Scripture assigns to parents the primary responsibility of educating their children [Deuteronomy 12:10 and Proverbs 4:1-7]. That assignment directly from God has never changed. In time, the parents were aided by religious institutions assuring a seamless character building process from birth to adulthood and beyond. Eventually, government schools assumed the responsibility for educating the children. Initially, the government sponsored public schools supported the religious mission so well that the parents and religious institutions began to abandon much of their God-assigned responsibilities for educating the children. But, beginning in the 1960s, the government kicked God out of the schools eventually banning most forms of religious expression in schools and virtually all other public places.

Consequently, today’s public educational system is experiencing a major crisis. It has been hijacked by the liberal progressive movement and deprived of emotional and spiritual influences in order to emphasize the “academics,” in preparation for the assumed priority of career over family in the life of every rising young man and young woman. Evolution-driven materialism recognizes no other educational goals. Since evolution does not recognize the existence of a spirit of any kind and emotions are regarded as a nuisance interfering with really important things, all that is left is knowledge devoid of any real wisdom. As a result, the public school system has become heavily embedded with humanistic evolution-driven principles and worldview. There is a new evangelism in the public schools. Humanist John Dunphy proclaimed that:

“I am convinced that the battle for humankind’s future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith: a religion of humanity that recognizes and respects the spark of what theologians call divinity in every human being. These teachers must embody the same selfless dedication as the most rabid fundamentalist preachers, for they will be ministers of another sort…utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to convey humanist values in whatever subject they teach, regardless of educational level—preschool, day care, or large state university. The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new—the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism.”

But others, far better known and respected than Dunphy loudly proclaimed starkly opposing views long before America’s founding and continuing seamlessly until recent decades. Consider this sampling:

• “I would advise no one to send his child where the Holy Scriptures are not supreme. Every institution that does not unceasingly pursue the study of God’s Word becomes corrupt…I greatly fear that the [schools], unless they teach the Holy Scriptures diligently and impress them on the young students, are wide gates to Hell.” Martin Luther

• “[T] Bible…should be read in our schools in preference to all other books.” Dr. Benjamin Rush
• “The only foundation for useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion.” Thomas Jefferson
• “Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God.” Gouverneur Morris
• “Education is useless without the Bible.” Noah Webster
• “Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not only of all free government, but of social felicity under all governments and in all the combinations of human society.” John Adams
• “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens.” George Washington
• Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. C. S. Lewis

Children in the American government-controlled public schools devote twelve of their most vulnerable years learning to demand rights and not accept responsibility for much of anything, while being indoctrinated in the devastating self-centered evolution-driven principles of humanism. Those going on to college spend an additional four years raising to the professional level their abilities to demand rights and avoid personal responsibilities.

Values will always be taught. Nature abhors a vacuum. When selfless Judeo-Christian values are banned, the self-serving humanist values will fill the vacuum. Several decades of experience with humanistic values have produced tragic results. More in an upcoming blog. For now, what do YOU think?