I want to take a break from my series responding to counter arguments to lift up this incredible discussion hosted by The Gospel Coalition. Two Christian leaders (Jen Wilkin and Dr. Jonathan Pennington) navigate the question: should a Christian parent send their children to public schools? The dialogue is respectful, thorough and centered on Biblical ethics.
One part that particularly grabbed me came from Jen as she described the impact of Christian’s posture towards public education. Whenever I make the case that families should commit to public schools even if they can afford private or home education, invariably someone will respond that they refuse to “sacrifice their child.” This sacrifice could reference the child’s academic potential (if the person believes that the local school is inferior), the dangers of secular ideologies or a combination of the two.
Our words have power, and likening the local school to a slaughter casts a dark cloud over the adults and children that you call neighbors. I’m reminded of Proverbs 12:18 - “there is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Members of your church who teach in that school can hear you, and students can feel it if you see them as nothing more than hungry wolves waiting to devour your spotless progeny. You don’t have to feign delight in an institution you distrust or dislike, but we as Christians must start from the position that all humans have dignity given by our Creator.
Jen mentions a more palatable version of the sacrifice talking point by pushing back on the idea that “I just have to do what’s right for my family.” That family-individualistic stance that I’ve written about previously ignores the Bible’s commands in Philippians to “count others more significant than yourselves.” She rightly explains that there is no such thing as a decision made “just for our family” and if someone is in the position to consider private education they have influence that they should use for the benefit of everyone’s children. You can hear it from her starting at the 10:56 mark.
If you’re invested in the debate around a Christian’s decisions on education then I cannot recommend this video highly enough. I’m personally glad to hear that there are Christian leaders who have seen the same thing I have—that the average white evangelical Christian disparages public education—and can patiently respond in love how that could do damage to the church and the community around her.
-Stephen
The community's role in raising children that serve and strengthen the community cannot be understated. I'm all for individual choices; however, I also believe there is value in children experiencing a broad, heterogeneous mix of personalities and cultures within their schools - it helps them develop perspective and sometimes empathy and patience.
I read the linked article yesterday and it touches on many of the same points. The laser focus on individual rights seems unbelievably short sighted and detrimental to our society in the future.
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/gentrification-restaurants-studio-atao-toolkit#intcid=_bon-appetit-bottom-recirc_5b49cbda-d0cd-411c-9284-1c94cf320136_text2vec1