Schools As Social
Welfare Agencies

 

Here is an item copied years ago from The Fairhaven Fundamentalist:

A new mantra has crept into the stream of discourse about government's role in social services. Identified as an African proverb, it is, "It takes a whole village to raise a child."

This statement is false, if not ridiculous. It takes a family, especially a mother and father, to raise a child, and most parents don't want the whole village butting into the raising of their children because they know that, if the village usurps parental prerogatives, the village will teach children behavior the parents don't want them to learn.

The "Whole Village" mantra is not merely a rhetorical flourish or poetic license. It is the indicia of a major initiative of the social services professionals to expand their turf at the expense of parental authority and responsibility.

The key to catching most or all school children in the social-service web, whether their families want such services or not, is the categorization of children as "at risk," a magic phrase used to authorize the state to do whatever it wants with children. The more children who are designated as "at risk," the more personnel and funds the public schools can demand ...

No issue in America today is more important than education. We must not allow the public schools to teach children that parents are irrelevant and that the government will be their baby sitter, their nanny, their doctor, their nurse, their psychiatrist, and ultimately their employment agency. Our goal must be to teach all children how to read, to know about our great American heritage, and to be educated to fulfill their individual God-given potential.

 ... Copied [Disclaimer on source.]
(I apologize that I did not record the date of this item.)

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Comments on previous article by Mary E. Stephens (updated Oct. 2019):

Here is another good reason to teach your kids at home. The less your children are in the "village," the less opportunity the "villagers" have to tear down your standards. These "villagers" WILL try to "educate" your children with their "values" if you give them the chance, whether it's by sending them to the public school or letting them watch T.V., play ungodly games (computer, video, board, etc.), or any other unprofitable thing. 

Colossians 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

If you are supposed to beware, then why would you let man "spoil" your children by these very things?

1 John 2:15 -17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The things that the "villagers" want to teach your children are not of God, and they will pass away. They will not bring eternal rewards for either you (for being a faithful parent) or for your children. They are not the basis for a God-fearing home (yours or your children's future homes). Why allow your children to be filled with things that the Lord will have to train out of them so that they can love and serve Him acceptably? Their own human nature will provide plenty of that without the addition of a God hating secular education.

Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Train your children right to begin with, then when they are out into the "village" they will be able to help the "villagers" find deliverance from the the "village" as we are told to do in Jude 1:22-23, And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

We are not supposed to be identifying with a nation or government of this earth. We are not to be looking for a continuing earthly "village." As we read in Hebrews 13:12-14, Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

This article claims that ,"No issue in America today is more important than education." This, of course, is not Biblical. For those who are preoccupied with "saving America" it may seem sensible, but that is not our biblical calling as children of God. The most important issue in the life of any Christian, anywhere in the world, is living by the BOOK, the preserved word of God, walking in faith and obedience to Jesus Christ. The best way Christians can go about not allowing "the public schools to teach children that parents are irrelevant and that the government will be their baby sitter, etc." is to get their kids out of the public school system if at all possible. (I realize it is not possible in some countries or situations.)

Our goal is not "to teach all children how to read, to know about our great American heritage, and to be educated to fulfill their individual God-given potential." Our goal is to live in obedience to the word of God, to "... walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16)  If we have an opportunity to teach a child to read for the glory of God then we ought to do so, whether it is our own child or sibling, or someone else's. If we can help them read the Bible, that will be profitable to them, but we are not responsible for "all children."

As to "our great American heritage," there isn't any reference in the Bible to the necessity of teaching children their national history (with the exception of Israel, of course). Paul did not instruct the saints to do this in any of his epistles. Obviously some knowledge of ones nation will be useful, but it is not to glorify our nation or any nation under the sun - where all is vanity as Solomon repeatedly told us in Ecclesiastes. One reference to national heritage that is made is in Titus 1:12-13 isn't exactly "complimentary" either. (Titus 1:12 -13, One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; ) [For further thoughts on patriotism please see the article "A Better Country."]

It would be more profitable to your children to teach them church history. Give them some real saints to admire and follow like we have in Hebrews 11. Let them know where we came from spiritually. After all, if your kids are saved, they might as well know the history of the people they are going to spend eternity with. Remember,"... the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2:17)  

It is not wrong to teach kids American history, but as partakers of the inheritance above it is not our "goal" either. They ought to learn to be thankful for the country they were born and/or live in whether that is the U.S.A. or not. Many Christians in other countries don't have the blessings we do, and yet God put them in those places for a purpose. (Some of them have blessings that we do not enjoy, as well.) However, if you stop to consider, you will realize that in teaching the history of the true church you will also have to teach world history, and will have ample opportunity to point out the blessings that we enjoy or have enjoyed in the U.S. as well as those who enjoy blessings in other places.

As to being "...educated to fulfill their individual God-given potential" this is necessary for practical living, but keep in mind that, (Proverbs 1:7),  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.  

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

A God-fearing person will have more true wisdom than a member of the educated elite.

Psalms 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

God's word gives more understanding than worldly wisdom. Knowledge of the Bible - meditating in it, understanding it, studying it - will give your kids more "advantage" than any other knowledge.

2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.  

Proverbs 6:20-24 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

Too much emphasis is put on the necessity of a college education, often at the expense of sound doctrine and even basic life skills. A friend of ours refused to let his son go to Bob Jones University because it would have meant his wife going out to work to help pay the bill. This decision was not received kindly in the church they were attending at the time. But, in the end, his son's friend came back from B.J.U. carrying a corrupted translation of the Bible, so God ultimately delivered their home from two evils. (Praise the Lord.)   

If your kids are presently in the public school, or in a "Christian" school that endorses unbiblical principles and doctrine, why don't you and your spouse prayerfully consider teaching your own kids at home? You have the most important text book in your King James Bible. There are many resources now for home schooling, and maybe you already have a friend who is home schooling. Just be careful to weigh everything in light of the word of God.

Colossians 3:23-25 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Who are the "villagers" that are influencing and helping train you children? Need I point out that the item quoted doesn't even address the matter of the "village" imposing their Christ-hating morals upon the children? Can you "heartily" send your kids to the public school, as to the Lord? Please don't answer that carelessly.

Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

 

background & graphics by Mary Stephens
updated 2019; CA