Our Threatened Freedom

Why the Attack on Christian Schools

Professor: Dr. R.J. Rushdoony

Subject: Political Studies

Lesson: 24-169

Genre: Conversation

Track: 024

Dictation Name: Vol. B - Part 11 - Why the Attack on Christian Schools

Location/Venue: Unknown

Year: 1980’s – 1990’s

[Dr. Rushdoony] Why the attack on Christian schools? This is R.J. Rushdoony with a report on our threatened freedom.

One of the more dangerous steps of these past few years has been the attempt by the internal revenue service to control Christian schools and churches. Of course, when we say internal revenue service, we must also say, the executive branch of the United States government, because the IRS director is appointed by the president, and follows executive directives.

The IRS has sought to institute regulations to govern the life of the Christian school, their policies, student body, and hiring. One ostensible reason for this is to prevent segregation. Supposedly, Christian schools came into existence to create an escape from integration. Such a claim, often made and repeated, has no foundation in fact. The growth of the Christian schools preceded the rise of the integrationist movement, and was grounded in a demand for specifically Christian education, and for quality education.

Let’s look at the facts. United States department of education admits that 42% of blacks, 17 years old, are functionally illiterate. Other federal statistics indicate that the total number of illiterate products of our public schools number thirty million, with another thirty-four million close to illiteracy. Is it any wonder that in the district of Columbia, 73% of the children in parochial schools are black? They want an education, not illiteracy. The same trend is underway from coast to coast. Moreover, parents are sacrificing to send their children to these Christian schools. Very often the mother works to help raise the tuition. Thus we have a very curious fact. All over the United States, minority groups are leaving the state schools for Christian schools. And yet at the very same time, the federal government is charging these Christian schools with discrimination. The first and obvious fact is that this charge is simply not true. An exception may be found here and there, but the essential fact is that the purpose of the Christian schools is quality Christian education. The federal government knows, from hearings in Washington D.C, that this charge of segregation is not true, that its charges are unsubstantiated.

This leads us to a second fact. Why these charges? Why attempts to control the Christian schools? Is it not precisely because of their success? They are delivering quality Christian education, a good moral caliber of students, and racial peace. In every form of fascism, communism and statism, controls over children is a must. The growth and success of the Christian school movement makes clear that controls over children is passing out of state hands. The issue then is a demand for power, and control on the part of the federal government, at the sacrifice of our children and our freedom.