The Relationship of a Christian School to the Public Schools
Below are selected theses first written and published in 1870 at the LCMS Western District Proceedings by Pastor J.H. Fick and published again in Moving Frontiers (CPH, 1964. Pages 210-2.) Admittedly (and shockingly) it is as if they were written yesterday. The whole 50 or so page lecture has not yet been translated. Perhaps it is time to pull it from the archives and see what else it has to say.
III. In contrast with the church the power of the state extends only over temporal possessions; the means by which it rules is the natural light of reason, and its highest goal is the temporal welfare of its citizens.
IV. Since morality is the foundation of the total welfare of the state, the state is not allowed to grant citizenship to anyone who denies the truth of natural religion, namely, the existence of God, the obligation of moral law, and a requital after death.
V. The state as such does not have the obligation to make the citizen pious and blessed.
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IX. Where separation of church and state and religious freedom exist by law, and it is a sin when any group by illegal means tries to elevate its confession to be the state religion or to obtain preference for it.
X. The state can reach its goal, the common spiritual welfare of its citizens, only when the citizens possess the necessary education.
XI. The duty to provide for the elementary and religious education of children belongs to parents and the church.
XII. It is, sad to say, a known fact that in this country the parents and congregations which want to be Christian congregations have generally neglected this duty.
XIII. The tragic consequence is the prevailing dechristianizing and demoralization of the masses.
XIV. Since parents and the church either cannot or will not fulfill their duty toward the children, the establishment and support of the public school system here is a political necessity in order that the citizens may be provided with the necessary secular (menschliche) education.
XV. Since the Word of God commands the Christian to bear the burdens of the state and to obey its laws, Lutheran Christians are obligated willingly to pay the taxes imposed on them by the state for its schools.
XVI. It is to be regarded a gracious dispensation of Providence when the reading of the Bible is still legally allowed in state schools.
XVII. Where Lutherans can do so legally, it is their obligation to strive that the Bible is not banned from the public schools.
XVIII. In so far as Lutherans have political influence on the public schools, they should be solicitous
1. That Christian-minded individuals be appointed as teachers in the public schools, so that, even as also the laws of the state forbid, no atheists or other persons of notoriously immoral character [are appointed];
2. That the teachers not assert anything or that the textbooks not contain anything which militates against the truth of natural [religion] or the Christian religion;
3. That in them [the public schools] a good outward discipline be exercised.
XIX. On the part of Lutheran parents it would be an inexcusable lack of conscientiousness if, before their children have been made firm in the knowledge of pure doctrine and in faith, even before confirmation, they wanted to send them to public schools. This is true for the following reasons:
1. Because in the public schools no orthodox religious instruction may be imparted.
2. Even if the Bible may be read in the public schools, this is far from being a substitute for formal religious instruction.
3. Praying, if permitted in the public schools, does not at all give these any worth; rather the very praying entails a great danger for the children’s souls, since it is done for the most part by false believers and unbelievers.
4. A spiritual poison can be instilled into the children also with the giving of instruction in history, geography, and other subjects, and sad to say, this does happen, as experience teaches us.
5. Likely without exception the textbooks used in the public schools of this country contain the leaven of false doctrine.
6. The discipline which is practiced in the public schools is almost always very unchristian and quite corrupting, because it is now too lax, now too strict, and knows hardly any means other than confounded ambition to obtain diligence and correct behavior or through other sinful motives to spur the children on to zeal in learning.
7. Since Lutheran children in the public schools easily come into very close relationship with such children who are already fully corrupted, they are thereby plunged into the greatest danger of being imbued with a false spirit and of being seduced into false doctrine, unbelief, and vice, because the antidote of Christian training is lacking.
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9. Through attendance in the public schools the children’s dread of false doctrine and love of their evangelical Lutheran mother church are stifled.
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XXI. In the same way it is also dangerous and by no means to be sanctioned when orthodox congregations in some which way want to satisfy their educational needs through the use of public schools instead of erecting their own confessional schools.
Remember—this was 1870. Many call where we are today “progress.” Some district officials actively encourage our Lutheran schools to seek after retired, non-Lutheran, public system teachers for the sake of the “bottom line.” Still more of our own Lutheran schools only seek to be extensions of the public system with “a little Jesus” added on. Pay attention to what is taught. Take care of our children. Perhaps why so many leave the church after Confirmation has nothing to do with the church but the corruption they are receiving from their schools. Lord, have mercy!