When Schools Stop Being Neutral: A Wake-Up Call for Christian Parents
📢 This isn’t a drill. For decades, many of us assumed that even if academics varied school to school, public education would remain neutral, focused on math, reading, and preparing kids for the real world.
But neutrality? That’s becoming a fairy tale.
🎓 A 2022 Gallup poll showed that only 28% of Americans have confidence in public schools , down from 60% in the 1970s. That’s not erosion. That’s collapse.
And for Christian families, the stakes are even higher.
📊 The Barna Group reports that 70% of Christian young people abandon their faith in their first year of college. That’s not just a statistic; that’s a heartbreak waiting to happen for many of us.
The deeper question here is this:
❓ Are schools forming our kids or simply educating them?
Let’s be honest , they’re doing both. Because education is never neutral. Every curriculum, every policy, and every cultural shift in school life carries a worldview. The question isn’t whether schools have a bias. It’s: Whose bias are they operating from?
🔍 3 Markers of a “Non-Neutral” School
Here’s how you know a school’s drifted from neutral ground:
Curriculum Changes
When textbooks and lessons begin centering on secular ideologies as unquestioned truth; gender identity, CRT, or secular humanism—education crosses into formation.Policy Changes
Think pronoun mandates, locker room policies, or removing parental consent. When laws bypass parents, schools stop being partners and start playing gatekeepers.Cultural Shifts
When Pride parades get classroom celebrations and Christian clubs get quietly sidelined, that’s more than a vibe shift. That’s worldview replacement.
👀 Real-World Example: Vermont, 2023
A Christian school was banned from state athletics for forfeiting a girls’ basketball game against a team with a biological male player. The school prioritized the safety and convictions of their girls and paid the price.
Neutral? Not even close.
🛡️ Parents: You’re the Watchmen on the Wall
Ezekiel 33:6 paints a clear picture:
“If the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people... I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.”
Sobering. But also empowering.
We are the first and primary disciplers of our children. Not the school. Not the church. Us. And we have to lead boldly, not in fear, but in truth and wisdom.
💬 Final Thought
This isn’t about panic. It’s about paying attention. Your child’s school may not be neutral. That doesn’t mean your only option is to leave, but it does mean the conversation must start now, not when it’s too late.
If you’re a parent, educator, or leader wrestling with these tensions, I’d love to hear your thoughts. 👇
Let’s disciple our kids with our eyes wide open.
#ChristianEducation #FamilyDiscipleship #PublicSchools #FaithAndCulture #ParentingWithPurpose
