I have been asked to write an article about the 'values' education debate in Australia and other Western countries.
It seems, conservative minded liberal politicians are looking enviously over the school railings at Christian/church schools and their popularity/success and wondering why it is that it is so hard to replicate in a state-run system. Left-wing liberals of course jump to the defence of the secular schools by saying, 'no, they do teach a set of common values: tolerance for example. And, um, tolerance. And compassion, perhaps.'
Two observations: the first is that the conservatives have sensed rightly that a secular vision of the state which tries its utmost for the neutrality of all public spaces is unlike to be able to find a vision of the good that can sustain a coherent education system. However: it is pretty hypocritical of them to be harping on this, since it was the economic rationalist version of liberalism that tended to promote a greed is good ethos in any case. If 'values' have disappeared, can conservative liberals really blame radical liberals?
But on the other side (second), the left has it right, too - at least they acknowledge that no neutrality is really possible. So, secular liberalism has to find a persuasive vision of the good to go with its vision of the right. However, they are always going to struggle to do this, since the crucial component of their whole understanding of human life is personal liberty from another's vision of the good.
All the while, the state seems to be looking at the church's schools and saying 'I'll have what they're having' - it seems that we know how to train children to become the members of society that others want to become.
But this is a moment of great danger for the churches and their schools. Because we will always have to ask (and I fear we don't have the courage to) - are our 'values' really Christian, or are they just blandly middle class? Are we just perpetuating the idea that Christian discipleship = a fairly acquisitive politically quiet and socially invisible suburban lifestyle? Are we enjoying providing our culture with exactly what it wants as a market and not actually promoting Christian discipleship?
If Christian schools were really Christian, would anyone (other than Christians) want to send their kids there? I think we should at least ask that question!
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Is that why we call some schools ‘Church Schools’? Because it accurately reflects what they are: schools owned by [or affiliated to] a particular Church. We aren’t really saying whether they are or are not, as you put it, really Christian and promoting Christian discipleship.
"I'll have what they're having" comes from secular people who like schools linked to a church. They aren’t subscribing their kids to a life of carrying one’s cross.
But I assume that the so called "Christian Schools" have a tougher time selling their school to secular people. The thing that makes them popular, I believe, is simply that they are more affordable.
I have no real idea if that is fair to say. This is why I am commenting. Tell me if its not fair. Does that contribute, MPJ?
I sent my kids to a fundamentalist Christian elementary school for a year when they were little. (Private schooling means paying for schooling twice in the US, so it is hard.) This was one of those "we use the KJV because that was what Jesus read" types and Bible study was an important part of the curriculum. The students were majority Asians. What stuck in my mind the most was an elderly Sihk gentleman waiting for his grandkid. The Asians were drawn by the higher standards for math and English.
If Christian schools were really Christian I think there would still be a waiting list to get in...on the North Shore of Sydney anyway. Some parents can over look the Christian aspect if Tommy or Jane are getting excellent marks and not smoking pot.
It is similar to youth groups I think. (Justin would know more about this than me, but...)
Some parents send their children to youth groups to receive the ethics of Scouts without the uniform and social awkwardness. But when the children ask their parents to come to "special" services and tell them that they need to become Christians, parents either pull their children out and abuse the leaders for running a cult; or tolerate/mock the childrens new "faze" and are happy that at least they aren't drinking Pashion Pop in a park on Friday night.
So I think there will always be a place for genuine Christian schools in some form or another, the success of them with people other than Christians will largely depend on how that Christianity is expressed.
A nominally catholic friend just sent her daughter to the local catholic school. She came back with jaw dropping saying 'Mum, have you heard about Jesus- he's amazing' When the mum said she had heard of him the daughter quizzed her as to where she'd heard.
The church school I went to proclaimed its values pretty clearly by sacking the chaplain first when it got into financial pain. He was a good man but up against a system whose priority wasn't so much moral improvement (although that was there) but mammon worship.
Mike, I wonder if there is a parallel with the 3self church in China? We'll allow Christianity but on our terms - none of this resurrection or return of Christ stuff - wouldn't want people to start living in light of Christ's Lorship over death, the universe, the future...
