Q. Do you think it’s OK to send our kids to public schools, community colleges, state colleges and universities? I don’t think we can afford private Christian schools even though that would be our first choice. I noticed you both have secular degrees from universities like UCLA and CSULB.
Answer:
Government Schools

The majority of U.S. citizens will send their children through secondary schools and universities or trade schools. These are government run schools with standards being set or influenced by Federal authorities.
In general the educational system we have is pretty good and many of our teachers are dedicated, skilled educators. We need to evaluate them fairly and understand that most have a standard curriculum they must follow. Most do their best to teach the basics to our children with the curriculum they are given.
Curriculum is Key
Our problem with public schools is not the teachers but the curriculum and the philosophy behind that curriculum. “Outcome Based Education,” “School to Work” and “No Child Left Behind” are just three of the many titles given to a whole field of curriculum that governs what our children are taught.
You and I as parents need to find out what is being taught and why. Many times it is not a case of what IS being taught, but what is NOT taught in public schools.
Government financed curriculum does not teach the Christian Worldview. It teaches the Humanist Worldview which is contrary to the Biblical perspective. If you do not know what we mean by “Humanist Worldview” then that would be your first order of business. Let us know if we can help.
Worldview Wars
Having said that, we live in a culture that is becoming more and more hostile to a Christian worldview. Because of that over 80% of children who enter college will eventually reject their faith.
Shocked?
Check-out this about the beliefs of our young people:
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63% don’t believe Jesus is the Son of God.
58% believe all faiths are equally true.
51% don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead.
(Barna Research, “Third Millennium Teens,” 1999).
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We are in worldview wars for the minds and souls of our youngsters!
Hostile Agendas

For example, college kids will be exposed to professors who may ridicule their faith and teach them only one politically-correct view of biology and the other sciences. Students will pick-up attitudes such as the idea that “spirituality” is not a valid human need or a legitimate part of mankind’s history.
No Absolutes – Absolutely!
More specifically, history teachers may teach them that the Founding Fathers of our country were all “Deists” who didn’t believe in a personal God (a half-truth at best). Students will be taught that same-sex partners are a good thing while traditional views of marriage are obsolete.
Philosophy, Religion and Anthropology Profs may dogmatically assert that “multiculturalism” and “no absolutes” is the only way to think correctly in today’s world. (Never mind that they assert these “No absolutes,” absolutely)! Hmmm…
Church Attendance Adequate?
I wish we could tell you that taking our kids to church every Sunday during their formative years is a good solution. But, as it stands now that is not enough. Too many “churched-kids” grow up to become nominal believers or no believers at all.
Considering all they are exposed to our children need much more than weekly church and yearly summer camps. Instead, parents must proactively “arm” their kids to survive all of the hostilities they will encounter throughout their lives.
The Armor of God
As parents we need to first help our children to “put on the full armor of God” so that they can stand firm against the devil’s schemes when they enter a high school or college classroom (Ephesians 6:11).
What are the parts of the armor we must all wear? Ephesians 6:13-18 gives us a description of those pieces:
Gird Loins with Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
The Gospel of Peace
The Shield of Faith
The Helmet of Salvation
The Sword of the Spirit or the Word of God
Prayer & Petitions in the Spirit
Let’s teach them to store God’s Word in their hearts by memorizing key Bible passages that could help them through difficult times (Psalm 119:11).
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12, NASB).
Apologetics (Defending our Faith)
Then, at the very minimum we suggest all parents teach their children “apologetics” or how to defend their faith. Do not be intimidated by the world!
Here is a case-in-point why we must teach “apologetics:”
My own College Experience

