The Battle for Education

A friend of my daughter is studying to be a secondary teacher and, as one of the requirements for her degree, spent Friday observing in a local high school. This particular school is one that has been praised in the media of late for its great improvement; no guns have been reported in over a year, and no students or teachers have been permanently injured.


She saw two fights break out in the hall, neither of which was reported. She heard students using fowl language on phones and other electronic communications during classes without consequence. She heard the same language directed at teachers, and she witnessed teachers trash talking students and the teaching profession.

God bless her; she still wants to teach, and she wants to teach in just such a school. She will be giving her talent, her youth, her enthusiasm and her potential earning power to a system and a student body that will show no appreciation and could potentially do her bodily harm. She and others like her are on the front lines of a war that needs to be waged by all of us.

And, praise God, the community surrounding that school has joined the battle. This month they raised over twenty thousand dollars to fund a “Bible in the Schools” teacher for the next three years. Whoever holds that position will be a seasoned professional and a practicing Christian whose faith and commitment will be tested daily. Please pray for God to bless all those who are willing to sacrifice so much to bring true peace and knowledge to our schools.

Bible in the Hamilton County Schools

Hamilton County has had Bible history classes in public schools since 1921—the oldest such in the U.S. Based on a supreme court ruling in the 1980’s, classes are privately funded, elective and for credit. No evangelizing goes on in the classroom, but the intent of nearly 1,000 Christians gathered this evening at Brainerd gym was unmistakable. Fifteen preachers from fifteen separate congregations and nearly as many denominations led us in prayers for every teacher, every administrator, every board member, every student or public official involved now, in the future or never. Those of that number in attendance, including school board members, city council members, Representative Fleishman and Mayor Littlefield, had hands laid on them in prayer. The prayers, unbridled and fervent, asked God to hold sway in our schools, our city and our country.  Praise God for Patsy Hazlewood who put the meeting together, and Amen!