I'm a teacher. I have had 2 years at SMBC and have taught in Christian Schools, Catholic Schools and Government schools.
My thoughts:
Government (state) schools are not as bad as many Christians think. Most teachers are concerned about student welfare and any Christian students are usually respected. The teaching of the curriculum may be secular and anti-religious in document form but it does not necessarily translate into the actual teaching experience. Most non-Christian teachers (in Australia at least) are not secular humanists. Christianity is notably absent from government schools, but this is probably because Christian teachers and Christian students are more likely to be going to Christian schools.
The situation with Catholic schools in Australia differs from diocese to diocese. While the laity is generally conservative, the clergy are varied and the teachers in Catholic schools can be very liberal in their theology. In the schools that I have taught in, maybe 1 or 2 kids out of a class of 25-30 would go to church regularly (I actually asked various classes to tell me their church attendance). Finding very religious students in Catholic schools was quite difficult - most of the time they saw the Christian faith as some "chore" and most of them were biblically illiterate. But my experience was in the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle which is quite liberal theologically, so I can't vouch for other Catholic schools or colleges. I found one born-again believer working as a teacher in a Catholic school apart from myself.
Christian schools are a different kettle of fish entirely. My experience of Christian schools has been mainly negative. While there is no Christian teaching in state schools, and liberal catholicism in Catholic schools, many Christian schools are steeped in bad and sometimes heretical theology. Good bible teaching is rare in many Christian schools - although I would assume that those low-cost schools run by Sydney Anglicans are probably an exception to this, and Christian schools that have been formed from Reformed churches are probably good too.
I actually wonder if having Christian schools is actually good for society. Back in the 1950s and 1960s and 1970s, migrants to Australia were able to integrate their children better because they attended their local high schools, which, while naturally having a large proportion of "ethnics" would be taught by mainly white Aussies. These days, with religious liberty being touted as a good thing, Christian schools have been popping up everywhere - but so too have Orthodox schools and Islamic schools, which have, I believe, led to less integration by ethnic groups (including white Aussies). Thus Moslems can send their kids to Moslem schools and mix with kids and teachers from roughly the same cultural background without having to meet and relate to non-moslems. We must realise that the same freedoms that we enjoy as Christians to set up Christian schools has led to the formation of Islamic schools as well. I forsee a lot of future racial problems as a result of this.
One Salient Oversight
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Good post Michael.
OSO - I agree with you that state school teachers often do care. I have found that to be true for my children in a state school, however, with one child this year, it has been so horrendous that although they care - their lack of understanding of our view of the gospel has caused me to seriously consider homeschooling.
I have been asked to stop my child from reading the Bible (at home) because it is apparently age inapprpriate; and to reassure my child that he isn't sinful and that Jesus didn't really die on the cross for his sins. This was by two different teachers at different times of the year.
If there was a Christian school in the area, then i would be enroling him today - because even if they don't really teach Christianity as such, but a middle class morality, it would hopefully be harder for the teachers in that system to say those things to me or my son.
I think the question posed is a really good one: what, exactly, is the value or 'values' in Christian schooling that is/are sought after by the so-called secular education authorities? If what is so appealing about Christian schooling is merely the smattering of middle-class sensibilities, politically quiescent attitudes, a domesticated Jesus and privatised spirituality, then the project of Christian schooling has failed I think. Thankfully, I don't think this is entirely the case.
In the October 2005 edition of the Christian Teachers Journal, Richard Edlin (principal of the National Institute of Christian Education) wrote an article touching on this topic. In it he affims Nick Wolterstorff's assertion about the "radical and culturally offensive nature of the Christian school", further envisioning that "our schools should be training grounds for dissent and reform in the name of Christ".
While I don't presume that Edlin's vision is held as passionately by all Christian schools or Christian teachers, it is faithful to the Christian message: that Jesus Christ is Lord indeed.
The challenge for the Christian school and the Christian teacher, I think, is to wrestle within various fields of study and provide spaces in which that vision can be jointly constructed with the students. The product may, and perhaps should, look alien or frivolous to the world, radical or conservative. It might sit uncomfortably on the borders of political thinking.
