Posted on 12/03/2004 1:06:08 AM PST by nickcarraway
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Frustration with public education seems to be growing among the nation's Southern Baptists, with supporters of Christian schools and home schooling arguing that if God is absent from the classroom then their children should leave, too.
``What has happened is not so much that the Christians are leaving the public schools as that the public schools have left the Christians,'' advocate Ed Gamble said.
Gamble is executive director of the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools, an Orlando, Fla.-based group that supports the more than 600 Southern Baptist schools created in the past eight years.
``As the public schools have become increasingly secular and increasingly intolerant of things Christian, people who are openly Christian have said, 'I guess they are not part of our team anymore,''' Gamble said.
The number of conservative Christian schools grew by nearly 11 percent between 1999-2000 and 2001-2002, to 5,527, according to the U.S. Department of Education's latest statistics.
At that rate, Christian schools are growing faster than private schools as a whole, and have increased their share to nearly 1 in 5 private schools in the country.
Earlier this year, a resolution proposed at the national meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention -- which guides the nation's largest Protestant denomination -- urged parents to withdraw their children from ``officially Godless'' ``government schools'' in favor of religious education.
While the measure was rejected, interest in faith-based schools has continued to spread among Baptists at the state level, particularly in Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, South Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, California and New England, according to Exodus Mandate, a Columbia, S.C., group that promotes private, Christian and home-school education.
A recent resolution promoting Christian schooling easily passed the Missouri Baptist Convention but was quashed in committee at the Tennessee Baptist Convention meeting in Sevierville last month.
The Missouri resolution talked about the ``inherent dangers of secular educational philosophies that now permeates America's public education system'' and affirmed ``the importance of systematically training ourselves and our children in the ways of authentic, biblical Christianity.''
``What we are saying is that God has given us some very specific commands that we are to train our children in the ways of the Lord, not in the ways of the world,'' said the Rev. Roger Moran, of Troy, Mo., the resolution's author and a member of the Southern Baptist Convention's executive committee.
That means teaching creationism over evolution, that life begins at conception, and that homosexuality is immoral, as is sex outside of marriage. But it is more.
``It hits everything, when you realize the reality of life is (that) life was created by God and the entire universe is his creation. Therefore, everything has meaning and reflection on his nature, whether it is math or history or science. Two plus two equals four because God created them that way,'' said Glen Schultz, who heads the Baptists' LifeWay curriculum program for church-based schools and homeschoolers.
The Tennessee resolution came one step short of asking Baptist parents to pull their children from public schools.
``I wanted to be positive in promoting Christian education. I didn't want the resolution to be portrayed as attacking public education,'' said the Rev. Larry Reagan, of Dresden, who wrote the measure.
But the Rev. Mike Boyd of Knoxville, outgoing president of the 1 million-member Tennessee Baptist Convention, worried about the divisiveness of the issue.
``It was not wise, is all I am saying,'' added the Rev. Grover Westover, of Whiteville, chairman of the resolutions committee.
Reagan's resolution would have promoted more ``Kingdom education'' schools following LifeWay's lead. Schultz said the program has reached some 150 churches since 1996.
``We encourage our members to pray for this ministry and we encourage the promotion of an adequate system of Christian schools,'' Reagan said.
Boyd agreed there were ``some serious issues in the public schools'' to resolve but said the focus should be on supporting the teachers working in them, including many Baptists, and parents.
``Historically, Baptists have been pretty staunch supporters of the public school system, and they still are,'' said Gamble, who was not surprised to see the convention resolutions fail.
``But this is a bottom-up movement, as it is a bottom-up denomination. This is not a movement that is being led so much by pastors as it is being led by moms and dads who are frustrated.''
``And some day, I don't know how long it will be, most of the kids will be educated in Southern Baptist schools or in their homes.''
There are all kinds of options out there to pay for a private education. I for one would starve to death to keep my children and grandchildren out of government schools.
And can you shed any evidence to state otherwise that abuse or neglect won't happen?
I just know from where I am at, a homeschooler, and seeing some of my friends with their children who do not homeschool, can see things a little differently.
I used to push homeschooling on everyone who had a problem with PS's. But after observing some of my friends for a time, I can honestly say they may not be good candidates for homeschooling; patience at a minimum, and organizational skills are seriously lacking.
Well, we tried to get into every private school in our area, but did not fare to well. Since we live on a shoestring budget, and my husband already works 2 jobs, homeschooling, as it turned out, was the best for us.
I think private schools are wonderful if it works for the family, and am glad to see the numbers are growing. Hopefully, it will push the idea of vouchers for school of choice.
bump
There are too many Baptist teachers and school administrators and school board members in the South who would lose their jobs and influence if these resolutions passed and parents actually followed Ps. 111:10: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding have they that do His commandments. His praise endureth forever." Politics being what it is in every church denomination, it is up to each parent to make the judgement as to whether godless government ought to be in charge of their child's soul.
The mandate failed at the last conference. But is was brought up at the last conference. My point was this was a bad idea on the part of the Church and I am happy it did not come to pass.
I agree completely that public education is unhealthy for children. Why else would I homeschool? I just don't want to see homeschooling pushed on families that my not be able to do it.
I am totally with you on finding private schools if it is at all possible.
When $ is a problem show up on a Catholic School's doorstep and tell them your problem. If it caused by the purchase of beer... it ain't gonna work. You are going to have to provide proof of income (only if subsiized). We're spending $4000. per kid and we can afford it. Being able to afford it IS not the point. The point is... a portion of our dollars go to subsidize those who can NOT afford the education. AND... there are other sources of funds to pick up part of the tab as well. AND... there is such a thing as a FREE RIDE... especially in High School... but the little darlings have to something very unusal to garner that FREE RIDE. For the Freebie... A's. Partial Freebie... A's & B's. Well... Praise the Lord. OH yes... uniforms! Three sets per kid and you will save enough on school cloths and crap they just "gotta" have to put a serious dent in the school cost.
Bottom line... private education... is doable and most just ran out of excuses.
You know... I don't know a thing about other church schools but I'll wager they offer programs along the same line as well.
Homeschoolers are already scrutinzed. It only took one wacko woman to accomplish that. More homeschoolers isn't going to make it any different.
There are enough video instruction series now in comparison to a few years ago that I don't think there is any excuse for a Christian 'not' to homeschool. A person need not be a genius or super organized to homeschool. If a woman is able to go to work every day and produce for her employer she can handle homeschooling her child. The issue is 'if' she will want to. There are so many CINO's nowdays that many don't see the forest for the trees.
The Bible tells us that we are to teach our children. We choose whether to obey that just as we choose whether to obey other instructions to us in the Bible.
I must have missed the word "Madate" in that article.
Didn't see that in the article either.
I am content to homeschool, as a matter of fact, I am grateful for the opportunity. It works for my family.
We did try the private route before it came to me to homeschool. I am not, however, catholic, I am Baptist, so enrolling in a cotholic school is out of the question. As far as other private schools of my faith, I refuse to take the subsidized money that can go to a family who really needs it, we live on a tight budget, but I know there are people who are in much more need than we are.
We educate on aprroximately $800.00 per year per child, not counting extracurricular activities. Financially, that is do-able. And, my daughters have a full-time Mommy to boot. That may be something private school children may miss out on, since there is a tuition to pay.
But let me say this again, so not to rile anyone else up, I think public schools are in a deplorable condition. But we cannot condemn everyone who chooses this type of education for their children.
ping
It is right there after "Batptists"....see it?
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