'This Little Light of Mine'
by Rebecca Grace
July 20, 2004
(AgapePress) - "This little light of mine. I'm going to let it shine ...." These familiar words originally written by Harry Dixon Loes ring loudly in the ears of Leslie Backstrom, a registered nurse, wife, and mother of two, as she contemplates a resolution that was proposed at the 2004 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.The resolution: A call for Southern Baptist parents to remove their children from government schools.
Her position: A Southern Baptist, a school nurse, a mother of privately and publicly educated children, and, most importantly, a Christian.
The question: Is it okay for Christian parents to send their Christian children to public schools?
The answer: It depends.
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Paul and Leslie Backstrom with their children Briley and Miles |
Choices, Decisions
For Leslie and her husband, Paul S. Backstrom, business administrator for Harrisburg Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist Church in Tupelo, Mississippi, the answer is rather clear. But their answer didn't come easily or quickly.Paul and Leslie are the parents of a 21-year-old daughter, Briley, and a 15-year-old son, Miles. Both Briley and Miles have attended private and public schools at the decision of their parents.
"Our daughter attended both private and public schools till sixth grade and then went to a private Christian school for seventh and most of the eighth grade in Bessemer, Alabama," Leslie explained. Miles attended the same private school from kindergarten through second grade when the family relocated to Mississippi.
Not only did the relocation bring a new home for the Backstroms, but also a choice of new schools and several decisions to be made.
"When we were planning to move to Tupelo, we visited the elementary, middle and high schools in Lee County and [in the] Tupelo Public School District, as well as private schools in the area before ever making a decision on where to buy a home," Leslie said.
At the time, the Backstroms found the private Christian schools to be in transition and uncertain about the grade levels to be offered beyond eighth grade. Tuition was another issue. "The cost was double what we were paying in Alabama and became an important factor as I did not want to be forced to have to be a full-time working mom," Leslie recalled.
However, the parents' final decision to place Briley and Miles in government schools came after speaking with a dear friend who was one of their former high school teachers and an administrator at the local public high school, at the time. "He gave us assurance about the quality of the schools in the Tupelo Public School District ...," Leslie said.
Unfortunately, this is not the case in all public schools across America.
"The liberal faction of our government has allowed school systems to try to invalidate our children's Godly teaching; they try to push other philosophies onto our children that are man made," Paul explained.
He continued, "The school systems across the nation seem to be moving away from God as quickly as they can; however, here in Tupelo, the teachers and administrators for the most part are holding on to Godly principles."
Suggestions, Advice
But what about those parents who are not as blessed to live in small-town Mississippi where Christian teachers and students still infiltrate the public school systems? What are Christian parents to do when considering the education of their children and their spiritual upbringing?
According to Leslie, "Pray and pray and pray for God's guidance, stand firm, and be confident in God's Word; it will never leave you void. Pray for God to send people in their lives that will keep them accountable and on the right path when they are away from our parental influence."
Paul believes, as a parent, it is important to "Live the Christian life daily, share God's love to your children, and keep your children surrounded by Christian groups."
Paul and Leslie also offer the following advice to other Christian parents who are seeking to make a decision about sending their children to public schools:
- Pray for God's guidance.
- Ask the administrator/teacher for the mission statement or philosophy for the school.
- Be involved in your child's education. Meet their teachers.
- Be informed about the curriculum. Know what the curriculum it teaching your child and be ready to talk to your children about your belief system.
- Find out if any Christian organizations and/or rallies are on campus such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and "See You At the Pole."
Keeping these suggestions in mind may make such an important parental decision clearer, especially to those parents who do not see an exodus from the public schools as the saving answer for a lost and dying world.
"... The Christian kids may be the only light of God some of these kids see," Paul said.
"What message would it [an exodus] really send? Was the resolution asking the churches to turn inward? Are we asking other Christian denominations to pick up where we [Southern Baptists] pull out?" Leslie questioned.
"Children can help be the light to those in darkness and that they meet daily. The light and love of Jesus has already won over the darkness," Paul explained.
Living, Shining
He and his wife have experienced such truth through their son, Miles, who is a shining light for Christ at the public high school where he attends.
Miles admits there is a lack of freedom to share the love of Jesus Christ in a public school, but "To be truthful, I would not be very happy if my parents took me out ... and put me into a private school."
But more than just missing his friends and the successful sports program, Miles, an avid athlete, would miss the chance he has to make a difference as a Christian.
"This year I was chosen to be a FCA officer for the next school year and the opportunity to share with my peers the gift of Jesus Christ is so awesome. I don't want to miss the opportunity of helping to lead a campus in FCA rallies by changing to a private school," Miles said.
"I do stand up for my beliefs and share to others that I am a Christian. Sometimes, I like to have Bible verses written on small pieces of paper in my cleats and pull them out before games which might open up conversation," Miles explained.
Although Miles has felt somewhat inadequate, at times, to share his faith, he gained confidence after attending a FCA leadership camp this summer. "As Christians we are asked to be light and salt of the world. Being an FCA officer this next year, it is my mission to be a light on my campus and everywhere else," he said.
Miles believes that if Christian students leave the public school system, then his non-believing friends and classmates "would have a negative perception of Christians.
"If I don't lead by example and be a light for God, some may not know of the gift of salvation. I know that I am human and may fail at times in my attempts to be the salt and light for God, but God gives me a new day every day."
As far as the actual resolution, Miles said, "A good aspect about it I think is if Christians are put in a school together, as iron sharpens iron, one Christian sharpens another. But we have the same opportunity to sharpen each other in public schools."
Miles sees withdrawing from the public schools as losing an opportunity to share with his friends. "Because if they don't have the support at home, and if they don't have Christian friends at school inviting them to church, then there is a chance they might not find God," he explained, as familiar words continued to ring loudly in his mother's ears ....
"Hide it under a bushel. No! I'm gonna let it shine! Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine ...."
Rebecca Grace is a staff writer for AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association. The resolution encouraging Southern Baptist families to remove their children from public schools and provide them with a Christian education died in committee during the denomination's annual meeting in June 2004.
