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“One of the problems with Christians working in the godless government schools is that it lulls naive and inexperience parents into believing that their local godless schools can’t be that bad. Hey! If Mrs. Honey Bun ( choir director, Sunday School teacher, and minister’s wife) works there, it can’t be that bad. ( Hint: Your school is just as godless as any government owned and run school in this nation.)”

I am a Christian homeschooling dad who teaches in a public school. I make no apologies for my presence there, in fact, I see it as my calling, my ministry. I am on the front lines of the social breakdown going on all around us. I am a missionary living among those students who need Christ, seeking to live the Gospel before them (and, hopefully, before their parents, as well.) I am a testimony among my peers, should they choose to see it, that lets them know theirs is not the only way (or even the preferred way) to view their content areas. I have countered many a misguided thought offered up in class by my students, challenging what they’ve learned elsewhere, provoking them to think (to set their minds on things above, if you will.) I set before them a right view of choice and consequence, right thinking and wrong headedness. I do this before my unsaved students...and those who are saved, see it, can know that the Christian view they embrace has merit, has validity, can learn to stand up in a world of sin, and proclaim itself in boldness.

If Christian parents of my students talk with me about their child’s education, we usually get to discussing the realities on the ground of public education and they realize that they play a significant role in the teaching of their children, just as much as the school does. They don’t abdicate their responsibility in this area, they uphold it. Do not ascribe to them some lack of understanding of what’s going on. Yes, the beast must be starved. I’ve always entertained the idea that if an alternative were set up across the street from every public school in the land, one founded on Godly principles of instruction and discipline, then public schools would suffer the embarrassment of being shown for the failure that they truly are. Many here at FR are right to want to do this. But until such time, allow that there are those who are prayerfully doing what they can with what they have, given the situations into which God has placed.

Am I empowering Christian parents to continue to send their kids to fallen, broken schools? I don’t think so. They are confronted with a choice of what to do about their children’s education, just like all parents are. Should they take their kids out of public schools, including the one where I teach? Absolutely. Should I stop teaching in public schools? Absolutely not! There are sinners there who need to be saved. At the very least, there are young minds in there who need to have the garbage that they learn brought into balance (even if by one lone voice crying out in the wilderness).

Should you stop talking to me because I’m just a lousy public school teacher? Absolutely not! I’m a nice guy!

Teachers in government schools must teach everything from within a godless worldview ( if they are to keep their job). In other words, just to cooperate in the godless classroom the child must learn to think and reason godlessly, at least while in the classroom.

Teachers who do not teach within the framework of a godless worldview are breaking the law and risk teaching the child that Christians are lawbreakers. If they attempt to sneak in a little Christian testimony they risk teaching the child that Christians are sneaky.

Somehow, I think that the work of real missionaries, who are truly and fully committed to spreading the gospel, will be harder ( not easier) if those they are teaching already have already been taught that Christians are sneaky lawbreakers.

Re: Government school workers as friends:

This is a personal decision on mine part. I am not specifically urging others to do it, but on a very personal level I do not want anyone for a friend who forces godlessness on a child or cooperates with it, supports the institution, or establishes this in any manner.