Rethinking Education as Christian Discipleship

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the U.S. average adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high school students reached 87 percent in 2019-20, marking the highest level since the rate’s initial measurement in 2010-11 (79 percent). Even with improved graduation rates, that success has not translated into increased academic achievement overall. Furthermore, soft skills like reading, writing, and critical thinking proficiency indicate that students are not meeting grade-level expectations.

When we look into the effectiveness of modern education in equipping individuals for life, the results are even more disheartening. Less than 4 percent of people hold a biblical worldview; 44.2 percent of students express sadness or hopelessness; and a mere 3 to 5 percent of Americans say that high school students are “very prepared” to succeed in college or the workplace.

These appalling outcomes signify a change in educational philosophy from the holistic, classical education model to a progressive one embracing the secular, pragmatic philosophy of educators like John Dewey and Horace Mann. The U.S. educational system must return to the classical model that made it a global leader if it hopes to regain a competitive advantage over nations like South Korea, Japan, and Israel.

Furthermore, public education must incorporate comprehensive religious education into its curriculum. Incorporating religious education will ensure that future generations of Americans experience the joys of freedom enshrined in the Constitution. It was John Adams, the second President of the United States, who stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”

Historically, American educators have consistently recognized the importance of classical academic rigor in teaching subjects like Latin, grammar, and mathematics. They have also incorporated religious education into the curriculum to foster a comprehensive understanding of our complex world. Therefore, revisiting the educational models that contributed to America’s greatness is crucial.

Christianity and American Education 

Since our country’s earliest days, Christianity and education have been inextricably intertwined. For example, Massachusetts enacted legislation in 1647 that served as the foundation for public education. Famously known as the “Old Deluder, Satan Law,” the law compelled a town to designate a community member to teach the children as soon as it attained 50 households. After that, it was the responsibility of the town’s citizens to pay the instructor a salary. The law further communicated that the only person who would prevent someone from learning the Scriptures, leading them astray into sin, is a deceiver like Satan; therefore, the knowledge of the Scriptures would be the foundation of education.

Boston Latin School (BLS), founded on April 23, 1635, is the oldest school in the United States. It predated the start of Harvard College (later Harvard University) by one year and served as a feeder school for Puritan education, influencing its academic rigors. The curriculum for students at BLS was deeply rooted in the Classics, theology, and the Scriptures, along with the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) and quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy). BLS students completing their courses were equipped to exhibit the logic and critical thinking skills required for college. 

For many, Harvard College, established in 1636, would be the next place to continue their education. The educational standards of Cambridge and Oxford universities in England significantly impacted Harvard, with an additional Puritan emphasis on theological education. Reflecting this emphasis, the school’s motto, established in 1692, was “Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae,” which translated from Latin to “Truth for Christ and the Church.” It would be 1903 before the motto was changed to simply “Veritas,” reflecting a secular direction for the institution. 

Three of our founding fathers, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Benjamin Franklin, are among the esteemed alums of Boston Latin School. Eight U.S. presidents can be traced back to Harvard University. A rich tradition of classics and theological education was the foundation of the training for all of these notables. 

Opponents of theological education in public schools and universities will no doubt argue the merits of appealing to a larger secular student body (and the notion of the separation of church and state, which is not found in the Constitution), and whether that could ever possibly happen, given our current political and cultural climate is a whole other topic. But the critical and historic role that Christianity has played in American education is notable, and the success of this model is undeniable.

Conclusion

Historically, Christians have viewed education as an extension of discipleship, a means to fortify the faithful against the onslaughts of truth. In this way, education takes on a holistic approach where the educator commits to the journey of transformation alongside their students, as both aim to glorify God.

Early in America’s history, education as Christian discipleship was understood, and educators unapologetically taught students from the Scriptures. Today, theological education as a component of formal public education has been abandoned. In its place are secular ideologies like race, gender, and queer theory and social-emotional learning. The Marxification of education has promoted a secular religion among students, and the educational outcomes have been disastrous. As stated earlier, students are less prepared to go into the workforce; lack basic academic skills, foundational knowledge, and critical thinking skills; and experience more significant depression and feelings of hopelessness. And far too few have a biblical worldview and the ability to discern truth. 

If we desire to see America return to the heights of the educational prowess among the nations of the world, we must return to what made us exceptional from the beginning — classic education and the Scriptures.

As seen in this article, many K-12 schools now embrace the secular woke agenda and are hostile to Christian beliefs and parental rights. Fortunately, parents don’t have to settle for this. Liberty University Online Academy is a K-12 program designed to educate your children in the ways of the Lord while preparing them to stand firm in their faith when they graduate. Our flexible online curriculum ensures that your student is trained at your convenience and keeps YOU the ultimate educator of your children.