. Pretty much, when I wasn't at school, I was at church or with people from church.

God's call on my life was very strong even before I was born. So I'm sure that has something to do with it, too.

There are some families who genuinely have no choice. There are others like a family at our church where mom and dad are severely below "normal" on the IQ scale. I tried asking him on FB what class he goes to on Wed. nights because I never see him or his wife at the building, but he always says he's there. He never could understand my question. He kept saying, "It's me, John ____, from church." and "I know you from church." When I said, "John, which class do you go to on Wednesday nights?" He gave the name of our church. This went on for days before I gave up. His wife is the same way. Sweet, sweet people who love Jesus, but I honestly don't think they have the mental capacity to homeschool. They also, for the same reason, don't have funds for a private school. So there needs to be an alternative for people like that.

[I dare say, at this point, that perhaps our churches should be establishing learning environments for people like John and his children. Or at least contributing financially to private school tuition. But that line of thought will get me down the rabbit hole of my biggest pet peeve about "the church" in America.]

 

I'm going to buck the trend and say that it's an exaggeration. There are good schools, and there are bad schools. Many teachers are Christians, and many are not. Frankly, I find it silly to suggest an "exit strategy" for all parents with children in public school. Every situation and every child is different. Parents should make decisions based on their situation, not on what some commentator writes in the press.

 

Frankly, we don't do a good job preparing our children because some topics have become taboo. How many times have I wanted to have a conversation about something only for some Christians to get upset? We can't have rational conversations about abortion, science, politics, and a bunch of other topics. One-liners such as "abortion is never acceptable", for example, get us nowhere - but this is often the extent of a "discussion." These are not topics where we can dictate an opinion; instead, we need to fully grasp the fundamental issues, and that requires thought and open discourse. Frankly, Christian intellectuals are largely shunned by popular Christian culture.

Atheists, in particular, do discuss these topics, and our young people enter the conversations woefully unprepared. Atheists have coined the word "bright" to describe one of their number, implying that Christians are "not bright." This hits at the ego - who aspires to be not bright? Keeping children home from public school won't change this. Instead, IMO, we need to steer away from "Christian culture" that demands conformance and address these issues with our children. Often, answers are not black and white as they're made out to be.

 

nice points, Steve, and that's why I try to prepare my kids with tackling the tough topics.

 

Oh I could not disagree more!

The Bible sets clear standards and we are to be black and white about them. Period. And the whole point of Christianity is TO conform... to the likeness of Christ.

(I'm not saying we shouldn't discuss things with our children. Different issue.)

 

I have to distinguish...that I agree with Amie here 100%. I agree with Steve we should talk to our kids and get them ready to answer every man as the Word instructs.

Narrow is the road.

 

Let's take an example. A while back, a thread discussed the case of a 9-year-old girl who was raped by her stepfather and who would have died carrying the resulting twins to term. Often, when abortion is discussed, three exceptions are quoted: rape, incest, and when the mother's life is in danger. In this case, all three apply. What happened? When doctors aborted the twins, the Catholic church excommunicated the mother, the family, and the doctors.

In situations like this, there is no good option: There's only the "least unacceptable" option. Why should an innocent child die because of the sin of the stepfather? When someone states that "abortion is always wrong because the Bible says so," a laudable principle is turned into legalism. But we have a God-given conscience and a brain with which to make thought-out decisions. Life isn't black and white.

I took one example, but the same is true of plenty of other topics. How many preachers tell church members to vote for a particular political party? It's silly and dangerous to blindly obey. And we pick and choose anyway, because some practices condemned by the Bible we don't even turn a blind eye to.

Re our children, they need to understand the reason WHY we make the decisions we do. Then, faced with real life, they'll know how to respond to whatever situations come their way.

 

Steve, not wanting to get into an abortion discussion,especially when you're right in that there's no good option. But look at your question!!! An innocent child DID die because of the sin of her father! No, it wasn't the child/mother who was also innocent and sinned against, but a child who was equally as innocent and existed through no fault of her own.