The Bible Has The Answers For All Of Life’s Issues In Education (part 2)

Allow me to recap my intention for posting these blogs. It is simple. I’m attempting to prove that the bible has the answer to all of life’s issues.  The real issue for many people is that if they agree or follow biblical principles regarding these various issues, then indirectly they are agreeing that the bible is good and that God’s way is the right way.  I realize that agreement with the bible is a battle for many.  Many in our society are hostile to the ways of God.  In many ways we do our best to handle the issues we face apart from using biblical principles.  The bible has very simple, easy, and sustainable principles that if we follow them, can yield visible and profitable fruit for years to come.  Following biblical principles does not require funding from any source.  Following biblical principles are good, sustainable, and adequate for decades after decades in all challenges of life.  This is 2nd part of my first blog on The Bible Has The Answers For All Of Life’s Issues In Education.  Just to recap the first two principles…

·       # 1 Biblical Principle of Agape love.

·       #2 Biblical Principle of work –

Next we move to the…

·        # 3 Biblical Principle of structure - Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. 19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined, for though he understands, he will not respond. Prov 29:18-19.  One problem in education is that there is a disparity in academic achievements between middle- and upper-class schools and inner-city schools or schools serving a predominantly impoverished community.  It is true that kids from impoverished communities lack lots of advantages that serve to promote learning.    Educators and politicians have put forth all kinds of solutions to close the achievement gap between the classes but have yet to do so.  The government has poured and continues to pour millions of dollars into our education systems with very little return for such a vast investment.  The real problem is that our so-called leaders have removed the structures that are most essential for students to learn.  Students (especially from impoverished communities) need a structure with strong accountability for attendance, discipline, make-up policies, dress codes, and evaluation on test scores.  For example, in Birmingham, Al. city hall and school officials gave a parent $450 for bringing their child to school for a month (Birmingham offers money to parents who get students to school every day - al.com. ) That is absurd! The schools were trying to combat absenteeism by paying parents to do what they are supposed to do anyway. Most counties have school buses bought with tax payers money to pick students up every day.  Parents must be the ones seeing to it that their kids get out of bed, dressed and out the door.  Effective learning that will do wonders in closing the achievement gap requires accountability and commitment to a certain structure.  According to the bible verse when there is no vision, or nothing to which we adhere, the people cast off all restraint and do whatever they please.  When there is very little structure of which parents, students, and teachers are required to adhere, the students will not take personal responsibility for their education.  They have a total disregard for faithfully attending school and following school policies.  I have not done the research but I’m positive that one thing that makes charter schools and private schools so effective.  They have strong structure of which parents and students must adhere. Those structures are non-negotiable.  Unfortunately, we’ve allowed our leaders to exercise what I call “cruel compassion.”  In their attempt to be compassionate to the poor they inflict devastating policies that lead to irresponsibility, apathy, and or a nonchalant approach to education.  Every school and school system must drive an unwavering structure of expectations required by all stakeholders.  This is a biblical principle that if practiced, we will begin to see more students rise to a higher standard of learning regardless of their backgrounds.  People are born with a certain amount of intellect. In the right structure that intellect can blossom into a viable and productive person.  What this writer is seeing in many school systems is a continuous exercise of “cruel compassion.”  Pity is not what our kids need.  They need strong a structure that will provide safety in learning, but demand excellence in academics and personal responsibility.

The answers are right here in the bible.  Be not deceived.  The principles work!  I know for certain that they work because I not only believe in them but have followed them successfully with students who would normally be considered low on the education spectrum.  In my class they were not near the bottom, but near the top.  It wasn’t because I was such a good teacher.  It was because I followed biblical principles as the foundation for the way in which I taught.  The bible has the answer for all of life’s issues, even in education. One biblical principle that every school system needs to follow is the principle of having strong structure.

Rev. Lawrence Robinson