Excellence in Education from a Christian Perspective

Hemant

I’m glad you spoke in support of homeschooling. It does get a bad rap because a whole lot of people do it to mind control their kids. However, public schools are quickly becoming insane bureaucracies.

I know you’re a teacher so I don’t want to say too much. I’ll just say this: my big gripe is with administrators.

If Christian parents want to homeschool their children properly, why not opt instead for some textbooks that present accurate information, things that are true instead of things you wish were true?

Hemant, the problem is that they think the things the wish to be true, are true. One of the greatest jokes of our time is that the Christian fundies and the New Age morons are almost exactly the same, but for a few points of doctrine. Each side is rigidly married to its beliefs, defends them against all comers, and, when someone presents contradictory evidence, that person becomes the enemy and has to be gotten out of the way as quickly as possible before the entire edifice crumbles. But try pointing this out to a rep from either side; he/she will look at you like you have two heads.

I really am quickly losing my tolerance for the “right” of parents to teach their kids whatever they want them to believe. I’m starting to think that people who have more than a handful of neurons to rub together need to go more heavily on the offensive.

I wonder whether the section on Robinson Crusoe includes the part in which Crusoe admits that Friday has helped him to see God in a different light by espousing a belief in universal salvation?

A parent or guardian who would choose these books to homeshcool their child isn’t concerned with that child (children) learning about the real world. The idea is to keep the child away from reality and locked into a mindwashing, ultra-controlling parent centered world. I still remember the catalyst that started my own seperation from church. The preacher delivered a sermon on the evils of education. He actually told the congregation that it was probably sinful to send you children to college becuase they would be introduced to non-christian ideas and that educated people were less likely to attend church. That was it for me.

Cipher said:

I really am quickly losing my tolerance for the “right” of parents to teach their kids whatever they want them to believe. I’m starting to think that people who have more than a handful of neurons to rub together need to go more heavily on the offensive.

I support what you’re saying. I felt the same with those kids from those crazy polygamist families. However, there aren’t really any alternatives. Right or wrong, you have the constitutional right to be a moron and indoctrinate your kids.

Hemant,

I understand your concerns, and I agree with you for the most part. I do not believe in homeschooling for this very reason. The kids end up receiving only one perspective. They have very limited interaction with other kids whose parents many teach them something totally different.

The educational system today has a whole gamut of problems, the way I see it, but it is what it is and that’s all we have for now. I don’t see it changing drastically anytime soon, as long as the same type of “administrators” (as Mike pointed out) are running the system. And they breed more of the same kind to take their place.

I have a friend (a great teacher) who had to leave her job a few weeks ago because she let her kids be “too free in the classroom and were having too much fun.”

Going back to the original subject matter… I don’t think we can get away from the parents teaching their own kids what they believe, nor is there anything wrong with that. I only see a problem when that’s the only perspective that the children learn.

I try to let my kids get a variety of perspectives whenever possible. As they mature, they need to have the freedom to explore on their own. I am very passionate about what I believe. But to insist that’s the whole truth and the only right way to be would be a great disservice to my kids. I don’t want them to become who I am… I want them to be all that they are.

Thank you for the early comment about not being against homeschooling. Unfortunately, there are some real fundamentalist nutjobs teaching their children at home. That is true, most definitely. On the flip side of the argument though, I know many, many fundamentalist nutjobs who send their children to public schools who still successfully teach their children false and anti-scientific/anti-historic “information” about evolution, homosexuality, world history, and etc. Further, they push (successfully in some cases) to get the same such anti-science and anti-historic dogma incorporated into the public school system. Nor should we forget the nutjob religious fundamentalists who feel it is their calling to teach in the public school system and weasel their dis-information into their classroom lesson plans. Burning crosses on students’ arms, anyone? We are atheists. We homeschool our son.

“I really am quickly losing my tolerance for the “right” of parents to teach their kids whatever they want them to believe. I’m starting to think that people who have more than a handful of neurons to rub together need to go more heavily on the offensive.”

Cipher, sorry to have to disagree with you but I will always defend a parent’s right to teach their child what they believe to be true. Always. It is, in my opinion, the bedrock of American freedom. Beliefs can be overcome; they can change with time and new information. My husband grew up with a fundie BS family, even went to a fundie BS private school, and still saw the truth of scientific discovery once he left home. Homeschooling is a wonderful way to learn how to learn. Once you start a kid on the path of loving to learn, there’s nothing that isn’t possible.

