Covenant Church

England is funding 26 million dollars to teach morals and courtesy to school students. The cart has finally outrun the horse. Students rule the classroom. Teachers have been restrained until there is no room to discipline or offer moral instruction. Courtesy of students to teachers is based on the student's willingness.

A sixteen year-old girl said that "students know their rights...they know what they can get by with...students have the upper hand, especially with the younger more inexperienced teachers."

Think of a cart being pulled by a horse. Up the hill the cart needs the horse to pull. Down the hill the cart needs the horse to hold the cart back. Take the horse away from the cart going down the hill. Disaster! The horse is not only the energy, but the brake and guide.

Teachers are not horses. Rules and regulations do not make good students or people. Teaching high school allowed me to witness teachers who had "rule" books, but they could not discipline students to a positive learning atmosphere.

Studies of student dress have been reasonably consistent in finding that dress codes and uniforms impact student behavior, resulting in fewer discipline problems. It is logical to assume that if each student can dress and do hair to personal choice the result is a breakdown in social behavior.

Have you ever noticed that a graveled country road seems so narrow? Smooth it out with asphalt and the road seems bigger, yet still only sufficient for one car at a time. Paint a stripe down the middle, and the road seems so much bigger...big enough for two cars to pass and not slow down. The line in the middle orders, disciplines, and allows drivers to have greater clarity of space and distance. The line improves safety.

Let us not be too critical of England's school system. The United States has come to its own difficult and embarrassing hour of shame with its school system. We wonder why many of our schools are academically not meeting certification standards. We wonder why we are installing metal detectors in schools. We wonder why we are employing armed police officers to walk hallways and monitor school grounds in events. We wonder as if we do not know.

Tell me, My Friend, what 15 year-old would you trust with $100,000 cash? Oh, there may be a few that would hold the money securely as a trust. But if the teenager had full right to spend the $100,000, what is the hope that the money will be spent/invested wisely? What is the mind of teenagers? Are they grown-up? Are they ready to be parents? Are they ready to make their own judgments about alcohol, drugs, pornography and sexual behavior? Are they mature to decide that "I do not want to go to church?" Or, to say "I am 16 years old. Can I have the family car tonight?" Is being a teenager old enough to talk rudely or disrespectfully to a teacher or parent?

Odd it is that our legal system in the United States extends great protections for children yet remains in retreat of protecting teachers and parents who love and care for children. Teachers can be sued or fired for even perceived infractions on students' rights. The thought of paddling an unruly child is abominable to the court system that sends hardened teens off to confinement--even behind bars.

Regressive behavior of students is consistent with decreasing attendance in church. School chapel with prayer and focus on God is retreating into history. Students are allowed to bow their heads for 60 seconds and meditate upon the god of personal choice.

Foolish thinking is that the cart needs no horse and that a road needs no lines. Every person ought have the right to drive on any part of the road they like. Choice should allow us to ignore stop lights and signs, drive the speed we please, and feel our personal freedom, or such is the reasoning.

Oh, there was civics and history taught in a day past. We were taught the difference between pure democracy and popular democracy. Popular democracy is individual rights and freedoms. Pure democracy is everyone giving up certain freedoms for the general welfare of the whole body of people.

God reached out to bring a slave-minded group of Hebrews into an ordered and disciplined life of community, service and worship. God gave the Ten Commandments for good to order life and society.

England did not need to fund $26,000,000 to teach morals and courtesy. England could have called on churches to return to their purpose. England could have called on clergy and Christian teachers and parents to exercise godly discipline. Good would have been accomplished far beyond $26 million.

When Sunday comes roll over in bed and think about it. What you do with your Sunday is what you teach your children about God and behavior and morals. If you treat Sunday as your day for personal relaxation and enjoyment, you are shooting the horse and taking the lines out of the road. Expect to reap the just rewards.

If Christ is first in your life, then those who know you will see the order and discipline that comes from a life of service and sacrifice.

Your choice will reap the dividends of your choice,

Pastor Bare

"Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap."  Galations 6:7