Choice in Education: Finding a Fair System That Works

Though the topic of education has been overshadowed by economics in most election rhetoric in recent weeks, there are still issues to be addressed, and with the current state of most of America’s public schools, it will still be an issue for some time to come.  For those of us interested in education from a Christian worldview, which supports the basic philosophy that the discovery of the revealed knowledge of God, and discipleship by integrating the principles of his word into their applicable place in curriculum, it will always be an issue. 

Education is considered by our government to be a basic human right.  We would take that position one step further, and declare that it is the obligation and responsibility of parents to see that their children are provided with an education that introduces them to the God who created the universe, and teaches them how to understand what he has revealed to us through creation, through his word, and through the redemption from sin that he offers us through Jesus.  As a result of that philosophical view, Christians have developed an educational system that reinforces and undergirds that view. 

For many years now, Christian educators have advocated for a voucher system to help provide resources to Christian families who have the right to educate their children in an environment that supports their belief in God and his divine revelation.  The argument is made that parents should not be required to send their students to a school simply because geography dictates it, but that they should be able to choose a school that will not only provide a quality academic environment, which the school in the neighborhood might not necessarily do, but also one that is in agreement with their Christian worldview and basic philosophy of education.  Since public schools do not provide the latter, the belief is that parents should be able to take the tax money that would be alloted for their child to attend a public school in their district, and use it to place their children in a private, Christian school that supports their philosophy and belief system.  This would be done in the form of a voucher, with the determination of how much money is required for the schools in a particular district to educate one student for one year, coming from federal, state and local tax sources.  Parents would receive a voucher in this amount for each school age child, and could then place that with the school where they chose to enroll their child, whether it be the public school in their designated district, another public school, a charter school or a private school. 

It sounds simple enough, but there are problems inherent with the system, some of which have proven difficult to resolve.  Giving vouchers to parents solves the problem of tax money going directly to private schools with a Christian emphasis, which was an earlier difficulty, but money going directly to families puts such a program in the category of an entitlement program, which creates other difficulties.  Should families who can afford private school be receiving taxpayer money to subsidize their educational choice?  The amount of tuition and fees at most private, Christian schools now exceeds the average annual expenditure of most public school districts.  What if the voucher doesn’t cover the expenses?  Can the school charge additional tuition, and if so, what does that do to families who can’t afford to pay the difference?  Will schools that accept vouchers be required to take their face value? 

Then there is the fact that there are not enough openings in private Christian schools to accomodate all of those who would have access to them through vouchers.  If a school chooses to accept vouchers, how much of its independence and autonomy does it lose, particularly in the admissions process?  Existing laws would make selective admissions a thing of the past at Christian schools which accepted vouchers, since they would not be able to turn down anyone who came to them with a voucher. 

Some churches and Christian groups have established charter schools.  They are operating under the principle that the Christian operation of the school will be an “influence” of sorts.  These charter schools, however, cannot operate under a Christian worldview, nor can they integrate Biblical principles into the curriculum, nor can they teach Christian principles.  The Christian influence they can have is strictly limited.  The problem we have with public education is not merely the academic quality or the lack of Christian influences, the problem is that the basic educational philosophy is humanist, and that is part of the curriculum that is mandated by the state.  The basic problem isn’t solved.

Christians should continue to work toward finding a system that is fair, that recognizes the basic rights of Christian parents to educate their children in a Christian environment, and that gives equal consideration to the choices parents want to make.  We may not have the answers today, but if we continue working together, we can come up with a solution.  The future of the church in this country depends on it.

Clarification:  The Kingdom Educator is opposed to any kind of financing system that jeopardizes the independence and autonomy of a Christian school.  Any system that would place requirements on the school related to the content of its curriculum, its methods of qualifying and employing teachers and staff, its admission standards and qualifications or any other aspect of its governance and complete control over its operations is opposed by the Kingdom Educator. 

We believe there are ways and means of fairly and equitably allowing all families a choice in the way they carry out their biblical, God given responsibility to educate their children.  We believe Christian education should be an option for all Christian families who want to exercise it, and not just those with the means to afford it.  We believe that the Christian community, the church, should be an active agent in finding those ways and means, and that there is a system whereby tax dollars paid by parents can be used in the way those parents choose without penalizing the school where they choose to use them.