In many of those articles and news broadcasts, I noticed several parents asking that if the government had to cut back on education funding, who would train their children? It seems it never crossed their mind the ultimate responsibility of training up a child is with the parent. While a good public school, or for that matter even a private school or a home school program, can be a fine choice for educating our children, it is the parent who, by having children, has taken upon themselves the task of training them. The parent should not only be involved in making sure that their child is taught the normal subjects of education but also should themselves teach their children morals, ethics, values, relationships, religion, finances, civics and taking responsibility for their own lives and the consequences of their decisions.
I certainly understand the value of a school setting, especially since I was a junior high history teacher for several years, but lately it seems more and more parents expect the government to almost literally raise their children for them. It seems that if a child has any sort of problem in any area of life, many parents call the school and expect a solution through some sort of government program. This is actually unfair to the education system, which is really supposed to teach things like math and science and fine arts but is starting to be tasked with all sorts of areas that parents should be handling.
There are many, including me, who think our society is beginning to degrade morally, ethically and civically, and some blame the education system or the lack of funding. I think that is a wrong conclusion. Our public education system is not geared to teach morals, faith and family values, nor should it try. If it does try, in this politically correct atmosphere, in order to please everyone, it has to choose the lowest moral standard out there. Do you really want your children raised by the lowest moral standard?
So what’s the solution? Let teachers teach, but parents should train. The writer of the book of Proverbs in the Christian Scriptures said, in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Are you training your child in the way he or she should go? Our children may know all the cheat codes to their favorite video games, but do they know the Ten Commandments or whatever system of values your family operates by? What moral code do they make decisions with? Is their basis of right and wrong based on what they can get away with or something higher?
As a pastor, I get to observe first-hand the results of parenting skills. Most, not all, but most problems encountered in the teenage years are the results of lack of training in the younger years. And most, not all, but most of the moral failures that I deal with in the lives of young adults are a direct result of those young adults’ never having been given a moral compass or ethical guideline as teenagers. And moral and ethical failure, if not dealt with properly, turns sooner or later into baggage that stays with them for the remainder of their lives here on earth. Simply, if you love your children, you’ll train them up correctly with or without help from the government.
And lastly, may I point out another reminder from the Christian Scriptures? Solomon also said parents should keep in mind how we train up our children because one day, they will be tasked with taking care of us. With that in mind, I want my kids to be happy and yet concerned for others, successful and yet content with what they have, smart and yet always learning, honest to admit mistakes and yet determined to not do it again, friendly and yet not emotionally dependent on others, have a life of faith and yet still work hard in the here and now, appreciative of all the things our government does for us and yet not planning for the government to take care of me when I’m old. I hope my son heard that last part. Let’s train up our children well, they are worth it.
Rev. R. A. Abell
Senior Pastor
Heartland Baptist Church