Some 15 years ago, a Mississippi State University study of parental impact on early childhood development found that, if a parent attends public worship weekly, it enhances a child’s “eagerness to learn, variety of interests, creativity, persistence, and responsibility.” About that same time, a joint policy document was released by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that included an interesting phrase. “It is the decision of these departments that all early childhood programs and schools recognize families as equal partners in improving children’s development, learning, and wellness across all settings, and over the course of their children’s developmental and educational experiences.”
American Family Association’s then vice president, Buddy Smith, observed: “If the federal government must ‘recognize’ parental authority over their own children, it clearly indicates the government thinks it’s in the driver’s seat to raise our children. The truth is, our Supreme Authority, God Almighty, gave every mom and dad the responsibility to teach (Dt. 6:7, 20), train (Prov. 22:6), provide for (2 Cor. 12:14), nurture (Eph. 6:4), control (1Tim. 3:4), and love (Titus 2:4) their own children.
“It is a given that to allow government schools to be the primary source of moral and ethical training is a mistake. Public schools have long departed from any moral philosophy that is even superficially similar to biblical teaching. If kids learn morals there, it will destroy their faith in God.” -Stan Cox, preacher
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4, NLT)
-John Driggers (4/15/2024, V6 #16)