For example, I chaired a rather intense debate in my Commerce class on Friday about the ethics of investment. As questions and arguments about morality, greed, money, consequences, expediency, justice, relativism...etc were thrown around the room (somewhat to my astonishment), we were able to think more deeply about 'Christian values' and how to act in various circumstances.
It might have been a lot easier to push a 'maximise profit' line, or 'ease your conscience with a bit of ethics in your portfolio' garnishing, but I feel we really wrestled with what it meant to be Christian disciples: student and teacher alike. It was an intense experience.
At the end of the period, the students had no concrete answers written in five dot-points on a sheet of paper, but I felt like they were provoked to reflect and reform their thought processes. Perhaps they will think harder in future when they do have the money to invest. Perhaps they'll stand up for what is right.
As a Christian teacher, it's what one prays and hopes for in earnest.
Regarding Christian ethics, I generally see two scenarios.
Secular Education:
Teacher: Class, we should never tell a lie.
Student: Why?
Teacher: Because.
Student: But really, why?
Teacher: Because I said so!
Christian Education:
Teacher: Class, we should never tell a lie.
Student: Why?
Teacher: Because God said it is wrong to lie and He will hold you accountable for every lie you tell.
Student: How do I know that God exists?
Teacher: Ever heard of Pascal's Wager?
I believe that secular education's discussion of ethics doesn't have any firm grounding and is doomed in the long run.
(P Knight)
I'd be interested to hear about how private non-christian schools determined their values. For example, Michael you taught at Grammar, which is like a church school but proudly secular, and in the US military academies seem to be a popular alternative for parents who want the middle class aspirational advantages of elite, politically conservative education without the christian "baggage".
Its interesting that in Australia by some accident of history, a strange kind of bargain has seemingly come about where budget determines how "radicalised" your school is: "christian" schools are cheaper, but tend to be more provocatively christian, "church" schools are more expensive but implicitly provide less intrusion of chrisitianity into people's lives. Unlike wine, you pay extra for the watered down stuff!
My personal reaction is mixed because I went to a school that was quite determinedly "christian" as well as quite specifically "church"... St Andrew's Cathedral school, and I had, through school, the kind of essential relationships with mature christians upon which faith is built. So that was good, great in fact. But those relationships don't have to come through school. My wife went to a pretty savage state high school, and her faith thrived too.
With private schools, its the elitism that rankles with me. I think apart from the educational values debate, there needs to be clear focus on the broader social ethical and gospel responsibilty debate. If rich christians invest their time, trust and money in state schools, that to me shows that they are placing value and priority on the kids of others, including the unsaved poor & weak, as well as their own kids. Yes my question would be "if Christians were really Christian, would there be any completely secular schools?"
And I'm not just saying "get in there so we can save them". If there were only state schools (which I'm seriously not arguing for, but hypothetically, if that were the case), there would be greater equality of access to quality education for all australian kids and there would (as someone pointed out above) be a stronger representation of and accommodation of, christianity throughout the system, instead of these hot spots.
If we all vote with our feet, who will make the state system accountable for the aberrations such as someone else detailed above? When Christians and secular educationalists are lumped in together, every day in the staff room, I suspect they are forced to deal with values questions in an engaged, practical rather than a remote, sniping way. I don't think there's anything wimpy, or left wing liberal about that scenario. Its probably just a bit more like the christian life should be. Unless you go to a christian shcool, a christian university and then work in a christian workplace, at some stage you are going to experience a person in authority mock christianity.
My daughter attends the local state high school, and in her class is the daughter of one of the Wiggles. I imagine that the wiggles must be very rich, and I ask myself why would a very rich person send their kid to a state school? Its a relatively special state school, because it has a performing arts specialisation, but none the less, I hope I can take from his actions an example of the kind of ethical responsiblity of which I speak, and I sort of conditionally admire Murray a lot on that basis.
