I was sitting with a fellow believer from the DC area in a coffee shop after chapel today (as is our custom). She has a fascinating story. Like the youth at Sterling Pres, she grew up in a homeschool family (as is a quickly growing minority of our country's youth). Like some of our youth, she then went to a local college (GMU), where she was naturally challenged on her beliefs. Then she took a weird turn, ended up as a military civilian at Ft. Belvoir and now has worked in this theater of war for several months. Quite a sharp turn from the security of a homeschool family! Soon, she will return home and will gratefully be re-united with her family.
The reason I bring this young woman up is because she planted an idea in my head today with regard to the matter of authority. You see, I often wrestle with how one is to raise their kids, especially with regard to education. I could produce a list of blessings and dangers attendant to any type of schooling: public, Christian, classical, homsechool, etc. I even drafted a post for this blog that, because of its length, was put on hold.
One struggle this young woman identified with her education and transition to adulthood was one I identified a few years ago: a misperception about the "other side." A danger found in the so-called "Christian culture" is that youth aren't often exposed to a great number of people or their ideas outside of that culture. They might learn about the ideas in the abstract. And they might learn about the people, but usually based on caricatures about those on the other side of the cultural divide.
These students then go off to college, where they find professors and students who have very disagreeable views, but are not in themselves very disagreeable. In fact, a good number of them are quite nice and thoughtful. This then punctures the stereotypes formed by these students, and they begin to question other beliefs with which they were raised. For homeschooled youth--this emphasizes the importance of engaging people outside of the church and being careful about forming mistaken and harmful stereotypes.
Another struggle that this young woman identified was new to me: The problem of authority. We presently live in a very anarchical (each person is his own boss) and egalitarian (everyone is equal to the point of there being no real authority) culture. The homeschool culture in particular stands strongly (and rightly) against this aspect of the culture. They are often taught to address adults as "Ma'am" and "Sir," and disrespect toward parents or authority figures is not tolerated. In fact, they are taught not only to be obedient, but to be obedient with joy in their hearts (again, right on!).
The curse that accompanies this blessing is found in the easy slide from respect for authority to easy embrace of teaching by those in authority. For example, when a child grows older, he/she begins to recognize that his/her parents are also sinners and their rules and instruction are not infallible. They still must show their parents utter respect, but their parents will likely grant them more freedom and input into various decision-making processes.
The rubber really hits the road with the authority problem when one of these students enters college. What happens when a professor is blatantly teaching deceit? Or even worse, what happens when a professor is working to indoctrinate a class with such deceit? Homeschoolers have been taught to strictly obey authority. Some have thankfully also learned discernment with regard to what they're taught. Few have been taught when and how to counter erroneous and insidious teaching in a strong and gracious manner. When do I challenge a teacher in class and how do I do so in a respectful manner? What do I do if/when I get graded down or even punished for respectful disagreement?
I had to learn many of these lessons the hard way, starting in high school, where one teacher in particular would teach grossly inaccurate things about the Christian faith, would mock me and impugn my character in front of the class, and gave me two weeks detention for "chewing gum in class" (I spit it out while the opening bell was ringing).
For homeschool youth, now is the time to start thinking about how to deal with authority when that authority is wrong or is maliciously wielded against you. And remember, it often won't be malicious. A large minority of folks who disagree with you will be remarkably civil. You must learn how to navigate these tensions now. And practice! Find your friends who disagree with you (or make those friends) and practice having those discussions. And realize now that though authority is ordained by God, it is not always a fount of truth. Ultimately, we are all accountable to God's authority as it is written within the fabric of creation, by the light of reason in the human heart, and most clearly and fundamentally in God's Word. Be ready to disagree without being disagreeable!
