IndoctriNation - Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America

There have been days when the idea of putting my kids on the big yellow bus was kind of tempting; and I know that my kids have occasionally wondered if they are missing out on something by not attending a public school. We've held firm on our commitment to educate our children at home, though, and recently had an opportunity to be reminded of why the bus isn't an option for us. Through the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I was able to review the DVD IndoctriNation from Great Commission Films.

Colin Gunn, a Scottish-born filmmaker, is also a homeschooling dad, and set out with his family to explore the history and foundation of public schools in America; and this award-winning documentary is the result. Gunn and his family traveled in a yellow school bus to many locations, and he interviewed people with names familiar in the Christian and homeschool circles such as Voddie Baucham, Ken Ham, R.C. Sproul, Jr., and John Taylor Gatto. He also interviewed students, parents,  Christian teachers and school administrators, and others to find out what is really going on in our schools. And it is chilling, to say the least.

Many parents are pushing back against the implementation of Common Core, and are expressing objections to certain things being taught or practiced in the public school system, and for many years now we've heard the refrain of "bringing God back into the schools", but does the public school model really have a Christian or Biblical foundation? I think many parents would be surprised to find out that the founders of the public school model espoused atheism, Marxism, and communism, and were openly derisive and hostile to religion and faith. Many viewed compulsory state schools as the ideal place to do a grand social engineering experiment, and to produce obedient workers that will basically do the government's will.

The film addresses the following questions:

• Who founded our public school system, and on what basis?
• How did the founders of state education view children, society, religion, and Christianity?
• How effective can Christians really be as "salt and light"?
• Are children physically or morally safe in school?
• Are the efforts of the schools, government, and teachers' unions really "for the children"?
• Aren't state schools neutral when it comes to religion?

That last question is the crux of the matter, in my mind. Public education makes a great claim to be neutral ground when it comes to religious or moral instruction, but that isn't possible. In fact, the school system is predicated on belief systems quite opposed to what we as Christians believe; and a godless, anti-Christian worldview of moral relativism is woven into the very fabric of the public school system. The secularist would say that children should be allowed to form their own belief system and to choose for themselves, but at the same time they are subtly but insistently forcing relativistic and humanistic beliefs on students.

While it may seem like "preaching to the choir" to encourage home educators to watch this documentary, I also think it's valuable information for homeschoolers to have so that we can be firm in our decision and reassured that we have done the right thing. Sometimes we feel that we need to defend our choice to skeptical family members, and this film will certainly help in that regard.

I wish that every parent would watch this, especially Christian parents. Sadly, I often hear that Christian parents believe that they are sending their children to be "salt and light" in their schools; and while I certainly believe that the public schools are a great mission field right in our neighborhoods, I do have to question the wisdom of sending impressionable little ones to such a dangerous battlefield. I fear that for many families, they do not see a practical alternative to public school and don't believe they have a choice; and they don't fully comprehend the great spiritual risk of turning over their precious children to strangers to be educated. Or, to be blunt - to be indoctrinated.

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. ~Psalm 127:1

My bottom line: This is an important film for parents, teachers, pastors, and all Christians to see. We must see the government schools and their agenda clearly, and I believe that every Christian parent has the God-given duty to think and pray very carefully about how to raise and educate their children. This film has also reinforced to me the importance of praying for the Christian children that are facing such godless influences every day at school; praying for Christian educators and administrators who are doing their best in an environment that is so often hostile.

Would you like to see IndoctriNation or share it with others? Here's what you need to know:

Visit the website: http://indoctrinationmovie.com/

Pricing: The DVD may be purchased for $19.95. See all purchasing options and bundles at the website.

You can follow IndoctriNation on Facebook, on Twitter, on Vimeo, and on YouTube.

Visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog for more information and to read other reviews. 

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I have done my best to provide accurate pricing and links at the time this post originally appeared. Please be aware that these may change.