Torch, Winter 1978

4 R Forqotten l;ssential R. William Wheeler My nine year old daughter is a great connoisseur of fine foods. A few weeks ago we were entertaining some friends after church and the menu consisted of hamburgers, chips and soft drinks. I happened to spot our little lover of food as she was preparing her sandwich. She piled the trimmings high-pickles, catsup, mustard, onions, lettuce, tomato. Toward the end of the meal our conversation was interrupted with a loud, "Oh no, I ate my whole sandwich and forgot the hamburger!" As I was reflecting on this humorous event, I realized that the missing hamburger was a picture of many Christian families that have spent time, money and energy on the trimmings of their child's training but have forgotten to include the key ingredient. When we evaluate the total picture of a child's maturing experience, we see his education as one of the essential ingredients. As Christian parents, we must ask ourselves how God views this key area. Who is responsible to educate? What is the purpose of education? What is the content of education and how is it transmitted? Where does the Christian school fit in? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO EDUCATE? God's educational goals were given to the home and family in Deuteronomy 4 and 6 long before the church or the school were ever introduced. The home is God's first and primary educational institution and in Genesis 1 and 2 God's best teachers were created-mom and dad. The educational responsibility is clearly assigned in Deuteronomy 4: 5-9 where Moses shares with the families of Israel God's plan: "Keep therefore, and do them [statutes and judgments]; for this is your wisdom and your understanding ... but teach them to thy sons, and thy sons' sons." Again in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 20, 21 Jehovah provides some further amplification for family centered education. The Lord shows that the family is the greatest living laboratory and classroom for learning to take place: "And thou shalt teach them [these words] diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house [meals and relaxed times], and when thou walkest by the way [daily chores and activities], and when thou liest down [bedtime], and when thou risest up [morning] . . .. And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the