Byron,
I appreciate your perspective on the topic of education in early America as it is compared
to today. As where you I spent time in a private Christian school during my elementary years.
Although I was not in private school as long as you were. I would agree though what time I did
spend in that setting it prepared me for my public years in that like you understood the
seriousness of education.
Schools today do not teach the principles of the bible, given that history cannot be
understood apart from the Bible nor can the Bible be studied apart from history.[ CITATION
Whi28 \l 1033 ]. This statement I think attributes to the reason homeschooling has become a
movement that has gain traction and increased over the past years (Black 2018). As Black attest
to it is due to religious, school violence and bullying. Parents want to be in more control of their
children’s life because of failure brought on by the bloated bureaucracy that education has
become. In my opinion many Christians believe the education system has departed from the
world of reality with its acceptance to more than one gender agenda as well as acceptance into
many other areas that contradicts natures norms. So, parents removing their children form areas
that are contradictory to their beliefs and putting them in areas that align more with the own
beliefs. Whether that be homeschooling, private and in some cases charter schools. Again
enjoyed reading your post.
(Word Count: 244)
Bibliography
Presentation: History of the Christian School and Homeschool Movement. Directed by Liberty
University. Performed by Dr. Ellen Black. 2018.
White, Wilbert W. ""The Bible in Education" Christian Education no 3 ." Jstor. December 1928.
www.jstor.org/stable/41174169 (accessed April 28, 2020).
Byron Griffin
DB Forum 4
Prompt: What can be applied from the early American approach to education to today’s
educational challenges? Remember to include discussion on homeschooling, private/Christian
schools, as well as the Public-School setting.
The core common principals that can be applied from the early American approach to
education in America is the principal of what the Puritans brought forth in the early 16th century.
According to their educational belief system the basic foundation that was taught and built upon
was the basis for their work ethic and moral direction. Also, the early American approach taught
critical thinking, not critical theory or Marxist theories.
Moreover, their basis for all education was Biblically and spiritually based. In Dr. Samuel
Smith’s lesson, Educational Learning Theories and their impact on Exceptionalism one could
understand that the early American approach of learning ethics, morals, religion, and knowledge
from the Bible was used, and can be used, for the basis for all things associated with a student’s
life and upbringing (Smith, Educational Learning Theories and their impact on Exceptionalism
2018). Also, in the early America’s, after the Northwest Ordinances, all school would be free and
not have to be paid for by the public and they utilized the Bible as an intricate part of their
education system. Lastly, the Bible should be utilized because there are many things that can be
learned from the Bible as a piece of literature and history (Smith, Religious Rights of Teachers
and Students in the Public School 2018). Unfortunately, it is observed that many in education,
deliberately or unintentionally, have lost understanding of the Supreme Court’s ruling in 1963
Abington School District v. Schempp, which stated, “the Bible is worthy of study for its literary
and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of
religion, when presented objectively as a part of a secular (public school) program of education,
may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment." (Downey and Burnett 2013) It
would be well for the education system to learn from themselves. According to Dr. Ellen Black
the homeschooling movement has taken traction and has increased annually. There are numerous
reasons for this increase, but the primary reasons are religious, active school violence, and cyber-
bullying (Black 2018). Moreover, one must wade past the progressive talking point based upon
big-government ideas on how government can handle control of all items in the nation and
control them without worthless spending and lack of understanding; history of a majority of
government intervention tells us better.
In Conclusion, speaking from a matter of personal experience, I went to a private
Christian elementary school in the mid-80’s; when I left that school and started in a public school
setting (6th grade) I was at least 3 grades ahead of my peers. This was not due to being wiser, or
more knowledgeable, but I believe this was due to being perceptive to the repercussions for not
taking my elementary education serious; I say that tongue in cheek due to the apparent,
sometimes overuse, of corporal punishment. In all truth, I believe that my ethical and moral
compass was set straight at that elementary level because all teachings at that school, and level,
were Biblically based.
Bibliography
Presentation: History of the Christian School and Homeschool Movement. Directed by Liberty
University. Performed by Dr. Ellen Black. 2018.
Burke, Lindsey. "Homeschooling Sees Dramatic Rise in Popularity." WebMemo, January 28,
2009: 1-3.
Downey, Roma, and Mark Burnett. "Why Public Schools Should Teach the Bible." Wall Street
Journal, 2013: A.11.
Educational Learning Theories and their impact on Exceptionalism. Directed by Liberty
University. Performed by Dr. Samuel James Smith. 2018.
Religious Rights of Teachers and Students in the Public School. Directed by Liberty University.
Performed by Dr. Samuel James Smith. 2018.
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