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On the 'sin' of sending kids to public school
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | February 7, 2005

Posted on 03/14/2005 2:54:06 AM PST by JohnHuang2

On the 'sin' of sending kids to public school Author shares harsh campus realities, urges parents to pull children Posted: February 7, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

The man who helped push the issue of public education onto the national agenda of the Southern Baptist Convention has written a new book that blows the lid off government schools, showing parents the kind of worldview and values their children are influenced by 180 days a year.

Bruce Shortt, author of "The Harsh Truth About Public Schools," presents myriad reasons why government institutions are failing America's children and thumbing their noses at parents with a religious worldview.

As WorldNetDaily reported, last year Shortt helped spearhead an unsuccessful effort to have the Southern Baptist Convention pass a resolution urging its members to remove their children from public school.

In "The Harsh Truth About Public Schools," Shortt, writing from a biblical perspective, presents rigorous research about the agenda and effect of government schooling on the nation's young people.

Shortt especially wants to educate Christian parents, millions of whom send their kids off to public school every day.

"Contrary to what many Christians have been led to believe, there is no such thing as a 'neutral' education," Shortt writes. "All education is religious and conveys a worldview, and there is no more important decision that we make as parents than how we educate our children."

Continues Shortt: "Unfortunately, Christian parents allow an aggressively anti-Christian institution to form the minds of their children, and the fruit of that choice is bitter. The overwhelming majority of children from evangelical families leave the church within two years after they graduate from high school; only 9 percent of evangelical teens believe that there is any such thing as absolute moral truth; and, our children are being forcibly indoctrinated to believe that homosexual behavior is acceptable."

While Shortt wants Christian parents who use the government schools to read the book, he also encourages homeschooling parents to read it.

"Homeschool parents must have this book to minister to their Christian friends and neighbors, pastors and skeptical relatives. Our government-school habit is sowing the wind, and unless Christians turn from this gross sin we will reap a whirlwind that is unimaginable," Shortt says.

In the book, Shortt documents the pitfalls of public schools, saying the anti-Christian thrust of the governmental school system produces inevitable results: "moral relativism (no fixed standards), academic dumbing down, far-left programs, near absence of discipline and the persistent but pitiable rationalizations offered by government education professionals."

Shortt also urges pastors to read the book so they might "understand why the church can no longer abdicate its historic role in the education of our children."

Says Short: "'The Harsh Truth About Public Schools' makes it clear why no Christian child should be left behind in government schools. Our Christian children are perishing because parents and pastors lack knowledge. The information in this book exposes the 'salt and light' and the 'our schools are different' rationalizations for educating Christian children in pagan schools for the contemptible falsehoods they are.

"Any parent or pastor who genuinely desires to be faithful in the education of Christian children needs to find out what the public schools are actually doing, rather than relying on what they are saying they are doing or on memories of the public schools as they may have existed 10, 20 or 30 years ago."

Shortt makes his argument by citing a school district in Texas.

"There is no public school district in the country that has more Christians in the community or in the schools than that of Plano, Texas," he said. "In fact, the largest and most powerful church in the state of Texas, Prestonwood Baptist, is located in Plano. Yet, it took a court order to force the Plano schools to allow Christian school children to privately give classmates Christmas gifts that had a Christian message. Moreover, the school district had even prohibited schoolchildren from bringing red and green napkins to the school 'holiday' parties for fear the colors might remind someone of Christmas.

"The truth is that the public school policy and curriculum decisions that matter to Christians are not made locally. They are largely dictated by federal and state court decisions, federal and state legislation and regulations, and the teachers' union and other professional associations connected with the public schools."

But what about reforming the public schools? Isn't that a solution?

Responds Shortt: "Public schools cannot be reformed to provide a Christian education, and the evidence is overwhelming that even conventional secular reforms to reinstate traditional academic and moral standards will continue to fail. But even if you think that we should nevertheless try to reinstate traditional academic and moral standards in the schools, taking your children out is the most effective thing you can do to help the children whose parents have left them behind in the public schools. Only the threat of a collapse of the entire public school system offers even the remotest prospect of positive change. Traditional reform efforts are a waste of time.

