Be Prepared: Would Someone 
Like to Take Over the 
Education of Your Child?

_{by Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.}

_{Copyright (C) 2000 by Brian D. Ray}

Are you about to give up what you believe, or should believe? I am concerned that too many parents who home educate their children are not considering the whole counsel of God regarding the education of their children (and of all other children in America or any nation, for that matter). This lack of consideration makes it especially possible that a movement now underfoot in America will drastically undermine the God-ordained and parent-led home-based education that has made such great advances over the past two decades.

I must establish a basic concept before I continue with this article. Although this may be stating the obvious to most of the readers of this periodical, it is crucial for a Christian to consider what God has said about who is in charge of and responsible for a child’s education. I urge you to note that this question implies an indicative answer — who is in charge — and not an imperative response — who should be in charge. If you search His word, it should become clear that the answer is that the parents are in authority over a child’s education (and, in particular, it is the father’s responsibility). Parents are the shepherds of what goes into the hearts and minds of their children. Parents are fully responsible. In addition, parents are to be the main teachers of their children. Only within God-approved limits and according to confirmation to parents from the Holy Spirit, the child may be sent away and taught by persons other than parents at specific times for specific purposes.

Furthermore, it is essential to note that the scripture neither prescribes nor encourages parents to give a significant portion of a child’s education — or authority over his education — over to the government (e.g., the state). It is clearly not God’s preferred design to have any children, let alone the children of His chosen ones, be raised and indoctrinated by the civil government.

If it is true that parents are in authority over their children’s education, and the government is not, and if it is true that we must faithfully live out this precept, then we must be on guard against anything that would violate or undermine this precept.

I have watched, over the past four years or so, a rapidly increasing trend comprised of private individuals, organizations, and agents of the state offering to “serve homeschoolers” with classes, computers, Internet access, “qualified” (i.e., government-approved, government-certified, and government-licensed) teachers, books, texts and so forth all paid for with tax monies In other words, homeschoolers are being offered “free” programs and materials to help them teach their children.

These programs come in many forms. They may be charter schools, vouchers systems, alternative school programs, distance learning, or learning resource centers. A common feature of these, however, is that they are paid for with taxes. It is important to note at this point that if something is paid for with taxes then it must be controlled by the government (e.g., the state or local school district). Regardless of the various descriptions persons may use to present these programs, they are government (“public”) schooling.

I would like to provide you with several ideas for consideration regarding tax-funded educational programs (e.g., public school at home, “homeschool” programs, conventional public schools).

A Violation of Jurisdiction
First, tax-funded (government-run) education programs violate God’s design — the fact that the education of a child is under the jurisdiction of his parents, not of the government. (A person should study the word of God for an understanding of this; some scriptures have already been listed.)

Government Control Follows Tax Money Government control of a child’s education (i.e., his thinking, his values, his beliefs, his knowledge) is a fact — a reality — to one degree or another when his education is funded with taxes. It is only right in a republic for accountability and control to follow tax dollars. For example, Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 336.631 mandates that “private alternative programs” (that might take the form of a “homeschool” program) comply with Federal law, Oregon law on based on “... age, disability, national origin, race, marital status, religion or sex” and the students must participate in the state assessment (testing) system. Remember that there is no such thing as a neutral or “value-neutral” education. All education and educational materials are value-laden. Even many of the antibiblically-minded and leftist professors of education at today’s universities recognize and admit this truism.

You Have Heard Before — "There is No Free Lunch"

These programs, services, and schools are not “free” as some of their proponents are prone to claim. They are paid for by tax money that is taken from hard-working citizens.

Favored Treatment For Some
These programs hurt many people. First, when a parent enrolls his child in one of these programs then he is taking money, via the power of the state, from another citizen (e.g., with or without children, married or unmarried, wealthy or poor) for the education of his own child. Second, when a parent puts his child into one of these program he is denying the fact that biblically-informed free enterprise and entrepreneurism is better than government control of monies, goods, and services. If this parent were a shoemaker, how would he like to compete with a shoemaker across the street who had 30%, 50%, or 90% of his business subsidized by everyone’s taxes (including his own)? This is what happens to the private tutors, private Christian schools, private satellite schools, curriculum suppliers, authors, and private learning centers when state-controlled and tax-funded public school-at-home programs set up shop.

Increased Enrollment Increases Taxes
It is not okay to enroll children in these programs because “I am already paying the taxes and future taxation will not be changed.” The fact, contrary to this rationale, is that if the enrollment in state-run programs goes up 10% (or 20%, etc.) over the next couple of years, then the state legislature needs to find a way to fund them so they may very well consider increasing property taxes (yours, mine, and those of everyone else) or some other tax or creating a new tax. Second, the property taxes that one family pays usually comes nowhere near the amount needed to pay for that families’ children’s tax-funded schooling. By the way, how much of your a child’s education in a state-run public school-at-home program would be funded by gambling (a.k.a., Oregon’s lottery, for example)?

Just Serving Our Children?
Some persons claim that state-run public school-at-home programs are just about serving children, that is, serving the educational needs of “our” children. First, they are not “our” children. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are God’s children under the charge of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. If you want to help your neighbor educate his children, then open your wallet, take out some money, and give it to him. Most people call this biblical approach to helping others loving one’s neighbor using free will (or volition). (Idea: Ask those who call themselves “pro-choice” regarding abortion whether they believe in choice when it comes to the funding of the education of others’ children.) Second, it has already come to pass that state school districts are making huge profits off these programs. I spoke on homeschooling to a Lion’s Club in one of Oregon’s larger cities and afterwards a man who was a former school board member in California told me his state-run school district started a homeschool program with the main intent of making easy money. It is happening all over America.

I urge you to know the facts, understand biblical jurisdictions regarding the education of children, and be prepared for an increasing number of programs, advertisements, and voices to clamor for the opportunity to “serve your children.” Consider what the Lord says about the education of your children. Remember, “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Mt. 18:6 NIV). Please think and pray carefully before ever turning over any part of the education of your child to the state or strangers or unbelievers. May you be filled with God’s wisdom.