Christian School Advocates or Activists?

The recent issues raised in California, with regard to the credentials required by a judge for parents to educate their children in the home ultimately raises questions about Christian schools.  The fundamental issue is whether or not parents have the right to make decisions regarding the education of their children, and whether they can decide to provide that education themselves, regardless of whether they have a degree or teaching credentials or not.  I believe, from a Biblical perspective, that the education of a child is part of their upbringing, and thus, is the exclusive domain of parents, and no one else.  This particular attempt by the state is an egregious example of government intrusion of the worst kind on both the fundamental constitutional rights of parents, as well as their God-given responsibility to raise their children, for which they are held accountable. 

While this particular decision apparently will not have a major impact at this point upon private, Christian schools, either in California or elsewhere, it is the point at which we must begin thinking about the inevitable intrusion of government in that domain at some point down the road.  Those who have a clear understanding of the mission and purpose of a Christian school need to draw a line in the sand that they will not allow to be crossed; a line which protects their right to determine how and where their children will be educated.  This includes the protection of the complete independence and autonomy of Christian schools, and their freedom from any kind of control over the content of their curriculum or the makeup of their teaching and administrative staff and governing board. 

In most states, Christian schools are free from state regulation and control.  They are allowed to determine their own curriculum objectives, hire teachers, administrators and staff based on their own criteria and qualifications, and are not required to submit their students to the state’s curriculum based tests.  In those states, I would strongly encourage the advocates of Christian school education to work hard to avoid losing any ground.  Don’t give away your independence by voluntarily submitting to incorporate the state approved objectives into your curriculum, or requiring your teaching staff to submit to the state’s stamp of approval through certification.  You are not in business to imitate public education! 

Obviously, not all state curriculum objectives are worthless, but they should all be subjected to the measuring rod of Biblical truth before they are incorporated into your curriculum guides.  Read every objective carefully, and determine whether it is true, or squares up with the Bible before you make it one of your objectives.  If it doesn’t, then it needs to be modified to the point where it does. 

A state teaching certificate does not give you any clue whatsoever that the holder of it will be a good fit to fill a position in your Christian school as a teacher.  On the contrary, my experience, and that of many other Christian school administrators, is that a state certified teacher with public school experience has absolutely no preparation whatsoever for teaching in a Christian school classroom.  The students in a Christian classroom are to be viewed as disciples of Christ in your loving care for a portion of their discipleship training.  They are family, your younger brothers and sisters in Christ.  The philosophy of education in a Christian classroom has its roots in the belief that the world is the creation of a living God, and that same God is the source of all truth.  No state teacher certification program could possibly prepare a teacher for instruction in a classroom with that approach. 

The key to independence is academic success.  For homeschool families, it is hard to argue that parents should be required to hold some kind of teaching credentials when homeschool students generally score at least 30% better on nationally normed achievement tests and college entrance exams than their public school counterparts who are taught by state certified and credentialed teachers.  Likewise, students in private, Christian schools generally do significantly better than their public school counterparts on nationally normed achievement tests like the Stanford test, or the Iowa test, or on their ACT or SAT.  It would seem, then, that requiring students to be taught only by teachers who have state credentials would lead to a significant decline in educational progress. 

So how can Christian school parents, students, teachers and administrators protect their position and continue to offer parents a viable partnership for the education of their children?  First, Christian schools need to put their independence into practice.  Don’t let the state set your curriculum standards or the qualifications for your teachers.  Take the initiative, do the work that is required to keep these things under your own control.  Contribute to the agencies or organizations for Christian schools in your area that provide accreditation services and teacher qualification.  Second, work to keep your academic standards as high as possible, and challenge your families to put their best effort forward.  Third, work together with other Christian schools in your area, as well as homeschool organizations, to provide resources for individuals to keep your interests and issues in front of your state legislature, and your state department of education.  In many states, organizations provide individuals whose job is to continuously lobby the state legislature on behalf of educational independence and freedom for Christian schools and home school families.  There is strength in number.  Work together. 

There are some links on this website to organizations like SBACS and ACSI who can tell you where to go in your state to be an activist for your Christian school.