Christ-Centered Education That…

YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION: SECULAR OR GODLY?

     In the beginning, when the Pilgrims first landed, when the Founding Fathers birthed our nation, we were a Bible-reading, Bible-believing people. For three, and well into the fourth century, the Bible was the main educational text. Thomas Jefferson, when President, was asked to be President of the Washington, D.C. school board. Being President of the country, he declined, but he did serve on the board as a regent and did outline the educational plan for the district. He chose two texts: the Bible and Watts Hymnal. The first federal education law passed by Congress, 1787, was the Northwest Ordinance. It called for public education that taught ‘religion, morality, and knowledge’. Those who came to our shores to learn the reason for our success as a nation pointed to our faith-based education.

     In Joseph Smith’s time the education system had deteriorated a bit. In his inaugural address as Mayor of Nauvoo, Joseph decried what he observed as the state of education and quoted Alexander’s Messenger with which views he agreed.

“Children are so instructed as to acquire a smattering of everything, and as a matter of consequence, they know nothing properly. ….the mind of the pupil becomes a chaos; … and like the stomach when it it over-loaded with a variety of food, it digests nothing, but converts the superabundant nutriment to poison… Young people are taught… to repeat lessons which they are unable to apply;… but their mental energies are clogged and torpified…, most of which is discarded from  the brain long before the possessor knows how to use it. This is the quackery of education.’” 1

     In another fifty years, the First Presidency, consisting of President Taylor, and Counselors George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith, delivered the following epistle at October, 1886, General
Conference.

“It is pleasing to know the increased feeling on the part of the Saints to have their children educated in schools where the doctrines of the Gospel and the precious records which God has given us can be taught and read. Our children should be indoctrinated with the principles of the Gospel from their earliest childhood. They should be made familiar with the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants. These should be their chief text books, and everything should be done to establish in their hearts genuine faith in God, in His Gospel and its ordinances, and in His works. But under our common school system this is impossible…. In no direction can we invest the means God has given us to better advantage than in the training of our youth in principles of righteousness and in laying the foundation in their hearts of that pure faith which is restored to the earth. We would like to see schools of this character, independent of the District School system, started in all places where it is possible.” 2

1 – Revealed Educational Principles and the Public Schools, Jack Monnett, Appendix C, p. 249
2 – Ibid. p. 247

     Twenty-three years ago, Apostle Boyd. K. Packer spoke of our modern education system:

“In many places it is literally not safe physically for youngsters to go to school. And in many schools and its becoming almost generally true it is spiritually unsafe to attend public schools. Look back over the history of education to the turn of the century(20th) and the beginning of the educational philosophies pragmatism and humanism were the early ones, and they branched out into a number of other philosophies which have led us now into a circumstance where our schools are producing the problems that we face.”

     (Boyd K. Packer, Charge to the David O. McKay School of Education, December 1996.)

     YOU now have the opportunity to avoid the downhill trend.

     With Ascent Advantage Academy curriculum, and help from the Academy staff, you can establish Latter-day Saint education in your home. The scriptures will be taught. True principles in History, Science and other subjects will be taught. Your child will have the opportunity to apply what he is learning to his life and present circumstances. It is now your opportunity to invest in your children’s future, and nourish them in the good word of the Restored Gospel and Restored American Faith-Based Education.