Why and how did the USA government public secular schools replace private religious schools in the USA?
The Chicago Tribune article titled, Chicago Catholics Struggle to build future with fewer Priests as Parishes shrinks, cash dwindles, reports the plight of religious institutions in Chicago. However, this same sad saga most probably relates to every religious denomination in the USA.
The Purpose of this Post
The purpose of this post is to make aware the jump “out of the pot into the fire,” that occurred to change the responsibility of parents to choose values to government choices of value.
This post is not intended to rehash history of separation of Catholic vs. Protestant religious differences or past rivalries. Rather it is to promote understanding how religious leaders path came about to choose to involve government, instead of parents, to become responsible their children’s education.
Over time, SCOTUS rulings on Separation of Church and State, resulted in government public school control of far different values than the original religious leaders intended.
King Solomon
In their heart’s humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. (Proverb 16:9)
Excerpt
it is not of his own devising and finding out; nor is his disposition to walk in it of himself; and it is only such a man, a good man, whose steps are ordered by the Lord, as follows;
but the Lord directed his steps: to go right on, and not turn to the right hand or the left; and to walk safely and surely, through a variety of troubles and difficulties, to his kingdom and glory.
What is My Point?
- It is a parent’s responsibility, not the government, to choose what religious values of life should be taught to their children.
- When we humans plan something that is not in accordance to the Lords plans, the result is folly.
When Protestants feared Catholics migration and influence, they decided to entrust the path of government to provide secular education to reduce their perceived fear that the Catholic Pope might obtain the power to influence USA government.
In other words, I seriously doubt God was involved in Christian leaders’ decision to replace parent’s responsibility to teach their religious values to their children.
The problem has been around awhile. As Mahatma Gandhi famously (and sadly) said: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
I doubt the Lord approved this human foolish decision for the following reasons.
For Example
For some reason, whenever government becomes involved to administer anything in the USA, the costs over time increase in comparison to private administration or employment. Any cost accountant could readily prove this truth whether it is education, healthcare, social services, janitorial services, ext. etc.
Today, every taxpayer must pay taxes every year of their lives to fund public school secular education. That includes parents who would prefer to send their children to private religious schools but cannot afford to because he cannot afford to pay for both public and private religious school costs.
The cost of government schooling over time has progressed in increasing costs to a point where an average family can no longer afford to choose to send their child to a private religious school.
In other words, the religious leader’s decision to trust in government rather than trust in God to teach their children resulted in “jumping out of the fan into the fire.”.
In My Opinion’
This post is not inferring there is folly in the government law to require compulsory schooling for every child will benefit our Nation. Or am I inferring that private religious schooling is superior to public schools in teaching the basics of reading writing, etc., or basic values of good citizenship?
What I am stating is the absence of teaching spiritual values of life, based on wisdom and love, that many parents want or prefer their children to be taught to benefit them on their paths in life have become unaffordable for them. Worse yet, in some instances the secular beliefs mandated be taught in public schools’ conflict with their religious beliefs.
If they complain to school boards, the courts have ruled that if they do not like what is being taught, they can send their kids to a private’s school they cannot afford or have time to home school their children. Even thought they will pay taxes to support the schools all their lives.
Today’s News
Are reporting many private religious schools have closed, many of these schools served in poor communities and costs were subsidized by more affluent communities. The sad part is the way government funds school depends on tax revenues of the communities. The result is more affluent communities receive a better education than poor communities.
And in my opinion, the poor communities in our contemporary times more often now have single-parent households, higher crime rates, and would have benefited if the private schools in their communities would not have closed down.
What to Do?
I believe school voucher is a fair remedy for parents to be able to become responsible to choose what schools and values are best for tier children. However, it will take a long time to reopen and staff private religious schools.
I believe the Supreme Court must define what is a religion to prevent school vouchers from being exploited by political or private entities claiming to be religious. Believe it or not, the Supreme Court has made numerous rulings on religious matters without every providing what is a legal term for religion.
If Interested
In the Source Links below is a number of various articles related to statements in this post and Proverbs 1-9 to give readers an idea what most religious beliefs parents want to be taught to their children.
You Decide
Would you prefer as a parent to send your children to private religious schools if you could afford the costs? Values as described in Proverbs 1-9 in the Source Links below.?
Would school vouchers help remedy this issue?
Were the religious leaders in 1840 wise when they chose government instead parent choices, a “jump out of the pot into the fire?”
Regard and good will blogging.
Source Links
Why God is Not in Constitution
University of Chicago, Church vs. State
Chicago Tribune
Hear My Son Proverbs 1-9
Hear my Son
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a]
knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a]
knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools[c] despise wisdom and instruction.
but fools[c] despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
and a chain to adorn your neck.
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Post One
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SCOTUS
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