Further Education?

I just realized that I wrote about this topic last year, but this keeps coming back to me so I think I will go ahead and post a second one on it :)

I have often wondered if we should limit children to the amount of formal education they receive. As many a times as I have thought about this, I have concluded that I do not believe we should limit. I understand certain groups take a stance that an 8th grade education is all one needs and I respect their decision, although I do not understand it. To my knowledge, there is nothing in the Bible that states an education hurts the child, and there are some things that only a book can teach. I by no means am against hand-on training, as I am a hands-on learner, but I do think that if I did not have the book learning to go along with it, the hands-on training I have received would not be as effective. Of course this may differ person to person.

The church I attend now leaves it up to the parents on how long the child attends school or is homeschooled for. This church would also consider the possibility of further education past the 12th grade if a member was interested in it. Although I have been told the member would most likely have someone who would "chaperone" them and hold them accountable to the church standards at all times.

A church I attended earlier stopped education after the 8th grade. There was one mom who homeschooled her children and said "We go through the 8th grade but I continue an extra year so that we can get in more material, but it is only an 8th grade education".

In the past I have tried to ask a man who was very adament that any education above an 8th grade education would inhibit the child from staying near to the Lord why he believes so and unfortunately he could not answer me. As I told him, it was college for me that brought me closer to the Lord and where I eventually learned of covering. Not that I learned it from a class, but being on my own gave me my own time to study the word and read what I felt led to read and then study the material. From the little that he did eventually mention, it seemed that he believed an 8th grade education was all that should be pursued out of fear that some of the children might leave the church for a more liberal church. To me it seems that if a child really has a yearn for learning, he or she might leave the church anyway to pursue their passion, but if a church were to allow the learning while under close supervision of an elder would that almost not be better? The child could learn while being guided by the Lord and an elder from the church.

I have a Bachelor's degree and started working on my Master's degree. If I cared for either of the areas of study, I would probably be working in the field of my degree (Mechanical Engineering), but I learned that although I love the math and design components of the degree, I do not care for some of the other aspects. I have considered getting a degree in either teaching or nursing because I know I would love both of those fields, but I have yet to pursue either one.

Blessings in Christ,

Education - is it right?

So I was thinking today about education as I was working. I work as a substitute teacher in the public education system around me. Today I was teaching math and I overheard a student say "I am not going to college". In a mindset where the answer is almost always getting a college education after high school graduation, this came as a surprise to me. Of course, this student was in 6th grade so she has quite a ways to go before she gets to that point as well as considering what her parents think, but I was still surprised.

I, myself, have a Bachelor's degree and am currently going for a Master's degree as well. These degrees are both in the engineering field, not that this will help me much in the technical aspect with raising a family, but I do feel there are lots of good reasons to get an education. I am definitely not where I would like to be, but do I regret the choice to go into engineering? Nope. There are so many possibilities of what I can do with that degree (if I choose to work until I get married), but also a college education teaches a person wonderful communication skills that can be used during marriage and in raising children.

I know the main reason that most Anabaptists are against higher education is due to Romans 12:2 which tells us to be in the world, but not of the world. They also believe that a child will be pulled away from God if he or she attends college. I personally will not believe this since I know it is possible to stay near to God during college. I myself came closer to God during college, so it can be done. I also believe that if you fear your child will be torn away from God by going to school then they should not be allowed to leave the house, because there are plenty of other things in day-to-day life that can and will tear a soul away from God if the person allows themselves drift that way.

Other women are against college and higher education because of what the Bible says as a woman's role. Just because we are to be homekeepers, does this mean that we cannot take classes that either interest us or will help us do our job better? I don't think so. To my knowledge, there is nothing in the Bible that says an education is an awful thing. Think, Jesus educated people every time he talked to them. At that time, they did not know who exactly He was and yet they were willing to learn from Him - so why wouldn't we want to learn as much as we could from Him first and foremost but also other subjects that may help us to know about Him or how to do important day-to-day tasks better such as an accounting class, a cooking class, a communication class, etc. Now this may be a stretch, and most likely it is, but I do not feel bad about getting an education and nor do I believe anyone should feel bad about getting an education. Do I feel a woman (or a man) should be forced to get one? No. But I also do not feel that they should not be allowed to just because of their gender.

Here's another picture of flowers :) This is a Primrose that I got my mom last year and it lasted all last year and the winter to come back looking better than ever!!



Scripture for thought: John 16:33(NKJV) "33 'These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have covercome the world.'"

Blessings in Christ,