What About the Social Development of My Child?

Modern day educators often speak of the child’s need to “socialize.” That concept was taken from the socialist perspectives of Mann and Dewey, the “fathers” of modern education.  It is a perspective which completely discards the idea that a family as a whole is the first and foremost way of “socializing.”  God’s perspective, however, is that families should be the foundation of society and socialization.

The Bible teaches us that “foolishness is bound in the heart of a child” (Prov. 22:15).  It also warns us, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”  (1 Cor. 15:33, NIV).  Therefore, if a parent lets his child spend eight or more hours with a group of children whose hearts reveal foolishness, he should not be surprised when he notices that his child has been contaminated by those bad influences.  The Bible assures us that this will happen; it is a law of life.  A fact of life regarding the classroom setting in schools is that the worst behaved student usually is the one who leads the class.  Because of his corrupt speech, his mocking words, and his bullying spirit, most of the class will follow him either willingly or unwillingly.  The final product in the lives of our children will often include eternal loss.

Over 35 years ago, when home schooling first became widespread in the United States, the strongest argument brought up against the system was that a child’s social life would not develop appropriately.  Ironically enough, the results have turned out to be exactly the opposite.  Today, that same argument stands stronger in favor of home schooling.  Those critics have not only been proven wrong, but it is now a regarded fact that home-schooled children’s social development is even better than that of children who attend a traditional school.  How could it be otherwise?  Children in public schools learn to be followers and not leaders.

Most children who are exposed several hours per day to peer pressure end up being followers.  However, children who are taught at home become youth with convictions, who know what they believe, why they believe it, and the manner in which they want to live.  If one day they make the decision to enroll in a university, they will have the character of a leader and not that of a follower.

Frequently, the idea behind “social development” is that children should be exposed to “alternative lifestyles” (i.e.  homosexuality) and other wicked influences.  Much of the so-called “social development” has a hidden agenda – that each child will choose the way they think is best with regard to homosexuality and other moral issues.  The Bible tells us that this type of “social development” will only lead us to destruction.  A question that every Christian parent should ask himself is, “Do I want my child’s social development to be accomplished under the influence of what is found in schools today – sexual promiscuity, drugs, smoking, alcohol, and the influence of the ungodly?”  Today, some Christian leaders are advocating that there should be at least one Christian child in every classroom to evangelize the others.  Our children have neither the physical, mental, nor spiritual maturity to swim against the rushing tide of iniquity that is found in the classroom.  God did not call them to be exposed to the world.  Rather, He has called parents to protect their children from the world until they have matured in their natural and spiritual lives.