How should we divide responsibility between families and public schools? If I remember correctly, we live in the United States of America, and we do have a constitution with a first amendment. "The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress from making laws 'respecting an establishment of religion' or that prohibit the free exercise of religion, infringe the freedom of speech, infringe the freedom of press, limit the right to peaceably assemble, or limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievences"(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution). This being the case considering our rights as citizens, don’t we have the right to educate our children the way we see fit?
It is clear to me that the parent’s role as the primary educators of their children has been usurped in public schools as well as some private schools. This can be traced through the history of our public schools back to the anti-Catholic rhetoric going on during the 19th century, and today it can even be seen in your local diocesan school due to the watering down of the faith (Noll, 2008). I have seen more Catholics than ever before jumping on the homeschooling bandwagon, all because the true faith which they are trying to teach at home is being undermined in their local schools.
According to Frederick Hess, in his article “What is a Public School? Principles for a New Century”, the public school should teach children the essential skills and knowledge that make for productive citizens, teach them to respect our constitutional order, and instruct them in the framework of rights and obligations that secure our democracy and protect our liberty, however, unfortunately, today’s public schools are explicitly promoting a particular world view and working harder to stamp out familial views and impress children with socially approved beliefs (Noll, 2008). Schools have intruded on the familiar sphere (Noll, 2008), and faculty members make no bones about advancing their own liberal agenda, at the cost of undermining the morals and values many parents are teaching at home. Hess states, “in a liberal society, uniformly teaching student’s to accept teen pregnancy or homosexuality as normal and morally unobjectionable represents a jarring absolutism amidst profound moral disagreement” (Noll, 2008). Remember my definition of moral relativism? Is this not what is being taught in our schools today? The head of Christ’s Church on earth, Pope Benedict XVI, has stated that moral relativism is one of the greatest evils of our time. In light of all of this, is it no doubt that so many parents want to withdrawal their children from these schools that are undermining their authority and primary duty as parents?
So to bring up the question again, how should we divide responsibility between families and public schools? I think it would be very hard to turn the tide of extreme liberalism that has infiltrated our schools, and give parents equal responsibility in public schools. God has been stripped from schools, and so we are at the point of no return. Reverse discrimination has affected those who want their children to hear God’s laws and practice Christian virtues in their everyday lives as citizens of the United States. I don’t think God will ever be able to return to public schools, and so homeschooling is bound to increase. We still have the right to educate our children as we see fit. Let’s pray this will not be taken away as well.
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Hess says that "the relative 'publicness' of education is not enhanced by having schools intrude more forcefully into the familial sphere" and so then somehow public schools are undermining the morals and values parents are teaching at home. How, by being a public school teacher am I doing that? I do not have a liberal agenda in my classroom. I am too busy covering all of the standards my students need to know for the year and as far as I can see, none of them are "liberal". I, personally, am actually quite conservative, but I also do not push that "agenda" either. What I do teach is respect for those who are different than ourselves and the respect for individual rights. If the issue of homosexuality came up, I would say we treat everyone with kindness. I do not advocate teen pregnancy, but would do whatever I could to help a pregnant teen finish her schooling and be successful in life. Do I follow the Muslim faith? No, but I do show respect and interest in my Muslim student when he wants to share something about his religious life with me. Public schools have many Christian teachers. I am a Christian, and I teach in a public school. Out of the 6 teachers I work with directly, 5 are active in their church. Public teachers are not all extreme liberals. I have never had to teach something that went against my personal, religious beliefs. My own children have had lessons on evolution in Science class and have been taught what abortions are in Health class in the public school, but not before they heard a biblical view from me first through our home discussions and church lessons.I support a parent's right to send their child to a religious school. But please do not think God has been totally stripped from the public schools. His hands and feet are in there showing His love and care. We just cannot express our beliefs as fact that the children must believe. We leave that God-given right in the hands of the parents.
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ReplyDeleteHi Jenny, You may not be intruding on the “family sphere”, and many other public school teachers may not be intruding on the family sphere, but there are some teachers and administrators that do. Also, some curriculum that is used, especially the health curriculum, may be very liberal. Please understand that there are teachers who do push a liberal agenda even if it is in an underhanded way. They did it when I was in high school, and that was oh so long ago. Of course, we as citizens need to respect every individual not matter what they believe and treat them with love and kindness. That itself is a silent witness of one’s personal beliefs. You may be showing your Christian values by yours actions in the everyday classroom, and that is awesome. A famous quote from St. Francis of Assisi is "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words". As a teacher in the public school system, this is the type of witness you are giving. However, to say that God's hands are in public schools, I don't believe is true. Things would be made very difficult for you if you tried to reprimand a student by talking about God’s eternal laws and the commandments.