I can't afford private education for my kids - (frankly I can barely afford food) - so I was glad to be able to find a good state school, which (as a performing arts school, fitting with the cliche) does seem to promote tolerance of homosexuailty in particular, but ironically has a very strong contingent of kids from Hillsong church, because of the emphasis on performing arts in that church. In the christian group, I gather, there is the odd phenomenon of the anglican kids jibing the hillsong kids 'cos their church is so "culty". Funny world, really. (perhaps I should push for the establishment of a proper group just for anglicans?)
Did Jesus ever struggle to draw crowds to hear his teaching?
If Christian schools were really Christian would anyone want to send their kids anywhere else?
Ruth,
I agree that the situation you describe is pretty bad. Personally you could probably complain to someone "higher up" about religious discrimination if you choose. Then again, persecution from unbelievers is part and parcel of being Christians, and I myself had my beliefs questioned and occasionally ridiculed by teachers when I was at high school - but then, God used that.
What I find intolerable is the situation I found myself in a few years ago in a Christian school. This is pretty much what occurred as the kids came into class:
Kids: Mr Cameron, we were talking about some really important Christian stuff in the last lesson with Mr Black (the school's Christian studies co-ordinator). Can we ask you a question about something?
Me: Sure.
Kids: Say you're a Christian.
Me: Okay.
Kids: You've been born again and so on.
Me: Okay.
Kids: Now if you then go off and smoke Marijuana. Would you still be a Christian?
Me: Of course. The fact that you sinned does not mean you have lost your faith. Smoking Marijuana is bad and Christians shouldn't do it of course - but you won't lose your faith.
Kids: Well Mr Black said you would, and you needed to repent again because that sort fo sin meant you were no longer a Christian.
And this example was pretty bad too - it was a trendy youthy-type guest speaker at a senior school chapel service:
"As you all know, it's Easter time. I don't usually make a big deal about Easter 'cause it's not in the Bible. But at Easter time we're supposed to remember Jesus dying on the cross. Now you probably all know about this, but when (really fast) Jesusdiedonthecrosshediedforallofoursinssothatalloursinscanbeforgiven."
"Now I know that many of you don't know what that all meant, so I've got an illustration for you. Think about Australia's top athletes like Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe. Whenever they race they aim to excel - to do the best they can to the best of their abilities. Well, the Christian life is all about doing that - we do the best we possibly can to serve God."
----
And the result of such teaching? Kids and teachers alike walked away saying how great it was. A guy got up in a Christian school and essentially preached justification by works, and was praised by staff and student alike for a "powerful message".
So when a non-Christian teacher gets up and says "Your child should not be exposed to the Bible", you are getting a very clear influence of the devil. It's so clear and it's so obvious and you know exactly how to handle it.
But when you send your kid to a Christian school, you can't necessarily trust that the teachers will actually be teaching biblical truth. They may sound good during interviews, but the devil can use the popular and heterodox teaching that is occurring in modern churches to subtly lead you kids away from God.
I'm not saying that Christian schools are all bad and state schools are all good, but I am very concerned that Christian schools are often not places where God's truth is honoured or taught.
I went to a NSW state school and had a great time: strong values, racial and cultural diversity, thriving Christian group, committed teachers. Two thumbs up.
There is a big difference between 'church' schools and 'Christian' schools. In Sydney and Melbourne most Christians, especially those with large families, cannot afford to send their children to 'church' schools at $15-20000 per annum. These are elitist institutions with very little Christianity about them. I have enormous respect for the Catholics who subsidise their education so that, theoretically, all Catholic kids can have a Catholic education. If only the protestant churches were so generous.
I have enormous respect for the Catholics who subsidise their education so that, theoretically, all Catholic kids can have a Catholic education. If only the protestant churches were so generous.
In NSW at least the Catholic systemic schools are subsidised by the State Government. It costs less to go to a Catholic school than to go to a low-cost Christian school.
Schools run by the Sydney Anglican schools corporation do not get state funds (but, like all private schools, they are subsidised by the Federal govt - but not as much financially as the state govt subsidy for catholic schools)
(Jeremy Halcrow)
As one person responsible for asking Michael to write on this topic, I am very encouraged by the quality of the responses to his blog.
