Evolution: Not Just Grandpa Monkey!
Just one of the many problems with public education is not only that they TEACH evolution, but the very structure has its roots in evolutionary theory. (Sadly, we have adopted the same structure in our Christian schools, and even in church.)
The following, condensed article explains in further detail how age-segregation of classrooms is based on an evolutionary model:
Educating cavemen?
“While a public fight was going on over what would be taught in the public school science curriculum, evolution was being applied to the schools in a more subtle manner. In the late 1800s, Granville Stanley Hall was a prominent educator at Johns Hopkins University.47 He believed in evolution and was a leader in the developing field of psychology. In 1904, he published a book on adolescence, advocating a new theory of child development based on evolutionary recapitulation.48 This theory was soon to be applied to classrooms across America.
Hall’s recapitulation belief was that child development reflected evolutionary ancestry; certain ages, he argued, represented stages of evolutionary development. Infancy and early childhood corresponded to early “pre-civilized” mankind just grown out of its animal stage.49 Ages 6–7 were “crisis” years, where children could enter school and leave the “pre-civilized” state behind.50 Ages 8–12 corresponded to “the world of early pigmies.”51 Ages 13–18 were what he declared to be the stage of adolescence.52 This period, Hall claimed, was critical, as the child entered a “stormy” ancient civilization stage,53 and finally grew into full civilization.
Before Hall, the “stormy” period of adolescence was virtually unknown. John Quincy Adams, later to become US president, received a diplomatic appointment overseas for the federal government when he was only fourteen years old.55 For those who acquired a college education in the 1700s, thirteen-year-old freshmen were not uncommon.56
But Hall made little allowance for the fact that children mature differently. Now all six-year-olds, seven-year-olds and eight-year-olds get their own classes, learn to stick with their age group peers, and it is regarded as odd—if not suspicious—if a ten-year-old associates with a fifteen-year-old. Today it is often a terrible thing for a child to be ahead of his peers—public school children must fit into Hall’s evolutionary mold. (Perhaps this is why we don’t see children like John Quincy Adams anymore.)
Thus, the days of the one-room schoolhouse were numbered, and age segregation became more and more emphasized. Age segregation, it should be noted, is certainly foreign to “real life,” where one must interact with people of all ages. (Incidentally, even Benjamin Rush, one of the “fathers” of American public schools, stated that public schools should imitate conditions of a “private family.” (emphasis mine)59) So when creationists began fighting in the 1920s to keep evolution teaching itself out of the schools, the subtle application of evolution in the schools was already being made.
Conclusions
America’s public schools today are far from where they were originally. Evolutionary teaching and practice are everywhere—in the science curriculum, of course, but also in the philosophy of law taught in law schools today, and in the age segregation and emphasis on peer groupings that abound in schools.
The downhill trend in the schools is already far progressed. In fact, practically every moral measurement for schools is on a downhill trend. Interestingly, these statistics break significantly for the worse in the mid 1960s,60 correlating with two significant events. First, the BSCS61 textbooks were released, reemphasizing evolution as a unifying concept in science. Second, the Supreme Court removed prayer and Bible reading from the schools. Why should students be expected to behave well when they are taught that they are just animals, and the absolutes of the Scriptures are banished from the classroom?
We must understand that the implication of evolution is that man is the highest product of evolution, and therefore man takes the place of God in deciding what’s right and wrong. The implication of creation, on the other hand, is that God created everything, and He decides what’s right and wrong. It is obvious why we have a problem with morality from the products of public schools today—they are being taught that they can decide what’s right and wrong for themselves.
The fact is, America’s public school system today is a failing effort. Religion62 and morality—what George Washington considered to be the “essential pillars of society”63—are generally not to be found in the public schools. What is being taught is rather leading to irreligion and immorality.
It is my belief that, without a national miracle, America’s public schools are without hope. The courts, the curriculum, age segregation—all seem dead-set to keep evolution as the reigning philosophy of the classroom. Are we without hope? No. In this struggle for the future of America, parents must take the prominent role in their children’s education, and restore the foundations. Parents can teach origins to their children once again—and indeed, parent education has a much longer history than public education.”
http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2005/0131education.asp
So you answer the question…”What is so bad about age-segregation?”