"Even if you believe that there is nothing wrong with institutionalizing Christian children in public schools, you need to read this book because you may be wrong. Remember, you only get one chance to educate your children. There are no do-overs."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cary; education; fasttrack; homeschool; pspl
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To: Aquinasfan; Gabz
Education that purports to prepare children for life, yet neglects the very purpose of life (knowing, loving and serving God) and jeopardizes a child's salvation, is far worse than any kind of physical abuse.

Is it not possible for a parent to send his/her child to public school and still educate that child in "the very purpose of life"? I would freely acknowledge that it isn't the role of a public school teacher to educate my child about God, but I don't believe it follows that if I send my child to public school, I am abdicating my child's spiritual education. Their spiritual education is going to come from the home no matter where they obtain their academic education.

61 posted on 03/14/2005 10:50:25 AM PST by GraceCoolidge
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To: felicity1

Did you address your comments to me? If so, why?


62 posted on 03/14/2005 11:01:48 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: P.O.E.
Call me old-fashioned, but I sometimes ponder the morality of funding schools with state gambling revenues (casinos & lottery).

Call me old-fashioned, but I always ponder the morality of funding schools with money that has been taken from it's rightful owners at gunpoint if necessary.

63 posted on 03/14/2005 11:06:02 AM PST by Protagoras (If the Republican Party enacts a new tax they will be out of power for at least a generation)
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To: GraceCoolidge; Aquinasfan
Their spiritual education is going to come from the home no matter where they obtain their academic education.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I did not expect that God would be mentioned, let alone discussed when I chose to send my child to public school. That God is not only mentioned, but prayers to Him are unashamedly requested, is just an added benefit.

Every once in a while my daughter will add the relative of a classmate to grace at dinner or her evening prayers because an illness or whatever was mentioned in school and the person was requested to be added to everyone's prayers.

I never thought anything of it until a few weeks ago when I was attending a parent function in the morning, and we were asked to include the principal's mother in our prayers and to add her to our prayer lists or circles.........and a few minutes later during morning announcements to the student body the children were asked to include his mom in their prayers.

I spent 12 years in Catholic schools, so that was not unusual..........it took me until I was leaving school later that it dawned on me that this occurred in a public "government" school.

64 posted on 03/14/2005 11:07:58 AM PST by Gabz (Wanna join my tag team?)
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To: mtbopfuyn
Oh, geez. Here we go again with the evils of public school. Is it any wonder I avoid that site 99% of the time.

DO YOURSELF AND EVERYONE ELSE A FAVOR AND GO FOR 100%.

65 posted on 03/14/2005 11:11:24 AM PST by Protagoras (If the Republican Party enacts a new tax they will be out of power for at least a generation)
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To: GraceCoolidge
Is it not possible for a parent to send his/her child to public school and still educate that child in "the very purpose of life"?

Possible, but far more difficult. (I understand that many people have no alternative.) First, there is a sin of ommission. Children are missing out on a God-focused education for 6 hours per day, 30 hours per week. As a Catholic homeschooling parent, I can tell you that the difference is enormous. My children tell me stories from their First Eucharist classes that are pretty sad.

Secondly, children may not worship overtly for the greater part of the day. Yet Jesus instructs us to "pray constantly," and "wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am also." The Bible tells us that parents should raise up a child in the way that he should go and that when he is an adult he will not depart from it. How can parents form children when they have little control over their education?

Thirdly, because God is never mentioned in school, children learn either that: 1) questions regarding God are not worth studying 2) we don't study God because we can't know anything about God with any certainty 3) God is not related to important things like academics and career prep 4) people are hopelessly at odds regarding God so it's best that we don't even try to talk about Him 5) God doesn't exist 6) important stuff happens at school/ practice your personal religious preferences at home 7) important stuff happens at school/ home is just a place to hang your hat 8) society has determined that God is not worth discussing at school/ keep your personal religious preferences at home.

