Should Christian's leave their children in public school to be a light to non-believers?

This is a tough question and one you may have to face while home schooling. We asked some home educators to respond. Their answers follow:

I do not think a young child should be sent to public school as a witness. I do think that public school has an anti-Christian agenda that can damage a young child's faith. I have known a number of children that believe evolution over creation because "the teacher said it is true." In our home we discuss quite a bit about evolution and by the time we are done, I expect my children will understand evolution and why it is wrong as well as good, scientific reasons to believe creation That is just one example. I think that being a witness is something that needs to be modeled for children. Ministry is something for a family to share and for the children to participate with the parents. When people tell me that young children should be in public school so they can be a 'witness' and a 'light', I ask them where they want their children to attend Sunday School. Everyone wants their children at their own, local church. I ask why don't you send them to the Mormon church instead of your Baptist church? Or the Hindu church school instead of the Presbyterian? It is easy to see that a young child would have no voice to be a 'light' in those circumstances. But it can be hard to get parents to understand that it is just as difficult to be a 'light' against some of the public school teachings.

There may be room for a child to 'be a witness' during out of class time (recess, lunch, etc.) but there is just as great a chance, if not greater, that the child will be influenced negatively by the other children. Let's be real, children are more often pulled down to the lowest common denominator behavior wise than influenced for good.

Marci in Suisun, CA

NO, NO, NO!!!! My "little light" almost went under from the load. The load of not belonging, of being different, of being the subject of ridicule. Sure the must face the real world someday, but lets build their foundations first so that can withstand the battering. Children have a habit of not sharing a great deal of their life at school. How can we explain the difference in our beliefs and what they are being taught if we are not aware of these things being taught in the first place? Sure we can try to anticipate some things but not all. Who can expect a small child to be discerning? Sure we pray for our children, but we also don't throw them in the lion's den.

Bonnie/Salt Lake

Do we want our children to become drug addicts, so they can understand them? Do we want our children in the dirt so that they will know reality? I think not. I think we can be intelligent and know of the world, but that does not mean that we are to be a part of it. Some parents don't know the power of impartation and belonging and that their child will be choosing between Christianity and humanism. Christianity is openly shunned in the public school as being the religion of the ignorant and simple minded. It was this way in 1981 when I graduated, and it has gotten worse The devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking who he can devour.

Eileen In Fla.

While it is true that some are a light no matter where they are, I would venture to say that being someone's light is not a responsibility for a child to take on. I have been in the same argument. One of my friends, who is a public school teacher, thought that I should leave my son in school because I was depriving all those children the benefit of his bright personality. Of course I just explained the situation a little better and he realized that sacrificing my son's sanity and sense of self worth was too high a price to pay for his "light" in the classroom. Some people just have to go through the experience.

God bless, Ruthy

I'm always dismayed when that type of question about public school comes up. We home schooled our son during his impressionable years, he wasn't the type at that time to BE a light, he NEEDED the light. We felt he needed more training at home before he went to the battleground. It worked for us, but maybe it's different for someone else's child. I also don't think that the public school is the "real" world, as the argument goes.

Stace in IL

I kept my kids in public school for this long with that same rationality. Boy, was I wrong. Now that they are older, I am glad that in a month and a half, I will not have to deal with "un-teaching" them at the end of every day. Our school district is actually not that liberal, but I worry about later. We wouldn't send our babies into battle, would we? Actually, I heard a song by a Christian artist the other day that kind of describes that kind of thinking. It was by Susan Ashton, called, "Alice in Wonderland". It's about Christians who just turn their back to the evil in the world and do nothing to change things. I know, I USED to be that kind of Christian. Maybe it's because I am turning 35 tomorrow, but I have never felt like such an activist in my life! The past election and really finding out what the agenda for our kids in public school is, it makes me want to SCREAM! On Sunday, our pastor talked about Nehemiah rebuilding the wall and how others scoffed at him and his crew. He likened it to the dedicated Christian of today, trying to rebuild righteousness in our society. It got me fired up. Maybe the Lord is just helping me know that I have made the right decision. Anyway, my dearest friend, a sister in Christ, just can't see the writing on the wall. She even rationalized voting for Clinton by saying that as many people will die of lack of health care as aborted babies-I looked at her and said, "Four thousand a day?!". She never did tell me how she voted and I would NEVER judge her for it, anyway. She is a tender-hearted Christian whom the Lord has used to pull me out of the "dumpers" many times.

