Question: Is There a Local Responsibility for Children -- According to the Bible?

[xzins]

I, too, see the same line of authority as you do. And I do see parents being responsible for their own children.

However, if I were in a community where different folks had different abilities, then I might take advantage of that in the education of my children. For example, Woody has mentioned how proficient in upper level math that he always was. I might approach other parents who would go with me to approach Woody about being the guide in the math area.

Now, to the local school. What I've described above is a "local" school. It is not a government school. However, in some areas of this country (mine is one of them) the community is so homogeneous that practically every teacher at the local government school is also a part of the community and one or another of the churches.

[xzins]

Then would you agree that the closer to home the control of the school is then the more likely that the parent/father would be heard? Be able to have input.

[xzins]

In our region there are many successful home schooled children and many parents who successfully home school them.

But my children are out of the home and grown tending to lives of their own.

What about the rearing of other children in the community? For example, if a parent of another child does NOT take seriously the call to train up his child, do I have any responsibility at all to try to make a difference in that child's life?

Is there a community responsibility?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the post!

Then would you agree that the closer to home the control of the school is then the more likely that the parent/father would be heard? Be able to have input. That sounds reasonable on the face of it. But I would expect the parent/father to stay involved even if the kid goes to school out of state - the singular objective being to raise the children in the Lord.

[xzins]

In terms of subsidiarity, the surrounding counties all have multiple "village or town" level school districts. We are one of the only counties in the entire state with a county level school district. Additionally, all the research shows that test scores are higher the smaller the school and the smaller the district.

It is definitely biblical that the parents are responsible for their own children, however, it doesn't necessarily follow biblically that the local community is closer to the parents and, therefore, has more responsibility than does the regional community.

Jesus recognized a type of local responsibility for some things when he told his disciples in their evangelism missions that if a town received them they were to remain. If it didn't, they were to shake the dust from their sandals.

A theology of local responsibility....that's what I'm looking for, I guess.

What do you all think?

[Ff--150]

James 1: 5-7 5. If any you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6> but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Maybe you already have the answer, Pastor...

[xzins]

See #'s 22-25

[xzins]

It seems to me the closer the seat of control is to the parents (i.e., local, rather that regional) the more the parents can be involved in directing the educational process. This is my opinion as well. Regional controllers don't take into account the concerns of a few parents when they have a lot more families to deal with. However, local controllers only have to answer to those few parents when concerns are brought up. This, to me, gives more control to the parents, where it belongs.

I'm agreeing with you, but I'm looking for a LEGITIMATE biblical exposition that concludes with the same answers. Are these conclusions legitimately derived from the bible.

[xzins]

Ff, my gut has an initial answer. I'm looking for a legitimate biblical explanation that reaches the same conclusion.

What would be your rationalization.

[drstevej]

"It takes a village."
-- St. Hillary, Our Lady of Perpetual Absurdity

[xzins]

Matthew 19

14Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

[xzins]

Exactly....but she is a socialist who means something entirely different.

The fear is to create a "theology of local responsibilities" that is illegitimate.

It is rational to say that the closer control of one's schools is to oneself that this more closely parallels the biblical instruction to raise up one's own children.

Just because its rational that doesn't make it biblical.

[RnMomof7]

that is badddddddddd steve

[w_over_w]

I'm looking for a LEGITIMATE biblical exposition that concludes with the same answers.

Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Matt. 22:21

What are the things that are God's regarding these children's education?

[xzins]

I, too, would vote for local control.

What biblical argument could you give? If any?

Is there such a thing as a biblical argument for "local responsibility" in some areas?

[drstevej]

The title fits her doesn't it?

[Ff--150]

Maybe Deut. 11: 19-21 and Deut. 6:7 helps?

19. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
20. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
21. That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven on earth.

6:7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

According to God, the closer the better it appears.

[xzins]

Good verse, W!

Education of children is a God-given responsibility. How would you argue local town responsibility is greater than is county seat responsibility?

[RnMomof7]

Yes it does ...it was just toooooooo funny

[drstevej]

Unfortunately, some parents don't care about their kids when they are 25 feet away. Local control is good in a community where parents really care and are around to monitor what's going on. Just being local isn't a guarantee of an improvement.