Christian education vs government education

By Dr. John E. Russell

I served as principal in four Christian schools, having helped found one of them. I am acquainted with two different curricula. In my opinion, the best is Accelerated Christian Education (now the School of Tomorrow). They did extensive testing and found that a certified teacher did not necessarily teach better than an uncertified teacher or a non-degreed teacher. ACE students maxed the California Achievement Test at the end of their freshman year, which means that they placed somewhere in junior college level. McGraw-Hill was surprised and rechecked their scores!

All that to say this: government schools have failed miserably. They have not taught basic academic skills and they have miseducated students. They have not given students much-needed character training. (There are a few exceptions). They have also taught the religion of Secular Humanism.

Church schooling is good, but home schooling is best if the parents are self-disciplined and will discipline their children. Students need love and control in order to learn.

Usually, Christian schools charge less than half of what it costs taxpayers in tuition. (Unfortunately, those who send their children to private schools pay a "double tax" for their children's education.) The last figures that I have on Christian school tuition is $2000-$2500 per year. The last figures on the cost of public education that I have is $5000 per year.

If someone in the public sector does not do his job, he gets fired. The National Education Association should be fired and the government should get out of the education business. Congress should withdraw the NEA charter—they have done great damage to our greatest treasures—our children.

God commands the family and the Church to teach and train children. The government has a different responsibility—to protect each citizen's life, liberty and property. The government should not teach and train children.

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