ReplyDeleteI think that we are forgetting that for many students, school is their ONLY moral compass. They are coming from homes where values aren't valued and the only place they can learn how to treat each other with respect and kindness is at school. It is our job to teach students to be open to others differences and not judge them for it. Just as you have the freedom to speak openly about you faith, so too do others. Just because I am not citing Bible verses in my class doesn't mean that the same concepts of "loving thy neighbor" aren't being taught in my room. I think it is time that you step down from the pulpit and realize that we do not live in a Utopian society where every home is a nurture environment. It is my purpose in life to serve and educate those that need my guidance and if that includes homosexuals, Muslims and pregnant teenagers then so be it. Even Jesus hung out with the leppers and the Gentiles.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that by being a public educator I was doing Satan’s dirty work. I choose to become a Physical educator because I love to help others. Another reason I choose to be a Physical Educator is that I have grown up around sports, where I was taught the idea of teamwork, discipline dedication and hard work. Something not many of our children understand today, because parents have become to overbearing and do not allow them a chance to explore and find out on their own. I find no more personal enjoyment than seeing a kid who struggled with catching a ball because of gross motor skills actually catch the ball and the excitement on their face. You think that public schools is the devil’s playground, I believe many great developments in our nation has occurred as a direct result of public schools. Such as Desegregation of public schools and the inclusion of Special Education and Disabled children in the classroom. Without these two monumental developments where would our education system be today? Still in a world where black and white students went to different schools? Where we teach our children it is ok to be racist and not interact with people outside of their social norm because of the color of their skin. Still in a world where people with disabilities have to learn at home or being institutionalized because they are crippled?
ReplyDeleteIf we are quoting things then perhaps keep this in mind, "he that neogotiates between God and man, as God's ambassador, should be aware of lightness in his speech," (William Cowper). You are free to express your beliefs without persecution, but the judgement you are passing and the statements you are making, are based, on exactly what fact? You are making many statements on what is occurring in classrooms and how teachers and schools conduct themselves, but what is your proof? For many of us, we are in the classroom, EVERY DAY, and we see the kind actions of the students and their concern for each other and their learning community. They are good people. If you want to be an instument for the Lord, by all means be one. But try a little harder to keep it in tune and the volume down. Perhaps you should refer to your own words, and realize that maybe a "silent witness" is a more effective and accurate example of the doctrines you are preaching.
ReplyDeleteWow--this issue has certainly produced some passionate discussion. I'd just like to insert a few comments/observations:
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I have noticed that, so far, Hess has been quoted extensively in promoting particular perspectives on this issue. It's important to remember that, while we used his question as the basis of our discussion, his writing represents his view of the issue--not fact. In fact, some of the Hess quotes being used to support particular positions are vehemently attacked by some of the authors with opposing viewpoints. (I do hope you have read those as well.)
Secondly, whenever I hear folks say that the government or the schools are promoting or forcing this or that viewpoint, I try to remember--who is the government, anyway? Where do "their" views come from? As you say, Mary: "If I remember correctly, we live in the United States of America, and we do have a constitution..." --which means we elect them, right?
Also--I think Megan and others make an excellent point that the argument here seems to be based on the assumption that parents are providing moral guidance in the first place which is being usurped--and we do know that this is not always the case. So, it's very difficult to discuss an issue where either "side" is making blanket assumptions as the basis for their argument--rather than accepting an acknowledgement of the nuanced reality of the situation as a common starting point.
Finally, I think we should heed Megan’s (via Cowper) gentle reminder to be aware of “lightness” in our speech; I think it’s a little easier in a virtual environment to let the “volume” get a little louder than it might in a face-to-face setting. It’s important that we are all open and honest—and, yes, passionate—in sharing our ideas and beliefs; that’s (obviously) what democracy is all about. But, so, too, is respecting each others’ thoughts and opinions. (And no, I’m not trying to challenge Brian for the longest post.)
(P.S. Mary, is this from Hess?: "today it can even be seen in your local diocesan school due to the watering down of the faith (Noll, 2008)." Where does he say this?)
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