College is becoming a hotly debated issue in Christian homeschool circles. At long last, a lot of people are waking up to some of the dangers and drawbacks. When I was at Stanford a decade ago, the campus was rife with drugs, alcohol, pornography, homosexuality, hook-ups, co-ed bathrooms (including one house with co-ed gang showers), and university sponsored kiss-everyone-and-his-brother-fests (”Full Moon on the Quad”), to say nothing of all the totally sold out, anti-God professors just waiting to mold young minds. And let’s not forget that college costs thousands and thousands of dollars, that life there is often completely disconnected from the real world, and that your zippy degree in 16th century French poetry failed to prepare you for the job market, so now you’re considering going back to school and taking out more loans so you can get a better degree that will allow you to get a good enough job to pay off the loans from your first degree. Kind of makes some people wonder.
Some, though not always all, of these difficulties can be ameliorated by things like living at home, going to a Christian college, or doing what I did and choosing courses and situations VERY carefully. But the long list of cons has led a lot of families to question the college model entirely and abandon it as ungodly and inefficient preparation for a serious Christian adulthood.
But not going to college is not necessarily the only “holy” route any more than going to college is the only “responsible” route. Here’s a great post by Alex Harris of The Rebelution on why he and his twin brother, Brett, are going to college. It offers an excellent perspective on the late teen years and how they should fit in to a godly Christian life.
August 16th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Now you are finally writing about something that I have strong opinions on! Yes, college… Quite honestly I am thankful some young people are doing the right thing–going to college!
I understand there is a HUGE contingency of Christians who have a certain dogmatic mindset against college, primarily rejecting it for the debauchery and reasons you stated above (some of which I don’t even know what you are talking about). But really! If our young people are mature enough and smart enough to enter the work force, can they possibly be given the skills and encouragement to make it through the university?
How are we expecting our young men to provide for their families? How are we expecting our daughters to homeschool? or pursue other goals? Yes, I want my daughters to pursue higher education also. It gives confidence, poise, and assurance.
I am thankful for my education! It was a tremendous time of growth! No, I’m not THAT educated. My university IS not prestigious. But I did what I could with the opportunities granted me. What a privilege! When I’ve been to other countries and talk to people, they ALL want to be educated. America is the weirdest country in the world. We are actually trying to withhold education from our youth?! And in the name of Jesus? Weird.
Call me a nut, but this is not progress in Christianity. Then again, I generally do not give a rip if everyone disagrees with me on this issue.
(Whew! I generally do not get so emotional!)
August 18th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I am a Christian parent that will not encourage college/university for my daughter, and I know of several other families who will not encourage it for their sons, either. The whole idea that the only way to have confidence, poise or assurance is to go to “higher” (I use that term very loosely) education is preposterous. At 8 years old, my daughter has more of these qualities than most of the adult graduates I come across.
She will be encouraged to seek out skills that can add to her families income, but that won’t interfere with her actual HIGHER calling of wife and mother (Lord willing). The last thing that is needed to home educate is a college or university degree! IT DOES NOT TAKE A TEACHER TO HOMESCHOOL - IT TAKES A LOVING RESPONSIBLE PARENT!
As Christians continue to farm out their children to ungodly institutions (or even send them to a Christian college) the authority structure that God has set up for the family becomes fractured and even the most faithful young person can be damaged. Certainly any young person who is not saved, but simply churched, will be easy fodder for those who lie in wait (Proverbs 12:5 &6). And, yes, I do know of where I speak as I am a college graduate (nursing).
OK, now I can be called a nut for becoming so emotional. But, again, shouldn’t our children’s hearts be worth it? But each parent must make an informed decision and be prepared to answer for their decision when they stand alone before God.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
We home schooled, but I’m convinced that some Christian parents put their children into Christian schools and others had their children in public schools all by the Lord’s direction. (I didn’t say ALL children’s parents were directed by the Lord, but that the Lord did direct some parents to send children to each of those places.) We are like cells in a body, and our needs are entirely specialized…BY GOD! There is no answer that’s right for everyone!
August 18th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
As a parent, I personally hope to to protect and shelter my children when they need it but, not with the goal of making them protected and sheltered but instead, with the goal of making them into strong godly Christians who can go out and live in our world. In my opinion, college is part of that. I don’t plan to push my children to attend college just because I do think that its not for everyone. Not all people can handle college, or want to go or need it for their career paths. However, I will in no way discourage it. I think education, learning, exposure to other people, learning to live on your own and the ability as you have in college to completely select your own educational path are all very helpful experiences for many people. I understand that the secular educational evironment is full of moral pitfalls and dangers but, that’s where I differ from the Amish. My aim is to raise kids who can stand their ground in the world without becoming of it. I want my children to be able to have roomates and professors and all kinds of other people around them who believe and live differently than they do. Their is strength in exposure to different way and mindsets. If what we’re teaching our children is good and right and best then we shouldn’t fear our children being exposed to other ways. That being said, I realize some individuals aren’t strong enough to handle the full on secular environment of big state schools and such, I had a sibling or two like that and I helped steer them towards small Christian colleges. I think that’s the virtue in having Christian institutions available…they provide cushion for kids who still need one a while longer.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Kim, are we still friends even though we disagree on this issue? You are probably right, and I too emotional. May God bless our children in spite of us.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Don’t worry so much about disagreements, fellow bloggers. We’ll let the other ladies know that we reconciled our differences via email already…all is well.
And I am thankful that the Lord does protect our children in spite of our downfalls!