"A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important and what duty more pressing that communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?"
- George Washington
This past week I had the opportunity to advocate for Christian Education at the Capitol in Washington D.C. During this time I was able to hear from and have significant one on one time with several of our nations top leaders on the subjects of religious liberty, parental choice in education, and charitable organizations.
We are in a very unique moment in our governmental history, cultural history, and potentially state history. Over the next two years there will be significant legislation and case laws that have the potential to surface that can have a significant impact on Christian Education. My purpose this past week was to represent the Christian Schools in the state of Arkansas and get ahead in providing our needs and voice.
While I was there I heard the concept of where we are in Christian Education in terms of advocacy that I believe is spot on.
Philip Scott says:
Culture can be compared to the flow of a might river. If our boat (or in this case school) is floating down the river (our given society and culture) and there is alignment between where the boat wants to go and where the river's current takes it then little to no effort is necessary to travel toward your desired cultural destination. If, however, your boat has another destination in mind, or simply wants to avoid the river's ultimate destination, it will not get there without contending with the relentless current always pressing it towards another direction. To make progress, in spite of the current, requires a mighty effort of sails, engines or oars. To hold your place and move upstream requires intentionality of thought and action when going against the current of society's culture.
Here is the key distinction for many Christian schools: you can travel with the current and be oblivious to the river's flow. You do not have to work with it, you do not have to understand it, you do not have to even know it is there. Regardless of on's awareness there is a current and it does impact your craft (school). For some time, much of our movement forgot we were on a cultural river. We had the luxury to forget or ignore the current as there was more alignment than not. Instead, we could focus on our destination and internal operations to stay afloat and forget the movement of the current our boat sat upon.
As society and culture has changed so has the destination of the river we are moving on. No longer can Christian Schools move along with the culture and the common good. We have to bring our boat about, move upstream, and find an outlet. The problem is many of our schools have forgotten how to use and oar. We must take full stock of where we are and look to our brothers and sisters who have built up experience and muscle from fighting opposing currents for generations.
Christian Education is a minority culture, but we have yet to adopt the mindset of one. We have to find our voice.
Christian schools, while a sub-culture, have largely been part of the dominant culture for the majority of their existence in the United States. Those within the majority culture often do not have to engage in efforts to change the status quo: they are part of the status quo. It is those outside of the majority that have to work to change the culture. We have to realize we are past the point of watching others take action around us; we must ourselves engage!
I believe that Philip Scott did an outstanding job providing a concept for us to resonate with. This concept is why I took the role of being the State Representative for Arkansas for ACSI. During my time in this role I will ensure that Christian Education has a strong voice in the state of Arkansas and maintain close contact with those that can have impact at the national level as I did this past week.
My challenge to us as a Shiloh Family is to be aware, educated, and engaged over the next couple of years in our own state legislative process. There are some future opportunities that can have great benefit to Christian Education in Arkansas and we need to continue to protect the opportunity we have of religious liberty in the realm of education.
I hope these thoughts inspire you this week as they did me. Lead NWA well this week!
- Dr. Keith McDaniel
