‘School Choice’ has been in the news a lot lately. I suppose that comes with an election year. Many ‘conservative’ politicians and home educators support it. Is this something Christians should be supporting?

I used to believe so. However my views have changed over the years. I no longer support ‘School Choice’ or any tax funded education – especially for home schools and private schools.

This stance did not change overnight. It developed as I learned more of God’s word and about education and the proper role of civil government. Nor is this a recent development; I have had this stance for a number of years. This is simply the first time I have undertaken to write out my reasonings.

I realize that mine is a very unpopular opinion. To my friends who are currently using tax dollars for their own or their children’s education – I share this with great love and respect. Please know that I also accepted tax dollars for my own education and did not think twice about it. I now know that I was wrong.

If you disagree with me, I kindly ask that you prayerfully consider the points I have listed below. Spend some time deep diving into the links provided for more clarification. And then I would be happy to discuss these ideas with you – as friends, over lunch – preferably while sitting trailside with a waterfall or mountain view as our backdrop.

A. The Bible says parents are responsible for education.

Exodus 10:2: “That you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians, and how I performed My signs among them; that you may know that I am the LORD.”

• Instruction of the young is given to parents and grandparents.

from Christian Education: A Manifesto by Israel Wayne

In a nutshell, parents and grandparents are responsible before God for educating, training, discipling children – not civil governments nor even churches.

B. Education is not the responsibility of civil government.

God has established four realms of government to which He delegates authority. They are: (1) self-government; (2) family government; (3) church government; and (4) civil government. Each has its own role, function, and limits. The authority an individual possesses in any one of these four realms of government is delegated authority. In other words, they derive their authority from God. Their authority is not autonomous or unconditional. When someone in authority makes laws or decrees contrary to God’s law, they are in rebellion to God’s rule.

See Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates for biblical examples of this principle.

When the civil government takes authority over the education of children, it is acting outside of God’s specifically designated bounds and purpose. That is never good.

C. Property taxes are unlawful.

The right to private property is one of the most fundamental human rights, and this right is enshrined in the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution… Property taxes, however, put a significant burden on the right to private property by requiring individuals to pay a portion of the value of their property to the government. This ultimately equates to a lease that homeowners must pay to the government, for the privilege of living in their home.

from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

And

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7

By accepting property tax dollars I am participating in the legalized theft of my neighbors’ property.

D. Using tax dollars for ‘charitable’ purposes is immoral.

And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’

Deuteronomy 5:21

And

Exodus 20:15: “You shall not steal.”

Government schooling forcibly takes money from property owners (who may not even have children) to pay for the education of other people’s children. This is legal plunder (socialism—taking from the “rich” to educate the poor) and it is immoral. Legal plunder is legalized theft and is a violation of the 8th Commandment.

from Christian Education: A Manifesto by Israel Wayne

Charity is not a proper function of the civil government. Taxation is, by definition, money given under compulsion. By desiring tax dollars for my own or my children’s education, I am essentially coveting my neighbors’ money or property.

E. ‘School Choice’ has been redefined.

Choice is freedom. And that is why we hear so many begging for school choice around the country. But you may not be aware of the reality: school choice has two different meanings, and one of them is actually less freedom.

from Understanding School Choice by Nicki Truesdell

School Choice does not simply mean that parents have the legal ability to choose whether their children attend school or how their children are educated. This redefining of terms is, to put it mildly, sneaky. Do we want to align with deceptive people?

F. The pioneers of homeschooling fought against this.

So, we have got to educate people, as to what freedom and liberty is all about, what the constitution is all about, parental rights, and who our kids belong to. That’s very elementary. Socialism and Marxism would have us believe our kids belong to the government.

Zan Tyler on The Fight For Homeschool Freedom

These families faced jail time, removal of their children, years of costly lawsuits, and more – just to codify our rights to educate our children in the Lord, free of government interference. How dare we now ASK that the government step back in to regulate us!

G. ‘School Choice’ is a globalist ideal.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos called for redefining all forms of education as “public” education, an idea with potentially catastrophic implications for educational liberty and true school choice. 

The rhetoric was especially troubling in light of DeVos’ efforts to provide federal funding for government-controlled “choice” under the guise of “school choice.” Her brazen dishonesty relating to Common Core, as well as her inking a globalist deal on education with fellow G20 education bosses, should also alarm anyone concerned with freedom and real education.

by Alex Newman

And,

In every state, the same organizations are lobbying for what masquerades as a grass roots effort. The American Federation for Children and Heritage Foundation are just a couple of names to watch for. One name you won’t see proudly displayed is the United Nations, specifically UNESCO. Corey DeAngelis, of UNESCO and American Federation for Children, meets with governors across the nation promoting vouchers. He gets priority access to legislators and hobnobs with governors while concerned parents are ignored. Corey’s Twitter feed is an eye-opening illustration of how lobbying works. (He is not a parent. He is, however, an atheist. Don’t be fooled into believing he is a friend of Christian home education.)

from Don’t Trade Discipleship for Government-Funded School At Home

This is a globalist initiative. These organizations are not focused on preserving liberty; they are seeking to expand their control into all aspects of our lives.

My Conclusion

Because the deceitfully named ‘School Choice’ initiative is in direct rebellion against God’s design for families and civil government, blatantly violates the Ten Commandments, and opposes the fundamental principles of liberty, I believe all Christians must stand against it and refuse to accept any tax dollars for education.

I totally understand that many families feel they simply cannot afford to educate their children without tax dollars. However, when we are faithful to obey God’s commands, He is faithful to meet our needs. He rains down blessings in ways we never imagined. Sometimes those are monetary blessings. But often, He provides an alternative we could not foresee.

I cannot begin tell you of all the amazing opportunities God opened for us as we raised our children without government assistance. But I can assure you that He is faithful.

Furthermore, a quality education does not have to be expensive. Oh, it can be – if we choose that. But it does not have to be. In fact, I would say that the fewer resources we have, the better the education will be because we are more dependent upon the Holy Spirit to lead us instead of an ‘expert.’