Home Schooling Toolbox
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John Dewey has been credited with being the "father of progressive education." Among his other achievements he is known as the chief designer of the 1933 Humanist Manifesto. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1980 edition, states: "Humanist Manifesto -- a statement of Humanist consensus, drawing on concepts of evolution and Pragmatism, prepared by U.S. philosophers (see atheism and Pragmatism)." Tenet number five of that manifesto says, in part: "Humanism asserts that the nature of the universe depicted by modern science makes unacceptable any supernatural or cosmic guarantees of human values . . . " God, being supernatural, is unacceptable to the modern day humanist. Tenet number 13 states, in part: "Religious humanism maintains that all associations and institutions exist for the fulfillment of human life. The intelligent evaluation, transformation, control, and direction of such associations and institutions with a view to the enhancement of human life is the purpose and program of humanism. Certainly, religious . . . and communal activities must be reconstituted as rapidly as experience allows, in order to function effectively in the modern world." The process of "reconstitution" is a direct attack against Christians and the Church. Charles Francis Potter, an honorary president of the National Education Association of America is quoted as saying: "Education is thus a most powerful ally of Humanism, and every American public school is a school of Humanism."
If we allow society and "John Dewey," via education, to shape our "arrows," we may in all likelihood someday be struck by our own arrows!
With the apostle Paul, we and our children should be able to say, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). If we pay others to prepare our arrows, they will also aim them. Is it any wonder they may well miss the mark when their goal and prize are in the opposite direction from that to which we aspire?
Luke 6:39-40 says: ". . .Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher."
Who is carving and aiming your arrows?
Another view of the quiver of arrows is that of helping your children to prepare personal arsenals of arrows for battle. The arrows of skills you arrange for them to develop through your personal training and that of other trusted tutors will prepare them for life. You will guide them in the perfection of the arrows of character. As you demonstrate and teach qualities such as diligence, thoroughness, dependability, honesty, truthfulness, discernment, initiative, and attentiveness you will be helping them to stand out on the battlefield as warriors worthy of trust. The tips of their arrows will be sharpened with the wisdom of God.
As the feathers on the shaft keep an arrow in balance and true to the mark, so will the qualities you develop in your children. They will not be turned off course through pride in their skills when their arrows have the feathers of humility.
Can you truly feel confident that someone else can design arrows with the Godly character you wish them to bear?
Whose design will they bear
– of Christ –
or of Satan?