Related posts:
public school | Word Warrior | 
December 5, 2007 7:52 am
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Great post!! This is one of the reasons that we, along with another area family are starting a family-integrated church. Once you learn the history behind our age segregation models and realize that the church through Sunday school and youth groups has copied this model you want nothing to do with it. For those not familiar with family-integrated churches check out http://www.ncfic.org. Or go to the Vision Forum Ministires website.
The age-segregated model is also duplicated in Christian schools. I have been following the debate here and at the risk of upseting those who feel that Christian schools are ok I must say that I can not agree. I will not say that they are prohibited by Scripture but I will reference James 4:17 Therfore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
I have heard and read comments over the years from parents and recently on this blog who admit that homeschool is the best option and that Christian schools are second best. I think James 4:17 sheds some light on that. We as Christian parents are supposed to strive to give our kids the best. Second best where are children are concerned is not ok.
It is clear that home discipleship is best for children. I don’t know how an arguement can be made that eight hours a day of discipleship should come from someone other than the parent. A teacher no matter how good does not know your child like you and therefore cannot effectively teach and disciple your child like you can.
How is it ok then to allow your child to spend eight hours a day in a second best situation in light of James 4:17?
To those who are in financial situations that prevent them from homeschooling I say pray for a change in your situation and confess to the Lord your desire to do the best for your children. Just my two cents worth!
MrsTaunya
I just left a comment on the last post, and my opinion of public and Christian schools. Here for this post, I can say that age-segregated schooling is not as natural as God had designed it to be, if most of the training of children were to be in their own homes. Most women do not have their fourteen children all at once, but one at a time, over the span of twenty years or so. (I know, most women do not have fourteen children, but to make my point, I have used the “quiver-full” lifestyle/probability of a woman having many children.) This is a built-in insurance that the children will not be all the same age while their training takes place in the home. I think that there are probably hundreds of good reasons for this. Modeling from siblings, caring for people of all ages, understanding of the needs and abilities and privelages different ages have, being able to practice teaching youngers, learning to work efficiently and fluently with multiple types of stress factors and needs to be met, learning to communicate with groups of people at different levels of understanding, learning that life goes on with regeneration or new additions who will keep this world running after our own time is up, learning to help the old as well as the young in their specific needs, learning to befriend the old as well as the young…..etc. etc…..etc……Because God has made it this way for us, I think there must be a lot of good in the integration of all ages in child training.
–B.
I have heard and read comments over the years from parents and recently on this blog who admit that homeschool is the best option and that Christian schools are second best.
To clarify what I said in an earlier post, I said that homeschooling MIGHT be the ideal. I never said that Christian schools are second best. Just so you don’t get confused about what I said!
“I have heard and read comments over the years from parents and recently on this blog who admit that homeschool is the best option and that Christian schools are second best.”
Sorry, I meant to put that in quotes so you would know I wasn’t the one who said it.
Mrs Sara,
I was not attempting to quote you or even restate your opinion I was merely recounting things I’ve read and heard many different places in the past I apologize is that was not clear in my comment.
You said in your last comment
“homeschooling MIGHT be the ideal.”
I think most parents when they realize something that they are currently not doing for their kids MIGHT be the ideal they investigate further to find out if it is.
Most of us put alot of energy during the time that our children are being raised in our homes into researching and praying to find the ideal. We are called as Christian parents to discover what is best for our children and to do it James 4:17.
I am simply saying that there is no one better to disciple my children than me. No one knows them better and no one loves them better but God and he gave them my husband and I . Hour for hour time with me is better for them than time with any teacher.
I don’t particularly like the age segregation thing either. We do homeschool and go to a home church that encourages interaction with all ages. I want my children to respect their elders and be able to interact with them freely.
I feel that youth groups, etc. enocurage the same thing that schools
do. I don’t want my children to act like their peers, so I am not going to leave them with these children for extended periods (especially when parents are encouraged to leave them and not participate in the youth group).
My husband and I firmly believe that in order to raise our children in the Lord that part of that is surrounding them with people who are very grounded and mature in their christian walk and that usually means these people are several years older (granparents, uncles, etc.)