There are godly people in Public school, but the agenda that is being put forth for our kids that I disagree with. We have many Christian teachers in our public school, but the teachers have very little say as to how things are taught. What you really need to know is what kind of Curriculum Director does your school have, and what are the school board members like? I think if you keep your kids in public school, you need to watch and pray, and be active against anything that goes against your beliefs. I am a nurse, and I am not free to say to my patients that I think another doctor would be better, or that I do not agree with his treatment. By the same token, the Christian teachers are not free to disagree with the parts of the curriculum that they do not agree with. They may de-emphasis it in their classroom, but they do not have it within their power to change it. It's the textbook companies and the colleges that really need change. All I am saying is be informed, and act, and support the Christian teachers with your prayers. I heard of a wonderful group called Moms in Touch where public school moms get together and pray for the school, which is wonderful! Just remember, that in the Old Testament when enemies rose up against the people of God, they prayed, but they also "acted" upon the precepts of God.

In Sincere Christian Love, Kim

"Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." Proverbs 19:27 If I am commanded by the Word to not place myself under teachings that lead me away from God's truth I cannot knowingly place my children under such teachings. There are many good Christian teachers in the public school system but the philosophies behind the curriculum has for some time now been blatantly anti-Christian and has now become overtly pagan/New Age. Add to that the many teachers who encourage New Age thinking and practices and for me it would be defying God's Word to send my children to public school AS LONG AS THE LORD HAS PROVIDED ME WITH AN ALTERNATIVE. For those not sharing my Christian views I know I come across as right-wing fundamental extremist, but those with different world views have the same freedom to instruct their children according to their beliefs that I insist for myself. For Christian parents who disagree with me I can only agree with a previous note. home schooling is a calling. If their hearts have not been similarly touched who am I to judge? However, I can lovingly share the reasons I home school and share the scriptures that form the foundation for my reasons.

As for being "witnesses" in public school, Israel was chosen to be a light among the nations yet God specifically commanded the Israelites not to put their children under the tutelage (tutor) of pagans when they settled in Canaan after their wilderness wanderings.

Janet in CA

I read an article in a magazine a few months ago that addressed this. Public school. Palms 1:1 says "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers." Now, what a parent says (unknowingly) as he/she sends their child out the door to public school is "Go and walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the path of sinners and sit in the seat of scoffers." I agree that there may be wonderful Christian teachers out there. But, the teachers are not the only influence, or I think the main influence. The main influence is the other children and whatever influences them (TV shows you wouldn't allow, etc.), and the curriculum. If a Christian parent does not believe that public school is an anti-Christian place, I would recommend that they get a hold of the book "Lambs to the Slaughter" by Johanna Michaelsen. Quite an eye opener. I also recommend "Child Abuse in the Classroom."

At the school my children would attend, within the first week of kindergarten kids are led through guided imagery. In a school across town 1st graders pretend they are witches and warlocks and cast spells. That is not something Christians should be fooling around with. I think that many parents, especially those with children, younger than school age like your friend, just don't realize what is really going on. They think "I went through public school. I'm an ok person. It's not that bad."

One more thought. Mary Pride says in The Way Home 

"When my son is as strong as Daniel, then I'll let him go into the lions den."

