Many ask, "What is the standard that we should expect in the educational system of our state - whether it be the public school, the private school or the home school?" Can we believe that there is one standard, one human model, one example that could unify all the diversity that is so obvious in humanity? Is there one person who is qualified to say, "I am the perfect example of a human being; follow me"? This booklet dares to propose the same radical answer to these questions for public, private, and home schools.

A very wise king, known in history as the richest man who ever lived, gave this advice,

Ecclesiastes 12:13
13. The conclusion, when all has been heard, {is:} fear God and keep His commandments, because this {applies to} every person.
14. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

How can we unify the secular humanist who only wants to glorify man and the Christian who only wants to glorify God? How can the legislature of Ohio define the perfect standard that will fit every citizen and yet maintain the diversity that makes the American education system the most unique in the world?

Jesus Christ, known for 2,000 years as the perfect child and the perfect teacher, said this,

John 13:13
13. "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for {so} I am.

JESUS: THE PERFECT STANDARD

If Jesus was the perfect child who became the perfect teacher, then the logical conclusion is: he is the perfect standard for any one who is concerned about excellence in education.

The answer to the problems that we see in education, whether it be in public or private schools or in the home school, lies in the student's ability and the teacher's ability to accept the standard of perfection that is found in only one man; that man is Jesus Christ. Most of the cultures in the world already accept Jesus as the perfect man, the perfect teacher, the perfect student, perfect child. Thus He is the perfect standard or model for every human being from every culture.

The answer to the education dilemma in our state then lies in our willingness to set the standard of perfection as found in Jesus. We will ask the parent, the student, the teacher, the administrator, the school board member, the legislator, and the judge to accept or agree to this one standard. Will we give everyone the academic freedom to study the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as a desirable educational objective?

The education or literacy of our citizenry has gradually declined since compulsory attendance forced children into institutional settings. No one seems too concerned or worried that our educational system has fostered more attention to imperfect human beings and to their fallible theories rather than a focused examination of one whom most of the world agrees is a master teacher and a model human being. The educational system has studied men and women in every discipline of life as examples to follow, but the problem lies in emulating fallible human beings who have serious character flaws that lead to erroneous thinking, unwise decisions, foolish mistakes and grave errors. There is nothing wrong with studying Washington, Lincoln, Carver or King, but the exclusion of Jesus, a man who never made a mistake as a child and walked in perfect purity as an adult, has been an educational travesty. To have the perfect but offer only the mediocre is intellectual dishonesty and is a violation of academic freedom.

The educational "experts" have fooled many of us by insisting on fallible standards and then assisting parents, students, teachers, administrators and schoolboards to accept untried theories and imperfect methods as a way to learn. Jesus told us how to learn. He said,

Matthew 11:28
28. "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and \you shall find rest for your souls.\
30. "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."

The steps are:

1. Come to Jesus;
2. Take Jesus' yoke;
3. Learn from Jesus;

Jesus has been ignored in the educational institutions for one simple reason: a confusion between the responsibility of the church and the state. This confusion then leads to fears and emotions that push the solution further to the perimeters of the debate.

The teachings of Jesus are not synonymous with the church. Jesus used extremely inclusive language when he taught. The pronouns "all", "whoever", "anyone", "everyone", and the adjective "every" are found interspersed throughout every discourse. Thus there is a universality to Jesus' teaching that renders it to be the perfect standard that can bring a necessary unity to education that will not destroy individual diversity. When the educational establishment of OHIO ignores the inclusive teaching of Jesus, it has violated its own criteria: "... to secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state...;".

In the phobia and rivalry between the church and state the truth of Jesus as the model child and the model teacher has been trampled under the feet of the blind trying to lead the blind. Jesus never left people blind; he opened their eyes, and if he is established as the perfect standard for all, many will see clearly for the first time.

The teachings of Jesus, who was a perfect human being, may have been ignored, vilified, and slandered for 2000 years, but they will never be eradicated. He said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away" (Matt 24:35). The sonnets of Shakespeare or the maxims of Mark Twain do not have this kind of enduring quality. Jesus offers a human standard or level of instruction that can bring a stability to our educational system irrespective of what political party is in power. Wouldn't it be prudent in a world of incredible speed and flux to give children a standard that has withstood the test of time and will carry on into eternity?

If Jesus was a perfect child who amazed the "educated" elite with his astute questions and understanding at the age of 12, why are public school children denied the right and privilege to study and examine his life of perfection? Why isn't Jesus lifted up as a hero to emulate or as a standard towards which to strive? Why do parents have to go to the private sector of education to find the freedom to seek and study the perfect? Why are public school teachers and administrators held captive to the lower fallible standards of mediocrity? Why are imperfect human beings given exclusive access and more credibility than the perfect one?

