Problems in Education

It is self-evident that the church cannot be indifferent in these days as to where the youth of the congregation receive their education. That is certainly true now that young people spend many years getting their education.

Education is already addressed in the Canons of Dort. In the Netherlands we have had strife regarding control of the schools. In the past, Rev. G.H. Kersten has been a strong proponent in the establishing of our own schools.

For a school to be based upon a Reformed foundation, it is, of course, necessary that there are instructors who endorse this foundation, and who are willing to carry this out in their teaching. It is therefore a very serious matter that Reformed schools have great difficulty these days to fill their vacancies. It is also so necessary to take notice of the fundamental leanings of the applicants.

It is also true that other leading educational institutions are dealing with a great shortage of teaching personnel. Today our young people have multiple opportunities to choose a course of study and occupation. Neither is everyone suited to stand before a class. It is worrisome, however, when the enthusiasm for a career in education is waning. Does not a career in Reformed education provide the opportunity to give young people something of essential value upon their life’s pathway? Should that not be felt as a calling? It is not without significance that a number of our ministers were initially working in education. That was true already of Rev. G.H. Kersten, and Rev. N.H. Beversluis.

The involvement of parents

Reformed education ultimately rises or falls with the support of the parents. Parents must be ready to send their children there. That is also true if the school is situated some distance away from home. Upon the face of it, it must be noted, that the readiness is lessening. Parents in all respects will want to seek out what is best for their children, but should not the question of the principal leanings of a school be an important part of the discussion?

If in this day and age one has a more liberal attitude in making this choice, it points to a lessening of the attachment to the Reformed doctrine and Reformed confessions. Have we not promised at baptism to “cause our children to be instructed and brought up in the aforesaid doctrine or cause them to be instructed therein to the utmost of your power? This is the doctrine which is taught here in this Christian Church to be the true and perfect doctrine of salvation. Ultimately, the makeup of the government is also of great importance. Education is a matter of great importance for society. How much leeway does the government give to a school concerning the Bible, and is government ready to subsidize the schools? Upon this front there is some movement noted.

The victory of the Christian political parties in the days of school strife, now almost a century ago, led to the fact that the rights of the Christian schools were firmly anchored in the Constitution. Several different political parties have in the meantime postulated that this must be removed from the constitution. That is not likely to happen with this cabinet, but after that it is likely.

Socially safe

Many are of the opinion that the schools should accept all students that apply for admission. Subsequently, they must feel themselves to be socially safe. That quickly leads to the fact that the school may not level any disagreement with their ideas and opinions. They should be respected.

Finally, there are the schools themselves. How should they be organized? An extensive discussion recently appeared on this subject in the Reformatorisch Dagblad (RD). Our Reformed schools not only have to deal with the government and with public opinion, which becomes ever more critical, but also with our own rank and file. They have to deal with students who sometimes openly protest against certain decisions as was seen some time ago at Zeeland’s Calvin College—and with parents who have become more vocal because of the influence of a more heterogeneous society and its opinions and lifestyle. They deal with instructors who modify their opinions, most of the time in the wrong direction. They also frequently have to deal with a diverse rank and file.

Interdenominational

It is true that the school societies which have been established for advanced education have been set up by people from different denominations. At times they represent the entire church but sometimes only a portion of it. In spite of different backgrounds, they were able to agree on the important rules for the school in establishing a unified identity. The need had been impressed upon them. The question is whether future generations still feel themselves bound to these ideas.

Much is happening in the Reformed denominations. Do we still know what the difference is between Reformed and Evangelical or between experientially Reformed and a superficial Reformed covenant theology? If that is not the case, or barely so, then we have lost a great deal.

It is often customary that prayer is offered for our schools in the church services. Considering all these developments, both inside and outside of the school walls, such prayer is more necessary than ever before.

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