Giving 'exodus' a new meaning

Cal Thomas
June 14, 2004

People of both political parties and many persuasions have been talking for
decades about education reform. President Bush signed a huge new spending
bill that is supposed to link funding to certain reforms so that no child
will be left behind.

Now comes what could be the most radical and most successful education
reform proposal ever made. The Southern Baptist Convention - the nation's
largest Protestant denomination with about 17 million members - is meeting
this week in Indianapolis, and among the resolutions it is considering is
one calling upon parents to withdraw their children from public schools and
either educate them at home, or enroll them in private Christian academies.

The rationale is contained in the text of the resolution authored by Houston
attorney Bruce Shortt and retired Brig. Gen. T.C. Pinckney: "Whereas, the
Bible commands that fathers are to bring up their children in the training
and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) . . . (and) Whereas, the
government schools are by their own confession humanistic and secular in
their instruction, the education offered by the government schools is
officially Godless, and Whereas, the government schools are adopting
curricula and policies teaching that the homosexual lifestyle is acceptable
. . . and homosexual organizations are present as student 'clubs' in
thousands of government schools and are spreading rapidly . . . ". Well, you
get the idea.

In an essay published last week at ethicsdaily.com, Shortt wrote,
"Government schools are converting our children to alien creeds and infusing
them with false and destructive values." Pinckney added, "God gives the
responsibility for education of children to the parents, not the
government." Indeed. And it has been the decision by too many parents to
allow government to shape their children's worldview and values that is
responsible for spiritual and intellectual disorder that now inhabits the
souls and minds of too many offspring of Christian parents.

The private and home school movements remain relatively small compared to
the number of students in government schools. According to the latest U.S.
Census Bureau figures (2003), there are 73.2 million children in school with
10 percent of them in private elementary or high schools. The number of
children educated at home is estimated by home-school advocates and the
Census Bureau at approximately 2 million, with that number growing by about
15 to 20 percent each year.

Most school choice advocates believe the poor would be the first to head for
the exit should vouchers be approved for the parents of government school
children. Numerous surveys have shown that lack of money is the only reason
most poor children remain trapped in government schools and that if money
were no longer a concern, poor parents would place their children in private
schools. Liberal Democrats, who claim to be advocates for the poor, have
failed them on this important issue because they like getting contributions
from the National Education Association. While such contributions help keep
them in office, poor children continue to starve intellectually and morally.

By passing the resolution, the SBC could inject new energy into this slowly
growing trend toward non-government education and convert it into a powerful
example with momentum. If large numbers of Southern Baptist and other
Christian parents begin exiting government schools, the education monopoly
will be forced to consider returning to real education standards instead of
embracing every new education and social "fad." Like a business that is
required to compete, government schools will either reclaim a once proud
heritage, or go out of business; either way, the children will benefit, and
it is their welfare, not that of the education establishment and their
lobbyists, that ought to be of primary concern.

Conservatives have worried more about changing decadent culture than in
changing themselves and their own children. Millions of schoolchildren
reared with morals, values, ethics and faith that are endangered in the
government schools would do more to enrich and advance culture than all of
the political movements combined.

So, Southern Baptists, show the way and perhaps many will follow. Stop
waiting for the world's permission to fully exercise your faith and beliefs
(which will never come) and start training up your children in the ways your
God wants them to go. That can't be done in government schools, but it can
in yours or in your homes. It's time to give the word "exodus" a new
meaning.

©2004 Tribune Media Services

Maranatha,
David
http://www.soundanalarm.net/HomeSchooling.html