When I accepted Christ as my Savior my pastor had given me a long list of “apologetics” books to read. These evidence-books included materials such as Josh McDowell’s Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Paul Little’s book, Know Why You Believe, and Henry Morris’s science tomes.
So when I went off to graduate school I may not have remembered everything I read. But, I knew where to find scholarly answers to skeptical views such as the Documentary Hypothesis, theories that Jesus “plotted” to fulfill prophecies, or suggestions that Israel was filled with “itinerant” healing-preachers just like Jesus – implying that He was nothing unique. (Yes, that is what I was taught)!
Thanks to my “father” in the faith, Dr. James Borror, Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary, I was “armed” before I ever entered the college classroom. That is what we want for all our children.
Yes to Public School – along with Evidence-Training
So in answer to one of your questions, yes, we believe it is acceptable to send our children through the public school system as long as the parent is willing to arm them to defend their faith when they are harrassed or attacked.
Unlearning Christianity
But, if parents do not know there are alternative, reasonable answers to attacks on our faith, what will your children do in college when they hear things like the Documentary Hypothesis or the Passover Plot?
The Hissing Professor
John Loeffler, one of the best Christian thinkers alive today, tells the story of new students in a classroom where the teacher asks, “How many of you students are Christians?” When some raise their hands the professor hisses, “You won’t be when you’re through with my class!”
Parents…please…arm your kids to survive in today’s world!
Armor – Parent and Church Together
Our children’s studies in apologetics (reasons to believe) must begin in the home. Parents cannot leave this up to their pastors or Sunday school teachers. Secondarily, we need to begin to ask our churches to consider hosting apologetics seminars or teaching evidences in the Sunday school classroom. It can be interesting and fun.
For example, some churches have “skits” where kids are asked typical, skeptical or hostile questions to see how well they answer. Question/answer forums hosted by pastors and youth workers are other ways to teach apologetics. Another avenue is to host informal debates.
Your own One-Minute Answer Quiz

When professors, students or friends “shoot from the hip” barbs, quips or cliches against Christianity, we have approximately one-minute or less to respond. Every parent, grandparent and child must be equipped to give quick, short answers to common questions such as these:
If you don’t know the answers neither will your kids! Maybe we need to get to work…
Don’t forget to teach them to put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6).
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Home Resources
For the Christian home we suggest a brief list of books parents may purchase “used” through Amazon.com, often at dirt-cheap prices.
Just choose one or two books to begin. We don’t need volumes of evidences to learn how to defend our beliefs. You might begin your studies with just Charlie Campbell’s One-Minute Answers and Lee Strobel’s The Case for Faith in Christ, student edition listed below.
For Young Children:
McDowell, Josh and Sean. 2009. Jesus is alive! (Children’s Edition). Gospel Light.
Strobel, Lee. 2006. Apologetics for kids. (4 volumes for 8-12 year olds). Zondervan.
For Teens & Collega Age
Geisler, Norman and Joseph Holden. 2002. Living loud: Defending your faith. (Appropriate for high schoolers or for home schooling). B & H Publishing.
Strobel, Lee and Jane Vogel. 2004. The case for a creator. (Student edition). Zondervan.
—The case for faith. 2002. (Student edition). Zondervan.
—The case for Christ. 2001. (Student edition). Zondervan.
—The case for the real Jesus. (Student edition). Zondervan.
For Conferences
Parents may learn about “worldview” conferences and camps through www.worldview.org.
Websites
Additional resources are available from:
www.AlwaysBeReady.com (Charlie Campbell)
www.JohnAnkerberg.org (John Ankerberg)
www.Reasons.org. (Astronomer Hugh Ross)
For Parents:
Campbell, Charlie H. 2005. One minute answers to skeptics. Aquintas Publishing. Available from: www.AlwaysBeReady.com.
Loeffler, John. Worldview wars. (tapes). Available from: www.steelonsteel.com.
McDowell, Josh. 2006. The last Christian generation. Holiday, FL: Green Key Books.
Stein, Ben. 2008. Expelled: No intelligence allowed. (DVD). Presented by Vivendi Entertainment. Available from: www.expelledthe movie.com.
Parental Rooting Team

Now let’s get out there and arm our kids for today’s hostile world! Let’s teach them well…“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales…” (2 Peter 1:16). “…But, sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15).
Let’s remember that the prophet Daniel had a terrific upbringing in the Hebrew traditions at home before he was hauled-off to be tutored by the king’s scholars in Babylon. He became a scholar and teacher we learn from even today. Moses was raised by his Hebrew family for only a few years before studying in the finest Egyptian schools (Acts 7:20-22). Yet, Moses became the most studied and revered prophet of all.
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“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8, NASB).
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Authors Valorie Emilio holds an M.A. in History from UCLA focusing upon early church history. Ken received the M.A. in Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist University and a V.O.M. Certificate in Persecuted Church Ministries from Oklahoma Wesleyan University.