If Jesus was a model teacher who silenced every critic with his impeccable life, love and logic, why are public school teachers denied the privilege of studying and teaching His wisdom? Why are the fallible theories of Piaget, Bloom or Freud given total access while that which is perfectly true is ignored? The erroneous theories of man have been proven in every civilization to be the source of failure and collapse while the teachings of Jesus which lay the foundation for a successful life - child or adult - continue to be ignored by most educational "experts". Every government, even those who persecute believers in Jesus, knows it is the true Christian who brings stability and productivity to the culture.

The Root Problem

We prefer failure to success because the teachings of Jesus Christ, who was the only perfect human being, have been confused with the teachings of the church. The church is comprised of those who choose to believe and obey Jesus' teachings. (1) Because Jesus is the head of the church, many nations and cultures have tried to keep him out of every other sphere of life. A study of the history of past cultures and civilizations will show that this is a grave error that always leads to futility, failure and eventual destruction of that civilization.

Even though the teachings of Jesus are ignored or rejected, the words of presidents, playwrights, poets, TV and movie stars, mad scientists, rock singers, the insane, and sports celebrities are given sole priority, precedence and power by the educational bureaucracy. Even though the fallible leads to futility, frustration, and failure, the cry of "separation of church and state" screeches louder than the gentle whisper of wisdom, whose life and teachings exemplify one who genuinely knows the way to well-being for all.

The public educational system of OHIO needs to shed this phobia concerning the wedding of the church and the state. We need to allow the church to be those who wish to obey Christ's teachings and still allow the state to make Jesus' perfect teachings available to all. School children in OHIO should not only learn our state motto which says, "With God all things are possible," but they should also learn everything else Jesus taught. All school children, not just those in private education, should be given the same academic freedom and the same opportunity to read and study the teachings of Jesus as the perfect standard for all.

If a person wanted to be a classical pianist, would he acquire a teacher who could only play the trumpet? The question is absurd! Standards which prefer the fallible to the infallible are just as ludicrous.

There is one perfect standard which applies to all human beings - child or adult, student or teacher, employee or employer, consumer or producer, citizen or politician, and that perfect, infallible standard is the man, Christ Jesus. If a person can read, the teachings of Jesus are easily available. There is nothing to explain, alter, or interpret because Jesus only spoke the truth. He allows the freedom of each individual to accept or reject his teachings; he forces no one to obey his teachings, but he does expect his teaching to be accessible to all.

Mark 10:14
14. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

The argument over the availability of the Ten Commandments to public school students shows the inadequacy and failure of our society to recognize standards that fit all. The Ten Commandments aren't the full elucidation of Jesus' teaching. Half of the truth is not the whole truth. Jesus' teachings reduce the Ten to Two, but He alone is the only one whose perfection qualifies him to explain this reduction. There is no one who can teach as impartially and as perfectly as Jesus.

Luke 20:21
21. And they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.

ONE STANDARD FOR ALL

The importance of allowing the teaching of Jesus to be the accessible unifying standard for all has never been stressed in the USA. Because of the diversity of religions and cultures in our nation, the educational systems of the states have been afraid to exalt Jesus as the only human being who is perfect, and thus the only infallible standard. The Jews know Abraham, Moses and David weren't perfect even though they respect them highly. The Moslems never claim the perfection of Mohammed nor do the Buddhists claim the perfection of Buddha. Jesus is known throughout all the world as the only human being who ever lived and achieved perfection. There are very few who can give adequate reasons why his perfect life and his lectures on every subject do not make him the perfect educational expert for every educational endeavor.

THE PERFECT METHOD

If a proper phonics reading foundation, is laid in a child's life, the teachings of Jesus are personally accessible by the age of 7 (see Note 1). There are English translations of the gospels, the history and teachings of Jesus, at various reading levels. The four gospel accounts accommodate the diversity of learning styles, personalities, economics and family cultures. Jesus' lectures cover every major area of life that every person will ever have to face while alive on earth. This reading standard and method is very simple to execute and needs no unfunded mandate. The Gideons have been giving New Testaments free to school children for years. The reading schedule for parents, students, teachers in grades 1-12 could look like this:

1. spelling/vocabulary
2. reading comprehension
3. speech skills
4. composition skills

Note: 1. BIP is a reading program that lays a proper foundation and is available through FHC. Other modestly priced materials are required to use with BIP and are available from other publishers. BIP is designed for anyone, adult or child, to learn how the English language is designed, unlocks the rules of spelling, and sets English speaking people free to learn well and love their own native language.

Note: 2. Readers of the English language are blessed with a large number of translations of the Bible into English. Each translation has its own distinctive purpose, such as limited vocabulary, word for word accuracy, capturing entire thoughts, or providing fluent sentence structure. The translations mentioned in the table (TEV = Today's English Version, NASB = New American Standard or New American Standard Update, NKJV = New King James Version, NIV = New International Version) are only suggestions. FHC provides a booklet (The Primary Textbook: The Bible - Which Version? Which Age?) which discusses the issue of translations and which translation to use at different ages and reading levels.

1. Church history begins with the book of Acts in the Bible.