The Political Front: Advocating for Christian Schools

The Kingdom Educator utilizes a number of sources to keep up with what is happening regarding Christian schools and the various laws and regulations that affect them.  We’ve discovered the same thing that many of our sources have discovered–that it is sometimes difficult and frustrating to keep up with everything, and that things can change in a heartbeat.  But if you are a parent with children in a Christian school, or a teacher or administrator, or even a staff member of a Christian school, you need to become an advocate for anything that leads to the complete independence and freedom of your school to function as a discipleship ministry of Christ’s church. 

As a Christian educator, it is my personal belief that parents are held accountable by God for the training of their children.  It is the job of any Christian school to help them if they choose to utilize that particular tool to assist them in their responsibility.  The school, therefore, must be able to do their best job, under the authority of the Holy Spirit, and by the written Word of God, and in order to do that, it must be able to make decisions, build a curriculum, find teachers and administrators, and perform its responsibility without the interference of the state. 

So how can you help?

First of all, monitor websites and read through the newsletters and information that comes from the Christian school organization to which your school belongs.  Most of them have people who serve either as lobbyists or who keep an eye on the legislative situation that affects Christian schools and they will alert you if there is a problem.  Many times, writing to your elected representatives will give them a perspective they didn’t have before, and it does not take many letters from constituence to influence them.  Most political decisions affecting schools are made on the state level, so a dozen letters from parents and teachers in a particular school may have a positive effect. 

Second, when the opportunity arises for you to be an advocate for your school, step up.  It may be speaking to community leaders in clubs or other gatherings, in your church, or simply volunteering some time when you have it available.  You never know who might be listening to you.  At the very least, you might encourage another family to try your school.  

Those of you who live in states where Christian schools have a lot of freedom need to work to keep things that way.  We have always felt that academic excellence is the ticket to freedom and it should also be the byproduct of educational ministry that is striving to honor Christ and serve the Lord.  Stay aware and alert, and help keep your school free from encroachment and regulation by the state by not giving them a reason to be concerned about what is happening in your school. 

Though the situation can change in a heartbeat, there does not appear to be anything particularly threatening going on at the moment.  The California situation with regard to the requirements to make home school parents get state credentials is being monitored closely, and you can read about it with several sources.  Just google it on line and you can get a clear picture.  The President has exercised his freedom of educational choice in sending his daughters to a private, parochial school that integrates religious values into its curriculum. 

We would advise Christian school administrators and parents to be wary of voucher programs that may seem harmless enough, or even helpful, but which place limitations and restrictions on the religious aspects of a school.  Government money never comes without strings attached.  Sometimes, discoveries of onerous rules and regulations are not made until the money has been accepted and spent, and it is too late to do anything. 

Stay the course.  A Christian school education is well worth the time, effort and money you and your child will invest in it, and it is an investment.