Young children rarely contemplate these ideas consciously, but the ideas exist in a confused state in the young child's mind, coalescing more forcefully in the teen years, when hostility to the family's religion becomes overt.

I would freely acknowledge that it isn't the role of a public school teacher to educate my child about God,

But by what authority do they enjoy the right to school your child for six hours a day? Parents have the natural, God-given duty to instruct their children, not teachers.

...but I don't believe it follows that if I send my child to public school, I am abdicating my child's spiritual education. Their spiritual education is going to come from the home no matter where they obtain their academic education.

See above. School does provide a spiritual education, albeit a negative one. Normally, it opposes the spiritual education provided at home. And they have six prime-time hours per day to do it in. You probably have less.

66 posted on 03/14/2005 11:21:55 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: JohnHuang2

I continue to point out that my daughter's public school is terrific and it's not like we enrolled her and forgot about her.

She goes to school and church and religous class through the church.

I'm sick of public school bashing for the sake of it.

When specific problems in specific schools are cited I am second to no one in knowing right from wrong, but this painting with a broad brush is silly.


67 posted on 03/14/2005 11:23:06 AM PST by cyncooper
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To: GraceCoolidge
I would freely acknowledge that it isn't the role of a public school teacher to educate my child about God, but I don't believe it follows that if I send my child to public school, I am abdicating my child's spiritual education.

Nicely put, Grace.

Since moving to DFW over 8 years ago, my kids have been in the public school system (Coppell ISD). Overall, we have been very pleased with the quality of their education, and they have had opportunities that would not normally be available at private schools: a band trip to Ireland last year, and a drill team trip to Florida (the girls had 60+ members performing).

However, in their drive for notoriety, I feel that marginal students (like my son) can get lost in the cracks. Again, no district is perfect.

My youngest is now 3, and we look forward to placing him in our parish school in a few years. Nathan is a really sharp kid (know any 3 year olds who can sing the theme from "A Mighty Wind", and has perfect inflection on the Indiana Jones theme?--of course, he also says the "s" word on occasion, and corrects himself by saying "sugar"), and we want to immerse him in the educational opportunities that will be initially offered at the K-4 level.

As to spiritual education, we are blessed that our parish has incredible programs from pre-kinder to a very dynamic LifeTeen program. I've personally had the pleasure and honor to teach my kids (and nephew) when they were in 6th grade. We'll be especially proud of our two oldest when they participate in the Mexico Mission this summer.

I know I've made plenty of mistakes along the way...that's life. For those who home school, or send their kids to private school, I applaud them. However, I do not feel I need to apologize to anyone for placing my kids in a public school.

For the record, my daughter will finish in the top 10% of her class (of 700), and has been accepted to Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and the University of Dallas. As a Gonzaga grad, I'm trying to nudge her to U of D, but most of her friends are going to Tech or UO.

Plus, she's heard the "horror stories" of academic life at Jesuit colleges...and they don't have football, either!

68 posted on 03/14/2005 11:39:19 AM PST by Night Hides Not
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To: cyncooper
I'm sick of public school bashing for the sake of it.

Compulsory, government schooling is inherently wrong. Education is the responsibility of the parent, not the government.

Any individual school MAY be fine, but the system itself is ripe for corruption and for uses OTHER than educating children. That is why many thinking people reject the concept of it.

It's not "for the sake of it" that most people "bash" it.

69 posted on 03/14/2005 11:46:51 AM PST by Protagoras (If the Republican Party enacts a new tax they will be out of power for at least a generation)
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To: Protagoras

Um, I already knew all that but hope you feel better.

LOL


70 posted on 03/14/2005 11:55:14 AM PST by cyncooper
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To: Aquinasfan; GraceCoolidge

I spent 12 years in Catholic schools and we did not spend 6 hours a day God-focused, nor did we pray constantly.

Even in religious schools, regardless of the denomination, there is the understanding that beyond the openning prayer at the beginning of class religious teaching remains in religion class.