I was sent to a fundamentalist private school that use A Beka books. I hated them even when I was little. They feel the need to put a moralizing message in everything. In English class, for instance, we would parse out the grammar of paragraphs explaining why it’s sinful for men to grow their hair out long, or for women to dress in non-traditional fashions. Their whole curriculum is structured around inculcating conformity, religious indoctrination, and stifling critical thought. They’re a perfect example of how right wing ideologues see other people’s children as tools for promoting their agendas.

As for the right for parents to indoctrinate their children, I support it up to a certain extent. But I think it’s important to note the irony in the fact that the “right to indoctrinate your children” is one of those unenumerated rights which the right wing hates so much (others would be such things as privacy and abortion). The constitution does not explicitly say that parents can teach their children anything they want. It’s actually much more explicit on separation of church and state (though the exact phrase does not appear), than it is on parental rights. And yet fundamentalists insist on the latter while denying the former.

I think it’s important to note the irony in the fact that the “right to indoctrinate your children” is one of those unenumerated rights which the right wing hates so much (others would be such things as privacy and abortion).

Yeah, this is what kills me. They would take away our right to teach our children naturalism, humanism, evolutionary theory etc. in a minute if they could. There’s always a double standard.

On the one hand, protecting their rights also protects ours. On the other, it practically ensures global and societal collapse. We’re screwed.

Using Biblical terminology and examples, this book offers principles that will guide the young teen in setting dating standards.

Biblical examples of sexual standards? Well let’s see, Lot was raped by his 2 daughters, Tobit married his first cousin, Moses was tricked into marrying the sister of the woman he wanted so he had to work extra and marry both of them at once. It just goes on and on.

While I support the choice that parents have to homeschool their children, send them to private schools, or send them to the public schools in their local district, I have issue with the indoctrination that can take place using either of the two biggest Christian homeschool curriculums, ABeka and SonLight. As a history teacher (and Christian) I have major issues with both of these curriculums in their presentation of world history and American history. Both curriculums present non-Christian people and places in negative ways using terms like “savage” and one (I don’t remember which) even goes so far as to explain that the Trail of Tears was a good thing for the Native Americans and that it was to help them, etc. I mean, seriously?!?!?!? Who could even believe such a thing! If I were to choose to homeschool my child, I don’t think I could choose either of these curriculums unless I decided to supplement the material with other texts, novels, biographies, etc.

When I think about what kind of education I received in public schools, I have to wonder how much worse home-schooling can be. I know, I know…most parents home-school their kids to insulate them from ideas they find damaging to their faith, but there are exceptions.

Luckily for me, I was a very curious and studious kid who spent most of his free time hanging out in libraries (school and otherwise), just soaking up as much about everything as I could get my hands on. School wasn’t fun for me, but learning was, and still is.

I was also a very religious kid, until I learned that those opposed to evolution were Christians and others made uncomfortable by its implications. Christians, so loud in their espousing of “truth”, were actually offended by and bent on stifling the biggest truth I ever learned. It was a crushing disillusionment for that kid and he has been without religion ever since.

cipher

I’m applying the George Carlin rule. I’m going to pray to Hemant because he seems like a guy who can get things done.

I don’t know much about homeschooling, but I would guess that it is typically less effective at preparing kids for “the real world.” By that I mean preparing them for jobs, careers, etc. Am I correct? If that is the case, then the sort of textbooks mentioned in the article are not helping the younger generation. Since education is absolutely important for a nation’s prosperity, I believe that homeschooling should be highly regulated by the government. Allowed, but regulated. Although, I suppose that would defeat the purpose, no?

PS. I have been reading this blog for some time now. Excellent work, Mr. Mehta.

(This also validates my belief that nothing good can ever come out of Florida!)

Florida–second only to Texas (sorry, Ron).

Presumably the health textbook has an extensive section devoted to keeping meals kosher? After all, we know the Judeo-Christian god has it in for shellfish and pork. Perhaps the civics and history texts should also include sections on civic duty so that children may be reminded not to speak ill of or defy their parents, lest they be put to death.

Darryl, don’t give up on us Texans, and for that matter, Floridians, yet. I’ve lived all over this country, and no geographic location is spared regular issuance of both good and ill.

