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By T. M. Moore|Published Date: January 11, 2012
The old saw has it that, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But what if it is “broke”? Like, for example, America’s system of public education? Shall we just keep throwing money at a system that is spiraling downward out of control? Or shall we – to recall Ross Perot – open up the hood and have a real look at what’s wrong in there?
Prospects of the latter seem dim. Entrenched political and union interests make real educational change a little less than likely. At least, if we’re going to depend on their initiative. But what if parents and local officials threw open their windows, stuck their heads out and began to shout, “We’re mad as you-know-what and we’re not going to take it anymore!”? Maybe that would get some attention?
Actually, a good many people are coming to the realization that our schools need some help. Real reformers are out there – in the political and educational arenas – and they have some excellent ideas. But unless parents and local concerned citizens get on board and begin to pressure local school boards and officials, the schools are going to continue to go from bad to worse, and the whole country will suffer as a result.
Some worthwhile alternatives to public education are available, but not for everyone. Not even for most kids. We need a public system that works, and if this one’s broke, then every citizen should be concerned to get it fixed.
Here are some resources and ideas to help you begin discovering a voice for improving the education of America’s children.
Resources for this topic
Acton Staff, “Education Reformation?”
Acton Staff, “Government School Monopolies Leave Children Behind”
Don Closson, “Education: What Works”
Chuck Colson, “Pro-Child, Pro-School”
Chuck Colson, “Waiting for Superman: The Need for Education Reform”
T. M. Moore, “Perspectives: Humanities Matter”
Jane Robbins, “Empower Parents: Restore the Constitution by Returning Educational Policy to the States”
Education necessarily involves matters of ethics. A good place to begin in helping your friends and fellow Christians to get involved in changing the schools is by alerting them to the ethical crisis in the nation. Order your copy of our new DVD series, Doing the Right Thing. Here’s a resource you can share even with your non-Christian friends, to help them think about the ethical crisis which has settled on our nation, and what we can do about it.
- Read several of the articles listed above. Share one or two with some friends, and plan to meet and discuss ways you might become involved in helping to improve local schools. Talk with church leaders and see if there is any way you can help in training the children in your church.
- Email a link to this week’s "Two-minute Warning" to as many of your friends as you can. Challenge them to watch Chuck message on reforming the schools, and encourage them to think of ways they might get involved in their own community. See if you can create a movement of prayer for the schools among your own group of friends.
- Email today’s Talking Points column to several Christian friends. Challenge them to read some of the resources, watch the "Two-Minute Warning," and take on one of the activities.
A conversation starter
Here’s a conversation starter to help you begin a conversation on this topic: “It’s clear that America’s schools aren’t working as they should? I’m not interested in finding someone to blame, but is there anything we, as citizens, can do to improve this situation?”
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