Education is a hot topic. It is rarely out of the headlines and there is much to concern parents, whether Christian or not. By ‘education’ most people think of the formal tuition given to a child between the age of 4 and 16+ at a local school, possibly followed by further studies at college or university. Our dictionary definition goes along with this. The aim of the state in providing such education is to produce individuals who will be able to contribute to the welfare of society by putting their knowledge and skills to productive use. There is an on-going debate over what should be taught. Scientific advances come thick and fast and there are many possible subjects, so there has to be some selectivity. The government has issued a national curriculum with which all state schools have to comply. There is also a social and ethical aspect. With the decline of the influence of religion, education is now considered the key to reducing juvenile crime, cutting teenage pregnancies and venereal disease, and shaping a tolerant attitude to other ethnic groups.

 So how are Christian parents to view the education of their children? The Bible speaks of children as a gift of God (e.g. Genesis 33:5) and the responsibility for their upbringing is put squarely on the parents (Proverbs 6:20). We have a number of illustrations in Scripture of successful and unsuccessful parenting. The Bible speaks in terms of training or bringing up, suggesting a more comprehensive approach than ‘education’. In Old Testament times boys received the greater attention and all teaching was related to the divine revelation which they inherited and their salvation history. The father’s skills were observed by a son from his early days and gradually picked up and applied. Similarly a girl learnt from her mother’s ways. In New Testament days schools were attached to the synagogues. The Psalms often speak of one generation passing on their knowledge to the next, eg. Psalm 78. The Passover meal was so constituted that children would ask important questions. Deuteronomy 6:7 encourages parents to take ordinary circumstances and use them to point to some truth about God. Proverbs is mainly a book of instructions from a father to a son and its stated aim is to teach a wisdom which is rooted in the fear of God and sets a young man up for life. 

Education in a technological age is bound to take a very different form from that of the agrarian society which dominated the biblical period. While the modern syllabus may include a thousand and one interesting and potentially useful things, unless our children are also being taught the things of God they are not being brought up properly. The basic biblical teaching which was once given in every school is not necessarily found even in church schools nowadays. Christian parents need to take very seriously their role in teaching their children biblical truth both by word and example.  In collecting together the passages of Scripture relevant to our subject it is impossible to ignore the overwhelming impression of the responsibility that is put upon the father.

It is not the purpose of this article to discuss the relative merits of home-schooling, Christian/church or state schools. Whatever the chosen educational route, parents have the ultimate responsibility for their children’s upbringing and must be closely involved at every stage.  It is much easier now to be informed what your child is being taught in a state school. With the advent of the national curriculum the syllabus has been standardised and is published on the internet. This gives the opportunity to discuss contentious issues and reinforce biblical truth. It is still permissible to remove a child from RE and sex education classes, if this is thought advisable. The importance of maintaining good communication with one’s children cannot be overstated.  I personally have always felt it is very important for a parent to collect their child from school or be on hand when he or she arrives home. It is the prime time when successes, failures or problems spill over and can therefore be entered into together. This usually falls to the mother just by virtue of being there, but a father must be ready to show an interest and discreetly pick up upon problems that are developing. Children must feel support from their parents at every stage, be encouraged but kept free from unrealistic expectations

There is a greater expectation nowadays of parental involvement in local schools and all schools produce a Home-School Agreement which covers different areas of school life and has to be signed by parents, children and the school. Obviously Christian parents will keep to it. Every school organises events for which parental support is invited, though Christian parents may not feel able to help in some of them. These and parent-teacher evenings give opportunities to get to know the staff.  It is also possible to get involved with the school PTA but teachers to whom I have spoken agree that these are largely fund-raising committees. However, parents are represented on the school governing body and there is scope here for influence in decisions about finance, the selection of staff and many other matters. The opportunity of becoming a parent governor is one which many Christians with children at school could consider.

Many teachers today feel that their authority has been eroded. If we commit our children to the care of others for their education we need as good a relationship with teachers as possible. Authority in the Bible is an important subject. It starts in the home and should continue in the school. Parents, therefore, should be careful not to undermine a teacher’s authority by their attitude or the way in which they speak about a teacher or the school in front of their children.

In our area a group of ladies meet once a month to pray for a state junior school in which they have a common interest. It is with the head’s knowledge and is appreciated.  Prayer for our schools is an overlooked concept.  When we consider the influence schools and teachers have for good or ill upon the children in their care – the next generation in our nation – we realise how important prayer is.

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