Why do you choose to ignore the fact that God is mentioned in my child's school? Is it because that defeats the purpose of your arguement that all public schools are godless dens of evil?


71 posted on 03/14/2005 11:58:43 AM PST by Gabz (Wanna join my tag team?)
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To: cyncooper
I wished I lived in AZ (this week). Gonzaga plays in the first round in Tucson. Of course, if I still lived in El Paso, I'd only be five hours away.

Tuscon's a great area. I have many good memories of traveling through there, and when I had friends stationed at Ft. Huachuca, and trips to Tombstone.

Good luck to your Wildcats.

72 posted on 03/14/2005 11:59:59 AM PST by Night Hides Not
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To: cyncooper
Um, I already knew all that but hope you feel better.

Your comment didn't indicate that,,,and I feel fine.

73 posted on 03/14/2005 12:04:23 PM PST by Protagoras (If the Republican Party enacts a new tax they will be out of power for at least a generation)
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To: cyncooper
I'm sick of public school bashing for the sake of it.

So am I.

When specific problems in specific schools are cited I am second to no one in knowing right from wrong, but this painting with a broad brush is silly.

It's worse than silly. Can you imagine the outcry on this forum if those of us who choose public school were to use such a broad brush against private or home schoolers?

Why is it acceptable to call those using the pubic schools all types of names and use all kinds of stereotypes against us...........but Heaven forbid if the tables are turned?

Not all public school systems are terrific, in fact I would have to agree there are a large amount that are pretty bad........but there are also good systems out there. Not just good teachers, but good systems. Broadbrushing all with the same tar undermines those that are working to breakaway from the stereotype. It also demeans the parents involved in those systems and with their children's education.

74 posted on 03/14/2005 12:05:17 PM PST by Gabz (Wanna join my tag team?)
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To: Protagoras

My comment certainly did indicate it.


75 posted on 03/14/2005 12:06:14 PM PST by cyncooper
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To: Night Hides Not

Thanks for the luck.

(btw, the weather has been flat out perfect, but a "cool down" is on the way--high of "only" 67 tomorrow after we've had about 80 for several days...~sigh~...lol)


76 posted on 03/14/2005 12:07:39 PM PST by cyncooper
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To: Night Hides Not
For those who home school, or send their kids to private school, I applaud them. However, I do not feel I need to apologize to anyone for placing my kids in a public school.

AMEN.

For the record, my daughter will finish in the top 10% of her class (of 700), and has been accepted to Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and the University of Dallas.

That's wonderful!!!!!!!!!! Good for her, and you.

77 posted on 03/14/2005 12:08:44 PM PST by Gabz (Wanna join my tag team?)
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To: P.O.E.

Not to worry about that... they only SAID they were going to use the revenues to fund schools, the money really just went into general revenues. I know, I know, it's still immoral, I just couldn't resist the irony.

What's really scary is people are proposing a federal lottery to fund social security.


78 posted on 03/14/2005 12:10:48 PM PST by johnb838 ("You Have Ruled, Now Let Us See You Enforce" Need some wood?)
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To: Protagoras
Education is the responsibility of the parent, not the government.

Absolutely..........and fortunately as parents we have choices as to where to acquire that education for our children.

Some of us choose to utilize the pubic school system and supplement it at home, others choose private or homeschooling. It is a matter of what works best for those involved.

79 posted on 03/14/2005 12:13:40 PM PST by Gabz (Wanna join my tag team?)
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To: Gabz
Some of us choose to utilize the pubic school system and supplement it at home, others choose private or homeschooling. It is a matter of what works best for those involved.

I have never disputed that. Or even implied that I do.

BTW, the correct description is government school. Any school which is open to the general public is a public school. The government owns and operates these institutions. And the product is indicative of that. It depends on the government who owns and operates the school as to the quality of the product.

Please note, I never excoriated anyone for sending their children to these places. I don't recommend it however.

80 posted on 03/14/2005 12:32:55 PM PST by Protagoras (If the Republican Party enacts a new tax they will be out of power for at least a generation)
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