I just finished reading yet another dire warning to parents sending their children off to the public school system. I responded to the prophet of (mostly true) doom as follows, adding a bit to this post, in order to provide some encouragement for parents (and prospective college students) who for one reason or another don’t have other educational options. Be assured: God’s people are everywhere.

Dear _______,

I am writing today with a request. I just finished reading your warnings regarding the dangers in public education, specifically, higher education. They are true. Things of an anti-Christian, pro-propaganda, decidedly socialist-influenced nature ARE happening on every campus.

BUT, and here is the crux of why I write: GOD HAS PLACED CHRISTIANS IN THIS MINISTRY FIELD, TOO. Please include some mention of this fact in future newsletters on this topic.

I have a burden of concern for people who are scared to death to send their children off to public schools as well as for the students themselves because they perhaps don’t realize this.

I have taught for over thirty years in private, alternative, and public institutions. For about half of that, I have taught in a community college. I have consistently found that with God, “there is always a way,” usually by prayer or artful presentation of curricula, to avoid and/or offset the negative influences and to support the Godly ones.

For example, a lot of Christians in this ministry arena pray for their students, their campus, and their administration and support staff. In fact, next week, before our local classes begin, a prayer partner and I have scheduled a specific time to walk around the campus and pray as the Holy Spirit leads. I also pray in the mornings while I walk from the parking lot to my building and at other times as prompted.

Another example of what Christian instructors might be up to is praying for the wisdom to insert the right “lessons” before presenting, or during the presentation of, required course content.

For a small example: before teaching something based on the assumption of evolution, a teacher can insert a lesson on “theory” versus fact. She can then make sure to cite the, unfortunately dominant, evolution-based worldview as the “theory of evolution” (which it still is, lacking the macro-evolutionary “missing link”).

She can assign outside readings of other “theories” such as Intelligent Design and even the “culturally diverse” (an acceptable buzz term) idea of Biblical (and to be “inclusive,” other religious) accounts to support, say a critical thinking module, or a writing assignment in the argument mode. New writing standards (yes, even Common Core) require argument writing based on two opposing views where the student chooses to support one view but cites articles representing both.

See what I mean? God is neither “boxed up” nor excluded when we search Him for wisdom and creative ideas for ministering in our respective callings in public venues with all due respect to our job requirements.

(Other Christians who teach/minister in public schools have, no doubt, their own creative examples of how the Holy Spirit has inspired them to “bloom where planted.” Perhaps some reading this post will offer a few of their own? This would greatly minister to parents, students, administrators, support staff—and other Christian teachers!)

Parents and Christian students can be of real help to us if they would remember–and if we would remind them—to pray for their teachers, administrators, and support staff working in the ministry field of public school education and not assume that we are all of a secular and/or anti-Christian mindset.

And don’t forget to encourage one and all to participate on School Boards and in parent/teacher organizations.

Sincerely,
“From the Front Lines”

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Image from the public domain.