Prayer in Public Schools? Wrong Question!

I learned early in life not to play near a hornet’s nest. As I take on this topic I realize that, metaphorically speaking, I’m not just playing near the nest, I’m shaking it. The issues surrounding public schools are very emotional for many and I am totally aware of this. But, I must commit to truth, as I understand it, as my highest priority.

Also, my purpose is not to anger or attack parents or teachers. Each parent and each teacher must do what they are convinced God wants them to do. This is between them and God. My comments are not intended to be deleterious to good, godly teachers and parents who feel called to support the public school system. We may just have to disagree keeping in mind that we are still Christians. I only ask that you prayerfully consider what I submit to you in the following paragraphs.

When addressing the problems with public schools the question should not be whether or not we should have prayer in public schools, but rather should we have public schools? I say no. I believe Scripture says no.

There is no place in Scripture where state-sponsored education is advocated. The references to public education in Scripture are usually in reference to pagan cultures such as in the story of Daniel in Babylon. New Testament references refer to parents teaching children or teaching by religious leaders. Biblical responsibility is given to the parents and the Church.[1] I think it is important to point out that all education whether it’s learning about astrophysics, architecture, law, English, math, or any other topic must begin with God. If not, the wrong conclusions will be reached.[2]

There are some sacred cows still alive and resident in the Christian community that should have been slaughtered a long time ago. Public schools, more accurately government schools, are one of them. Why do we love them so? Why do we defend them with such gusto?

I think most would agree that the education one gained at a government school in the 1950s and 1960s is a totally different product than that provided in the modern classroom. For one thing, the worldview was different then although it was in transition from a Christian worldview to a secular humanistic one.

I graduated from high school in 1967, the year before the drug flood and major culture shift that took place in 1968 and after.[3] During my pre-college career, I never saw a drug. I never saw a weapon. We prayed and read the Bible each day until the 1962 and 1963 Supreme Court orders that forbade it. Most kids held to a fairly high morality. To my knowledge only one girl in my high school ever got pregnant and she married the guy. Things have changed in 2006

The worst thing I ever did during that time was drink some alcoholic beverages and smoke cigarettes. I really didn’t want to indulge in those practices. It was just a peer thing. Skipping class then was almost like a death penalty offense and cussing could get you booted. I was thrown out of high school twice, once for smoking in the bathroom and once for smarting off to a teacher.

Today, too many high school kids, even a few grammar school kids practice oral sex (Thank you Bill Clinton). Many high school graduates can’t read. The average city student is likely to have more knowledge about drug acquisition and preparation, and sexual techniques than in reading, writing, or arithmetic. Yes, of course, there are some exceptions and it probably is not as prevalent in the rural areas.

Teachers fear for their safety today in some schools as do some students. Tragedies such as occurred at Columbine can and probably will happen again. Several have already been thwarted by God’s grace.

Today, as I write this article Fox News is reporting on a young high school girl who has been assaulted by school bullies. According to the girl and her attorney, the principal’s remedy is for her is to “toughen up.” He did not know what could be done about it.  . This gives us hope doesn’t it?[4]

We really should not be shocked at the violence in schools. Students are only acting out what they teach them. They teach students that we evolved from the primordial ooze. They are taught that their creation was random and not by any intelligent design, certainly not by a Creator. Therefore they have no intrinsic value. They are simply a product of chance. Darwin is right. It is survival of the fittest! So, the fittest kill the others. Why are we surprised?[5]

I understand that there are, due to financial circumstances, a certain percentage of parents that cannot send their children to a private or Christian school. They are in the minority though. Most families can work something out if they really want to. It is the “want to” that I think is the main problem. The reasoning many have is why pay for something that you can get for free? Normally, this is excellent logic and demonstrates an excellent grasp of economics. However, we all know that there really are no free lunches.

We are human beings and prone to be selfish. This is a result of that nasty fall 6,000 years ago. We would rather have that second home, motorboat, or airplane than pay to send our children to school when we think that we can get an education for free. The truth is it isn’t free it all. Parents and their children will be playing the real price of that education for the rest of their lives.

What is the real price? Depending on some variables the price could include graduates being unemployable.[6] They may lack a work ethic and therefore be the first to be laid off in tough times and passed over for promotions. If they were subject to peer pressure they may develop a criminal record due to drug use or have to fund an abortion for a sexual escapade. Don’t be naive. Christian’s fall into these sins, too.

Let me interject that I don’t blame all the evils on the public schools. Certainly, parents carry part of the blame too, but that’s the point. Parents have abdicated their responsibility to educate their children and trusted others to do their job. Most parents do not have a clue as to what their children are being taught. Much of the curriculum would diametrically oppose what parents believe.

Parents observe a silent “don’t ask, don’t tell” law. We rationalize that we won’t feel guilty for putting our kids in these schools if we don’t really know how bad they are. Our policy is: Don’t ask the questions to find out and therefore don’t tell ourselves to do the right thing. This seems to work for most parents.

Another issue in today’s school is the open teaching of homosexual practices and other sexual activities that are not condemned but even encouraged. I won’t get detailed here to avoid an X rating. If you really don’t know, email me. I’ll refer you to some documentation.

A long-time friend of mine, Bob Simons, had a national ministry designed to help Christian parents get elected to local school boards so that they could inject Christian materials into the curriculum. I never agreed with this approach. I believed we should abandon trying to reform public schools, but Bob supported public education at that time.

Sometime in the late 1990s while still at American Vision ministry, I called Bob and asked him to participate in a debate over public education. I wanted to have two Christians from opposing viewpoints debate the issue.

I was totally taken off guard by Bob’s response. He said, “If you had asked me six months earlier I would have been delighted to participate. But, I am now convinced that the public education system in America has been taken over by the homosexual element.” Bob no longer supported public education but for reasons I wouldn’t have guessed. I believe that he is right to a large extent and this is yet another problem facing our children. How many of our children have already been seduced?

In Georgia, the Georgia Educational Association will not allow Christian books to be displayed at their conventions but will allow homosexual material to be displayed. Wake up parents.

Before I sign off and brace for the storm, allow me to answer a few objections before they are raised. These are the standard defense reactions employed to rationalize not removing children from public schools.

The first one is, “My child is a missionary to those lost children in school.” Yeah, right. Scripture teaches exactly the opposite. Paul said, “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.”[7] I have talked to parents who “lost” their children in public schools. They admit and lament as much. Because they wouldn’t do what they could do, they lost their child to sin. Now they are left without part of their family and with a guilty conscience. They really did know better.

Another objection is, “I just can’t afford it.” As I said before, I know there is a percentage of families that cannot without financial help. If we were all tithing they could get that help from local churches but that’s another issue. Many folks have simply convinced themselves that they can’t afford it. I know many, many home schooled families and they do it. Is it easy? No, it’s very hard, very challenging but they do it.

My wife and I were visiting a homeschool family in Alabama. I think they have about six children now of various ages. When we arrived some were reading books, another playing the violin, and others doing some other educational endeavor with great devotion. None were watching television or listing to an IPOD. They could converse with adults with great articulation and using words of over four letters. It was incredible. They also had wonderful Southern manners. When my wife entered the kitchen for breakfast one morning all the children stood up. Can you imagine this? I’ve never seen children do this in respect for elders.

I’m not saying that all home school families are like this one or that yours will be. I can guarantee that everything will change and mostly for the better. It will be hard. It will be challenging. But, you tell me, what is more important in this world but our children?

Please. Get your kids out of the public schools. Pray about it won’t you?

By Ralph C. Barker Click here for bio and archived articles