Don’t Abdicate Your Place – Part Two

Last year, I wrote Don’t Abdicate Your Place as a response to things occurring in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic brought many fears and reactions by people in the Church and outside of the Church. Since that post, much has happened. Unfortunately, it appears that one of the areas that have continued to be impacted is within the sphere of education. Depending on where you live, you may or may not have seen children return to the classroom. Those that have might be required to be masked, subjected to social distancing restrictions, or comply with vaccinations or periodic testing. These are just a few of the things you may have noticed.

What you may not have noticed are the not-so-subtle ways that the pandemic has revealed people’s mindsets toward parental responsibility and the purpose of education. For example, over the last year, there has been much talk regarding Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a form of curriculum-based instruction. Many states seem very enthusiastic about implementing, even amid many parents’ objections. However, at its core is who exactly should have authority over what children are taught in schools. Do parents have a say? Does state-run or funded education automatically overrule parental input into the educational process?

Former governor and current Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe responded to questions about questionable materials in Virginia School Libraries and the curriculum used during a recent gubernatorial debate. In one retort, McAuliffe said, “I’m not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decisions… I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach!”

Contrary to popular belief, parents have always had primary authority as educators of their children. When Adam and Eve first brought forth their children into the world, they were charged with the responsibility of teaching their children about the world in which they live. Just because education has become formalized, it does not mean that parents automatically abdicate their authority in the education process.

In the coming months and years, parents will consider everything that has happened in the wake of the pandemic. Many will assess the pros and cons of traditional formalized education and decide whether or not that still works for them. In the same way that parents give significant consideration to the neighborhoods where they raise their children, they will determine better education options. The year 2020 and 2021 have placed a spotlight on education. It has also raised awareness of how digital learning is decentralizing that process.

Parents don’t want to feel like their children are a part of a pipeline system but a process that prepares them for being productive contributors to the world they now face. As Christians, it is more important than ever to consider all these factors as parents knowing how vital training and guidance are. Abdicating that authority is not an option, nor should it be taken lightly. Since parents are the first educators and first protectors of their children; whomever is entrusted with the responsibility of educating children should be responsive to the desires of those parents at the end of the day. Let’s pray that parents look closely at the educational landscape and think through what is best for their children.