A related issue is how the institutional nature of schools shapes the values taught.
This is particular problematic in a Christian-school environment, whether at the elite 'church' end of the spectrum or the 'low-fee parent-controlled' end.
For example I am aware of Syd Ang school where a number of senior school students who were vegans asked that the school canteen cater for their needs. The tone of the response from the staff was very dismissive virtually labeling the kids as wierdos. I'm not sure this was an adequate Christian response, but more informed by the kinds of middle-class values Michael speaks.
I have very mixed views about the whole schools thing. My oldest child is in grade 6 so this is a very potent topic at the moment. We have four children so this is a major financial decision.
I went to quite a rough state high school in western Sydney where I led the ISCF group. I learnt how to be a teenage Christian the hard way. My father was opposed to the private school system despite being able to afford it (he was a medical specialist).
Conversely, my husband went to Kings in Sydney, an expensive private school. I am inclined to send the kids to a state high school because I think it will expose them to a wider variety of people and backgrounds than a church school can. I believe it is our responsibility (and our church's) to teach our children about God; the school's job is to educate them and to give them a microcosm of the real world where their values can be tested and hopefully strengthened.
I think it is obscene that 1 year's fees at these schools is a living wage for many people, and our money could be better spent helping others.
My husband wants to go private because he wants to do for our kids what his parents did for him.
We live in quite a prosperous part of Melbourne where most children will go to church/private schools for year 7. I have noticed that the Christian parents justify their choice of school by mentioning the bits in the prospectuses that talk about Christian values. The non-Christians are more interested in educational outcomes, job prospects, better teaching, class sizes, conservative values and family traditions.
(Jeremy Halcrow)
regarding the Catholic schools issue raised by kate
(Jeremy Halcrow)
The questions of why the catholics but not the Anglicans provide a broad-based school system in Australia has a long and complex history going back to the education debates during the 19th century.
However the answer is not as simply a matter of lack of funding from the NSW Govt as 'one salient oversight' suggests. Why do the catholics get the funding? Because they have broad-based system. Its a chicken-and-egg argument.
The most interesting thing about the Catholic system is how good their educational outcomes are for under-priveledged kids on a dollar to dollar basis. They have much better results than the govt schools but their spending on each student is actually less than govt schools. Research suggests that one reason may be that Catholic schools (especially at primary level) are embedded in a Christian community that is able to build social capital within that under-priviledged community. (As even a life-long Proddie like me knows just about every local catholic parish in Australia seems to have a primary school attached to it.)
Incidentally, there is a missional theory that the best way to bring the gospel into under-priviledged communities in Western cities (who are often very resistent to middle-class Xnity) is through community partnerships that build the relationships first. So perhaps - the Anglicans/Protestants are missing out evangelistically as well???
However the answer is not as simply a matter of lack of funding from the NSW Govt as 'one salient oversight' suggests.
Actually I didn't suggest that at all. I was just pointing out that the "generosity" that Kate mentioned needed to be qualified.
You also need to remember that Catholic schools are the only non-government schools that are funded by the State government. Other independent schools are funded by the Federal government.
I'm not sure I buy the idea of "Christian community" being a factor in the influence of Catholic schools. Catholic schools have the ability to expel students who don't tow the line without having to take in students who have been expelled from other schools. Catholic schools are therefore less likely to have discipline problems since the really bad kids end up in state schools. This would naturally affect measureable outcomes.
It occurred to me over the weekend that perhaps the "success" of Christian schools within an outwardly secular state is an example of the "not in my back-yard" phenomenon that is the working basis for most individual ethics. It runs something like this, "Homosexuality, abortion on demand etc" is fine for people to have/do in the privacy of their own home . I just don't want any of it in my back yard. I don't mind, for example, if people homosexual people want to get married, I just don't want my son to turn out gay." By all means lower the age of consent, introduce free heroin injecting rooms or whatever - just keep it away from my childrden!
I want them to grow up with "decent family values" and when they are older enough they can decide for themselves (to a certain extent). So yes please give me a "nice Christian" school where my children will be safe from paedophiles and drug pushers and receive the kind of education that I idolise.
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