In this last post of the series on Coronavirus and education, let’s consider a vital question: How are we to respond? What lasting takeaway can we derive from these reflections that will enable a more appropriate, virtuous and effective educational philosophy and practice?

The disruption of schooling by the Coronavirus has at least one positive effect: it has provided opportunity to rethink our priorities for the education of children and societies. Anyone who desires to build a free and flourishing nation must understand the importance of education, and especially the impact of one’s worldview. Only the biblical worldview and biblical virtues can establish free societies.

Next steps

First, we need to distinguish between the issues occupying the public discourse today and THE ISSUE, the worldview or ideology that is underlying the discussion.

Second, having recognized this distinction, we need to focus at the worldview level. Ideas have consequences! It is one’s worldview that ultimately drives education policies and what happens in the classroom.

Third, we need to become conscious that education policy and program is driven by some faith or ideology. If it is not driven by Judeo-Christian theism, which leads to the flourishing of your children and ultimately the community, it will be driven by atheism in its modern evolutionary form or by postmodern Critical Theory which will lead to the diminishing of your children’s lives. Either of the latter two will lead only to chaos, slavery and poverty. The former will restore order for a free and flourishing society.

The question is not Should children should receive an education? They should! But there’s a big difference between education and schooling. Much state-sponsored schooling is not education, but indoctrination. A better question is this: Do you want your child to be indoctrinated by the state, or to be educated?

Finally, we need to speak of these truths in our families and communities, to become champions of biblical principles of education based in the truth of the Word of God. This is the way to freedom and flourishing. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,’” (John 8:31-32 NIV). As we embrace and teach from the biblical worldview, building on the foundation of what Francis Schaeffer called true Truth, we will benefit in our societies.

Again, the foundational issue is the worldview that underlies public schooling. Atheism has created the framework of modern and postmodern educational philosophy and methodology. The Judeo-Christian worldview provides a framework for developing a biblical theology of education. Such a theology can inform the church, parents, educators and administrators in the pursuit of true, biblical education in the Coronavirus era.

• Darrow Miller

Print this page