Marci Morey

Mission Boards do not send out missionaries unprepared. They are required to go through years of training and preparation. And yet, some Christians seem to think their little children can be "missionaries," and they end up being "missionized." It is WRONG to turn your children over to the ungodly for training and instruction. Deuteronomy 6 tells us that the training and instruction of children is OUR responsibility, and that we are to train them in the ways of the Lord. So many times I have watched children from "good" Christian homes with well intentional Christian parents end up in sad and even tragic situations, and the common denominator has always been that they were educated in public schools. When we were new believers and our oldest daughter was ready to begin school, I did not know much, but I knew I would NEVER turn her over to the public schools. She was in Christian schools until we began to homeschool when she was in sixth grade. Her four sisters and brothers have been completely homeschooled.

-Terry

This is a tough issue. I can see the point of those people who keep their kids in public school, I suppose that we are too lazy; which is why we home school and have our kids in Christian school. We don't want to do all the extra teaching and unlearning that we would have to if our girls were in the public school. After the last few years of seeing what our local schools are doing, my feelings have only been reinforced. For example, at the "book banning" hearing before the school board this spring got a good earful of what the powers that be in our school system really thought about us "fundies" when they were being pushed. It wasn't pretty. What was especially troubling were the attitudes expressed by the student leaders. Their scorn for those disagreeing with them (like me and I was there and spoke) was severe. If this is the sort of attitude and respect for their fellow students being fostered by the public school, I don't want my kids being inundated in that environment. Better that I know what they are learning. After all, Israel fell on hard times when they were compromised by the nations around them; they weren't strong enough to be salt to the surrounding nations, rather the nations corrupted them. I just don't see it as our kids' job to change the schools; that is an overwhelming task, given that the systems strongly aligned against them.

Rich in CT

I have a REAL problem with this light business. It always seems to work the other way. Their light seems to dim surrounded by darkness. I figure if we keep them home through high school they MAY be ready to survive at college. I sat down and figured how much input I had in my child's life when they went to public school:

	about 1 hour in morning
	2 or 3 hours after school
	Dinner (what a hectic time)
	1/2 hour before bed
	Saturday = 8 hours
	Sunday = 10 hours

about 38 hours a week give or take an hour or two They have 6.5 hours a day of our kids + homework + the time the kids spend playing with the other public school clones on the block the world has them slightly more then we do. When we home school we have them 24/7 except when they are playing with the kids on the block we have more time to teach our children OUR beliefs, even if the NEA thinks that's brain washing. It's our RIGHT God given and Constitutionally the raise our children our way. I have thought the same for a long time. If it is religious to be spoken of in school is it not equally wrong for the MEGA- RELIGION (non- religion) to be allowed in public school.? In the scriptures, it says something about the promised land being ours as long as we rule righteously, when God is absent are we ruling the way we were meant? We shall surely LOSE our inheritance if we do not TEACH righteous teaching to our children. Is losing our eternal glory worth pacifying the masses??

I don't think it's safe to send your child to public school Just to be a witness. There are other ways to witness. In the neighborhood, at the store, at the playground etc. You can invite "un-saved" people to your church , or send the missionaries of your church to them with a referral. I do not think Heavenly Father meant for us to sacrifice our children to the world. we can be witnesses of GOD by, living the gospel and allowing others their 'agency'. By living the gospel we can BE witnesses to the world. The world is cold and uninviting to innocent children. We should 'feed' them the gospel and care for them in a SAFE environment until they are adult and they can then choose to enter it when they are sufficiently prepared.

Susan McDonald

Summary by Greg Harris

If we are our brother's keeper, would it not follow we are also our child's keeper. The Christian answer should be obvious. But for many it is not so obvious. Rather than train their children to be true disciples of Christ, many parents send them out of the home and neighborhood to evangelize the public school system at the tender age of five or six. Would these parents send their kindergartners to evangelize the Sunday school program of a religious cult? It would only be for an hour each week. No? Then why send them to evangelize parochial schools of humanism for five or six hours per day. ..If it is true there are many thousands of Christian teachers working in the public schools of our land, why don't we hear more about them? If these adults have been so intimidated by their colleagues and the courts that their light is seldom seen, and their voice seldom heard, can a Christian child expect to do better?

From Greg Harris's book The Christian Home School, a total home schooling resource. A great introduction for anyone interested in home education.

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