No kings,

Robert

Richard, the problem I see with this scenario is that they won’t remain isolated, in cloistered communities. They’re gradually commandeering the political process. Every four years, they gain more ground. Huckabee took the South, essentially.

There is also a growing body of evidence that fundamentalism has a neurological basis. If this is true – and I’ve suspected as much for years, long before it became a subject of research – they’re passing this trait onto their progeny. They’ll continue to bear children and to fan out across the country so that it will cease to be a localized phenomenon.

The evangelical law schools – Liberty, Regent and one or two others – have for years been producing a corps of Christian activist lawyers. I understand that much socially regressive legislation is their doing. They’re determined to “reclaim this nation for Christ”, and they won’t stop until they’ve done so.

Cipher said:

There is also a growing body of evidence that fundamentalism has a neurological basis. If this is true – and I’ve suspected as much for years, long before it became a subject of research – they’re passing this trait onto their progeny. They’ll continue to bear children and to fan out across the country so that it will cease to be a localized phenomenon.

I agree, but it gives me some hope. Maybe we can medicate them out of their delusions.

Linda,

The article I sent you a couple of months ago presents evidence favoring a neurological basis for ideological preference. If further research bears this out – and I fully expect that it will – I think it’s reasonable to infer it’s a heritable trait.

Wes,

Yes, I know. It’s one factor among many. Not conclusive, but enough evidence to warrant taking it seriously. Just something to take into consideration. I wasn’t trying to make a hard and fast point. My point was that fundamentalism appears to be self-perpetuating, and it’s here to stay.

I appreciate that Hemant stated right away that he is OK with homeschooling, and that the discussion here has been very civil. I am an atheist, and we are a secular homeschooling family, so I pretty much have several years of firsthand experience in this area. Hopefully I can clear up some misconceptions about homeschooling, and/or maybe reinforce some other perceptions.

There is a very large contingent of homeschoolers who are fundamentalist Christians. However, there are also very many secular homeshcoolers, which includes both nontheists and some very mainstream religious folks who don’t believe that religion needs to be infused into everything. Secular homeschoolers tend not to get noticed as much because we blend in with the rest of y’all, whereas the fundie homeschoolers do tend to isolate and segregate themselves. They have all kinds of activities just for themselves (homeschool soccer, homeschool band, homeschool whatever), but my kids and other secular homeschooled kids do the same things as publicly schooled kids. My kids do Tae Kwon Do, soccer, dance, girl scouts, Cub Scouts, fencing, and baseball in regular community groups, and typically the other kids don’t even know they’re homeschooled. They have friends who are homeschooled and others who aren’t. My point here is that not all homeschoolers are denim-jumper wearing, lord-praising fundies; they’re just the most visible.

As far as curriculum goes, oversight varies by state. Some states regulate heavily and others don’t. We do come across a lot of the A Beka and similar materials, and they kind of make me cringe. I can tell you that most homeschoolers, even the religious ones, don’t use a single source of curriculum. It’s usually pretty eclectic. Many people vary the curriculum within their family depending on each child’s learning style. Even the fundamentalists aren’t usually exposed only to their own worldview. Most homeschooled kids, religious or not, do end up prepared for college or the working world. The flip side of that is that there are a lot of kids going to public K-12 schools who still get the religious indoctrination outside of school and still believe it for the rest of their life. And after spending a year teaching an intro level college course a couple years ago, I can attest that there are a number of publicly-schooled kids who aren’t being adequately prepared academically.

While I do think it’s unfortunate that kids are exposed to this kind of material, I have to support a parent’s ability to direct the education of their own children. Some of the things the fundies teach their kids scare me, but statements like this, from above, scare me more:

I’m wondering whether or not it may be time to start pushing for an end to constitutional protections for stupidity – “I can believe whatever I want to believe”.

Do we really want the government telling us what we can or can’t believe? I’d be willing to bet that atheism wouldn’t be on the approved list.

That’s the thing, though. these parents truly believe that this bollucks is 100% true. My parents certainly thought that. I was raised homeschooled on abeka books.

I’m atheist now. Indoctrination doesn’t always work.

What are the Biblical terms for “contraception”, “erectile dysfunction”, and “anal sex?”

Well let’s see. I guess anal sex could be described as “sodomy” if you use the term, uh, loosely. Contraception could be expressed as say, “wasting seed.” As for erectile dysfunction, hmmm. Oh I know, “piety!”