The Path Toward Independence, Autonomy and Freedom for Christian Schools in America

During the recent election, many Christian school advocates expressed concern that a presidential administration headed by Barack Obama might undertake actions to regulate education in such a way as to deprive Christian schools of their independence and autonomy, and in a worse case scenario, might favor the passage of legislation that would bring private, Christian schools under closer government regulation and scrutiny.  Events since the election have convinced me that this might not be the case. 

The Obama family’s decision to enroll their children in the prestigious, private and parochial Sidwell Friends School, founded and operated by individuals of the Quaker faith, was a matter of freedom of educational choice, an act which Obama himself has said that he favors.  And while Obama has advocated for increased funding for Charter schools as a means of expanding the educational choices of families, it does not appear that he has any kind of interest in regulating or interfering with the operation of existing private, Christian schools.  Though Sidwell Friends is not typical of the kind of Christian schools that The Kingdom Educator generally addresses, a faith statement, and the faith values of the Quakers who influence the school, is a focal point of the curriculum and community.

As long as Christian schools are committed to excellence in education, something which should be part of their DNA related to the practice of their Christian faith, there is no reason for the government to regulate or control them.  Academic excellence is one of the keys to Christian schools remaining independent and autonomous, and completely free to provide the kind of education those who enroll their children are seeking and expecting. 

The standards that we employ to achieve our goals should exceed those of the state departments of education and the public school system.  Our methods of evaluation should be superior to those used by government schools, and our results should show that we are doing more with less.  We should be self-policing with regard to our standards and expectations, encouraging each other to achieve the kind of excellence that we are capable of producing, and which pleases God.  As long as students can come our way and receive an education that is superior to that offered by government operated school systems, we will avoid state regulation. 

There is still a great need for improvement, and a lot of room for it.  “Kingdom Education” is really not related to the Kingdom if most of its citizens cannot take advantage of it.  High tuition and excessive fees eliminate all but a small percentage of Christian families from being able to exercize their educational freedom.  And while I agree that “God will make a way if you have enough faith,” I also can clearly see that most schools put the burden of complete dependence on God for providing tuition money on the families, and accept none of the responsibility themselves.  That must change.  The time has come for evangelical Christians to open their pocketbooks and wallets, and fund their Christian school operations in a manner that is consistent with the teachings of scripture on the subject.  We must educate our churches to understand the value of a church operated and controlled Christian school, and in so doing, enlist its members in helping to underwrite the expenses.  In many cases, that means we might have to cross denominational lines and other barriers and work together to make Christian education accessible to all of the families in the Kingdom who want to take advantage of it.

Lift these schools and their leaders up in prayer.  We need independent, autonomous, distinctively Christian schools providing education for our future church leaders, whether they are professional ministers or lay leaders.