Education on a Collision Course
August 31, 2010In 1926 Dr. J. Gresham Machen gave his testimony before the house and senate committees on the proposed Federal Department of Education. Machen said, “We do not, I think, want a Federal Department of Education because such a department is in the interests of a principle of uniformity or standardization in education which, if put into practice, would be the very worst calamity into which this country could fall.” The Federal Government, using greenbacks as leverage, eventually did what Machen warned them not to do. He was right! This country is in an academic calamity. Federal authority over local schools is like giving an intoxicated person the keys to the car.
Let me share a couple of more excerpts from Dr. Machen’s speech. “The reason why I am opposed to this proposal [establishing a Federal Dept. of Education] is that it represents a very ancient principle in the field of education. Education, which, it seems to me, has been one of the chief enemies of human liberty for several thousand years – the principle, namely, that education is an affair essentially of the State, that education must be standardized for the welfare of the whole people and put under the control of government, that personal idiosyncrasies should be avoided. It is a very ancient thing – this notion that the children belong to the State, that their education must be provided for by the State in a way that makes for the State’s welfare. But that principle, I think you will find if you examine human history, is inimical at every step to liberty…this principle of thoroughgoing State control in education.”
The notion that the children belong to the State and that their education must be provided for by the State assumes the familial role in the development of the child. In political philosophy it’s call statism. Statism means the state is the savior of its subjects.
Dr. Machen points out “the utter falsity of the popular notion that philosophy has no practical effects upon the lives of the people.” If you don’t believe me Google post modern and find out what public education is doing.
The state does not want “intellectual” subjects. The word intellect comes from the Greek word transliterated suniemi which refers to understanding or insight into something. The state wants “schooled” subjects (scholars) taken from the Greek word transliterated schole which refers to the place where students and teachers meet. The intellect requires the use of rational God given logical processes. The scholar only needs to memorize, believe and put into practice what the school teacher taught. The state is not interested in teaching them how to think, it is interested in teaching them what to think.
I’m not necessarily opposed to public education. I’m opposed as was Dr. Machen to Federal control over local schools. I believe that local government (people) ought to regulate the schools including academic, social and every other aspect of the education of children.
Publishing and education go hand in hand.
Posted by Martin Murphy. Posted In : Education
My first priority in life is spending time with my wife and enjoying life together. Next on the list is writing books. After spending nearly 30 years in the class room, the pulpit, the lectern, the study, and the library, I now devote most of my time consolidating my academic and practical gains by writing books. My web site is titled "Writing My Books" because last year my wife kept insisting that I start writing before it was too late. Every day counts when most of life is in the past. I starting writing my books last summer and my wife would often ask "what are you doing?" My answer was "writing my book." When I proposed the idea of a web site about my writing project I asked my wife "what should I name it?" Without a second thought she said "writing my books."
I have a B.A. in Bible from Columbia International University and a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary.
