Christus from the ld.org home page.
I had given my speech at our local Toastmasters club concerning Home School. I got a little animated at the end because I am a devout home schooler and I illustrated my dissatisfaction with our current public school system. After I was done and the meeting was over I was approached by a member of our club who said, “I thought the LDS church was for the public education system.” This shocked me.
One, I didn’t know how he knew I was LDS. I had never mentioned it that I recall and we’d never talked about it. Second, I think that the LDS Church is very big on education as a whole. I do not feel that they are pushing us into the public education arena; I believe that they more want us to stand up for moral values within and without the public education system.
I found on the LDS website when I did a search for education the following: “A good education will prepare us for opportunities as they come and will help us be an asset to our families, the Church, and our communities.” Notice what it says, “A good education…” That is the key point. You have to determine, and as parents you are responsible for, what a good education is for your children. I think that is the material point the LDS church always tries to communicate.
In fact President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Gordon B. Hinkley, was once quoted as saying, “There is need for another education, without which the substance of secular learning may lead only to destruction. I refer to the education of the heart, of the conscience, of the character, of the spirit…” In his opinion secular learning by itself could only lead to destruction. That’s a powerful statement. This is one which we need to consider.
When looking at the public school system you should ask yourself if the school system you are letting your child attend is teaching them the heart, the conscience, the character, and the spirit they need to make good in their lives. I didn’t think our school was when we decided to take our children out of the public school system and educate them ourselves. You may be blessed and live in an area where they are teaching these things. You should also ask if they are even capable of teaching these things. Most are not because that means you’d have to place value in some kind of deity. That is not allowed in the public school systems.
Also, as my wife pointed out to me one day, if you are a devout follower of your religion and you attend church regularly you would never send your child to the church down the road if it didn’t share or support your religious beliefs. Then why in the world would you send your children to a school system that attacks religion, promotes sexual promiscuity, and homosexuality?
Thinking about this you can see why the LDS church promotes “A good education…” It is easy to see where our public school system has ventured far away from that and have begun an education of promotion. Everyone should have the option of getting a good education and every parent should consider what a “good” education means to them and their families.
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