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Real Answers™
jj126
Copyright: ©2008 James J. Jackson
700 words

MOLDING YOUNG MINDS IS NOT CHILD'S PLAY

By: James J. Jackson

It is intriguing to watch a young child play with Play-Doh or clay. He or she carefully examines the blob of material, and uses his or her imagination and their tiny hands to form what their mind’s eye sees.  When child’s ‘masterpiece’ is done, he or she fully expects others to see the ‘kitten’ or ‘doggie’ they have fashioned from the ball of clay.  Adults play along, pretending to admire the piece of art work.

Politicians and journalists try to do the same thing with news current events. They often run the news through the prism of their own agenda, bias or preference.  Then, they report it as truth, never doubting that the readers/viewers will accept their version of a story without question.  They often exhibit shock when others fail to see their world view on a given story, or when someone (rarely) questions the journalist’s slant on an issue. 

Our schools were once institutions whose primary mission was taking little blobs of clay (children), and molding them by teaching them to master reading, writing and math, along with certain basic skills to help them master attributes such as problem solving, critical thinking, etc. Today, many educators seem to believe it is their mission to socially structure young minds to believe in their worldview, no matter how radical.

Many colleges and universities, and even high schools seem to take an anti-American direction in approaching almost any subject, and force it on their captive audience.  Any opposing point of view is prohibited.  They often spend an inordinate amount of time trying to convince their students that America is the scourge of the earth, and thereby convincing impressionable young people that they should operate in a perpetual state of protest.

Our institutions of higher learning would do well to revert to teaching the basics and helping students strive for excellence in academics and master the skills they will undoubtedly need in the rapidly evolving world of technology. Drop-out rates are endemic, with some school districts reporting that more than 50 percent of freshmen drop out prior to their senior year.  It is reported that, in Michigan alone, more than 20,000 students drop out each year.

Christian schools and home-schooled students are badgered about being more accountable to education departments, even though their success rates dwarf those of public school districts.  Some Biblically based schools report graduation rates in the 90th percentile, and also report a high percentage of graduates who go on to and complete college. 

Obviously, both types of schools are attempting to mold their charges, and, sadly, both types of schools and home schools appear to be achieving that goal.  Public schools have all but removed any notion of God or creation from it’s curriculum and instilled a humanistic, selfish attitude that is reflected in the daily lives, work ethic and humanistic approach to life by those they have molded.

Parochial, private and home-schooled students score higher on academic tests, appear to excel and master their classes more consistently, and appear to have a more positive outlook on life as a whole.  Home-schoolers frequently win spelling bees and other academic contests.  Sponsors of a recent national academic contest prohibited home-schoolers from participating, allegedly for fear that they would win and embarrass public school students.  They relented after a protest was filed.

The most prominent difference between the public and Christian/private approach to molding young minds is that one often strives to instill a moral compass along with  knowledge, and the other seems to believe that ignoring the moral lessons and will somehow result in good, morally responsible young adults.  Youth who are molded without a major morality component generally fail to become the complete person they are intended to be. Even more importantly, they won’t have the moral compass to point them in the right direction when they stray.

The most effective moral compass is the Bible, which gives moral direction to those willing to listen. Proverbs 6:23 says,  “For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life..”.   Molding young minds is not child’s play.

"Real Answers™" furnished courtesy of The Amy Foundation Internet Syndicate. To contact the author or The Amy Foundation, write or E-mail to: P. O. Box 16091, Lansing, MI 48901-6091; amyfoundtn@aol.com

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